Buchoff, Howard S MD - Buchoff Howa
825 Douglas Ave, Altamonte Springs, Kissimmee,
Twenty years ago, when I first became Dr. Buchoff's patient, I was taken back with his brisk business-like demeanor. He was my first rheumatologist and I wanted a warm fuzzy to fix me, perhaps pat my aching hand and tell me everything would be okay. There are no warm fuzzies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Getting RA is the most unfathomable train wreck you will experience in your life. Nothing will ever be as it was before. A rheumatologist deals with an incurable disease that causes great pain. Imagine becoming a doctor to heal people and find your calling is to a profession that can only help ease pain? It is probably better for a rheumatologist???s own sanity to keep a professional distance, rather than warm bedside manner. Dr. Buchoff's brisk factual and precise way is a part of him that I respect and admire. He runs his office with an iron fist. The office manager seems like a meanie, but that office runs like a dream! With a healthy fear of ???the eye??? from the office manager, everyone tries to arrive on time and there is never a long wait. She's nice underneath it all, just don't be late. The people that work there stay there, a good sign of a happy and well-run office. I love that Dr. Buchoff chose to benefit his patients with all testing done on premises. No other rheumatologist in Central Florida has this set up (that I am aware of). In conversation, Dr. Buchoff confirmed my questions on how costly it was for equipment and additional staff, but he told me that he would rather do this for his patients than to send us to the blood clinic and unnecessarily expose our weak immune systems to all kinds of germs, then to the imaging clinic (more germs) and have to wait and wait for a simple eight-minute bone scan. Making additional appointments, driving all over town, and waiting in germ-ridden reception rooms is not something he wants his patients to endure. Our health is his utmost concern. Because of changes in health insurance companies, during the twenty years that I have had RA I have been sent to five different rheumatologists in Central Florida. Never have I been as pleased with any of them as I am with Dr. Buchoff, and I now chose my insurance first and foremost that allows me to go to his office. Dr. Buchoff???s concern for his patients is clear through his acts. He cares about his patients??? health, well-being, and comfort, which I feel is the most important aspect you should look for in a good doctor. On a personal note, you can choose how you will live your life with RA. If your knee hurts, it will hurt the same if you drag your leg and look sad, as it will if you can stand up straight, walk normally, and smile. I don't enjoy getting negative attention and pity, as I choose to see my cup as half full, not going on empty. I don't want people to see me as a wilting flower and because of this, I make hay while the sun shines! If it's a good day, I enjoy it and expect many more to follow. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. But I feel comforted to know, with Dr. Buchoff's experience and knowledge, when my arthritis appears to be going out of control, he finds the right combination of medication to return me back to my good life. RA is not a life sentence for misery unless you allow it to be the foundation of your being. I am told that my RA is bad - a very aggressive form of this disease. Nine days ago I had a total abdominal hysterectomy (the stomach cut) and I am recovering very quickly. I am thankful to God for the RA, because through it, I developed a high tolerance to pain and was able to get up, stand tall, and move about much easier than the other ladies going through the same recovery. RA has brought me on a closer walk with God than I may not have otherwise experienced. He may not have sent me the cure I prayed for, but He did bless me with Dr. Buchoff, and for this I am very thankful.
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