Barny, I hope you looked back at him like he was nuts!
After 5 years of treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis, my pain was getting worse and worse. Made an appt. with the Rheumatologist, asked him to take a look at my hands, and that I didn't think I had RA. My hands should have shown some signs of deformity after 5 years of pain in shoulder, arms, wrists, etc (and everywhere else), but there was no deformity at all. His response?
"I don't understand what you're complaining about. MY RA pain is worse than yours!"
I was dumbfounded. (That doesn't happen often!) Told him I was going to get a second opinion, and he got angry. I got the second opinion, found out that I have fibro and a mixed connective tissue disorder, changed ONE medicine and felt like a new person within a week of starting it. I did go back to his practice, but saw his partner who was, and still is, wonderful. Now I see his partner, who is also wonderful.
I am so glad that I got that second opinion! In many ways, that opinion saved my life.