What questions should I be asking the doctor ?

carol71

I'm going to see my doctor on Tuesday. Should really go tomorrow but don't want to have to drag the kids to a surgery of sick people iykwim. Hubby is off work for 4 days from tuesday so makes sense to go then.

Anyway, I have no idea what to asctually ask him. :roll:

Of course I want to know what kind of Arthur I have.
What having Artthur will mean for me.
What treatment will I need

But what else should I be asking ?

My Arthur is in my neck but it affects my arms and fingers and also I'm wondering if the lower back pains could be tied in too.

I can't really talk to hubby about how i'm feeling cos at the moment I'm not actually feeling anything (apart from pain) I'm a bit numb and until I speak with the doc don't think it's started to sink in.

Sorry for waffling, it's just the way I am, you'll either get used to it or tell me to get a grip.

Thanks for listening
Carol xxx

sharmaine

Hi Carol

Until you have x-rays/bloods done your GP may not be able tell you definitely what type of arthritis you have. My GP thought I had arthritis when I first saw her and explained my symptoms.
There's no getting away from the fact that arthritis will have an impact on your life but with suitable medication you have to develop ways how to manage your arthritis around home and family. Your GP may also want to try you on various meds to find those that suit you best. My GP told me I had OA once she had received the x ray results. The bloods revealed that I also carry the genes for Rheumatoid arthritis.

Once you're diagnosed people on the forum will have lots of advice/tips etc to give you. I have OA in my knees, hands and right shoulder. This site is a godsend for sufferers of arthur.

Take care and good luck. Let us know what your GP says, but get it checked out.

With regards

sharmaine

carol71 wrote:

I'm going to see my doctor on Tuesday. Should really go tomorrow but don't want to have to drag the kids to a surgery of sick people iykwim. Hubby is off work for 4 days from tuesday so makes sense to go then.

Anyway, I have no idea what to asctually ask him. :roll:

Of course I want to know what kind of Arthur I have.
What having Artthur will mean for me.
What treatment will I need

But what else should I be asking ?

My Arthur is in my neck but it affects my arms and fingers and also I'm wondering if the lower back pains could be tied in too.

I can't really talk to hubby about how i'm feeling cos at the moment I'm not actually feeling anything (apart from pain) I'm a bit numb and until I speak with the doc don't think it's started to sink in.

Sorry for waffling, it's just the way I am, you'll either get used to it or tell me to get a grip.

Thanks for listening
Carol xxx

elnafinn

Hi Carol

All the best with your appointment. some questions to write down to take along are:

1. What is my diagnosis?

2. Does my type of arthritis condition only affect the joints or are there other areas of my body that can be involved? Can my eyes, heart, lungs, brain, or kidneys be affected? How?

3. What is the likely course of this form of arthritis? What is the long-term outlook?

4. What are my treatment options? Will I be referred to a consultant, physio, pain clinic, rheumy department? What are the risks of not treating at all?

5. How and when should I exercise?

6. Will I be prescibed medication and how shall we monitor for possible side effects (ie examination, blood pressure check, lab testings)


It is important to help the medics as much as possible with your diagnosis as you are the most important person in this process by giving as much details as possible to your doctor. Best to write some things down, ie symptoms, how it makes you feel, measure of pain from 1 - 10 (10 being the highest measure of pain), location of discomfort, duration and time it all started.

Take pen and paper to write down anything the doc tells you, make him wait too, and not go too fast. Let him know that you mean business and are taking this all very seriously indeed.

I hope it all goes well for you and your doctor is sympathetic and takes time to listen to you. Sometimes we have to fight for what is our right, unfortunately.

Be strong, we are all here for you.

Luv
Elna x

carol71

Thanks Sharmaine

I've already had xrays, thats how they found out it was arthur I have.

So next I shall expect bloodtests thanks

Carol xxx

carol71

Thankyou for your help Elna
I shall go aimed with pen and paper

Carol xxx

harleyd14

hi carole, Sharmaine is right, peeps on this site will help you through this, possibly more than your family!!
one question i asked was is there anything i could do now to stop the progression speeding along, i didnt like the answer "lose weight " :oops: !! but i listened and have tried, easier said than done some things !!
you could ask if it is showing up any where else and if you do have an ache somewhere but you think its "nothing" still mention it as they do need to know.
good luck carole, and keep posting.
love Sally.xx

valval

hi u need time to get used to it so come and have a moan or scream when ever things r getting u down u will get lotts of good advice from others who know far more than me doc said i have oa but keep getting flare ups . so going back to see if she can check as it some times takes a while to work out which one it is (from what i have read) so take some one with u or a pen and paper just dont expect doc to have all the answers straight off some of them dont come accross arther that often so need to get u checked by some one that does good luck and a pain free day

carol71

Bumping cos it's my appointment later this afternoon.
I shall be making a note of what to ask and taking pen and paper to make notes of what the doc says.

Thanks for the advice so far everyone

Carol xxx

elnafinn

carol71 wrote:

Bumping cos it's my appointment later this afternoon.
I shall be making a note of what to ask and taking pen and paper to make notes of what the doc says.

Thanks for the advice so far everyone

Carol xxx

Hi Carol

All the best with this appointment - hope you are feeling more confident about it now that you have some idea of what to ask. Let us know how you get on.

We are here to help you all we can.

Luv
Elna x

carol71

I'll report back later on how i get on

thanks again, I have list in hand now, off to soft play now with child what fun, before my appointment.

Keeping busy to take my mind off it.

Carol xxx