I'm so sorry hear about your VA problem...that must be so frustrating! My rheumatologist that I see is Dr. Colceriu (623-406-2323) and he is located at 500 E. Thomas Suite 900-B (right next to St. Joseph's hospital and uses the same parking lot). Dr. Colceriu is at the hospital every day early in the morning or in the afternoon and then walks over to his office to see his patients. I appreciate how he works as a a part of the team of doctors that treat me and they discuss issues as they get test results in or in between my appointments for the next step of my treatment. Dr. Colceriu is the one that is very familiar with this disease, has several patients with this and has been so I formative and has discussed each step with me along the way. Since I have had kidney and lung issues....and in ICU with pneumonia he has other doctors that he worked with to treat me on what was most important at that moment (ex: the pneumonia trumped the Wegener's at that moment and I had to stop chemotherapy). I go in for weekly blood tests and all the doctors get the weekly results and they notify me if there is a problem...which happened once after the pneumonia and I came home. My pulmonary doctor ( Dr. Feldman) personally called me and told me that he was immediately admitting me to ICU and I needed to head right down to the hospital again due to an issue with the medication (once I got there Dr. Colceriu was also informed immediately and was already working with Dr. Feldman on my case). I greatly appreciate how the doctors are on top of everything and work together for what is best for me. They have also been very calm and honest in addressing every issue to me during this crazy journey.

If you are able to get outside help I would HIGHLY recommend Dr. Colceriu (rheumatologist) for your Wegener's and also Dr. Feldman if you ever need a pulmonary specialist. Dr. Feldman was also in my room one time and the nurses were having to call the "swat team" again (their name for it....if they have problems getting a IV they have these people with ultrasounds to help and can get veins that nurses sometimes have problems with). Anyway, my veins in my arm were shot and Dr. Feldman just took over and got it the first try...in my leg right above my foot...I was very impressed!

Yes, Surprise is to the west a little, yet I honestly LOVE it out here. We are close enough to Phoenix (about a 45 minute drive to my doctor downtown) and yet it still has a cozy feel. We have everything we need out here and just a hop skip and a jump to the 303, 101 and I-10 if we need to get anywhere else.

Good luck is you can switch to Dt. Colceriu!