New Baton Rouge General clinic helps treat patients with autoimmune diseases
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Baton Rouge General has opened a new rheumatology clinic that can treat a wide range of autoimmune diseases, which are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. They are treatable, but there is no cure.
Justin Davis is a patient at the new clinic in Baton Rouge. He said for years he was in pain and doctors could not figure out what was going on with his body.
“I’ve had gastritis, liver swelling, pretty much everything in my abdomen was swollen,” said Davis.
Davis also said he was in and out of the hospital due to the swelling.
“I’ve been in the hospital probably eight times and at one point I was in the hospital for almost an entire month,” said Davis.
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Davis said he finally found a primary care physician who referred him to board certified rheumatologist physician, Dr. Sean Shannon. Davis said his doctor discovered he had an autoimmune disease after abnormal results from a blood test.
“It’s a relief, because I’ve, you know, this is something I have been dealing with for about four to five years and I didn’t figure out what it was until about a month and a half ago,” Davis said.
Davis said he went to the rheumatology clinic to see Shannon who was able to put him on medicine for Lupus.
“When you have a person who you completely modify their lifestyle, where they can actually do something that they couldn’t, play with their kids, attend work, or enjoy vacation, when they couldn’t before, it’s very rewarding,” said Shannon.
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Shannon was brought from another nearby hospital to run the new clinic for Baton Rouge General. He specifically treats people with autoimmune diseases. He has a unique method with his patients, using a white board to explain difficult medial scenarios.
“It gives them a better idea of what’s happening inside them and why the medicine is important to stay on,” said Shannon.
Shannon also said the new clinic is a first for our area because patients can see a dermatologist and rheumatologist in the same building.
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“Autoimmune diseases overlap with dermatology. Internal organs are what I am familiar with, not so much training on the skin,” said Shannon.
Shannon has high hopes for the clinic and hopes to help more people in the area.
“It’s a bit of a relief knowing someone actually cares,” said Davis.
The clinic is located at Baton Rouge General – Bluebonnet. For more information, click here.
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