rheumatology nurse

bailey27

I have appointment monday with who i thought was my rheumatology consultant. I have a a big list of things to ask him and am pinning a lot of hope on this apointment as my current medication is not settling things down.
I phones today to make sure that i am seeing him and not one of his junior doctors as i wantedquestions answered etc. The secretary told me that i am seeing the rheumatology nurse and not the doctor.
I have never seen a nurse for this so not sure what to expect.
I was hoping to have my meds changed and to show the doctor the changes in my spine I am feeling a bit down now as I feel like not much i going to happen at the appontment. I hope i am wrong.
What can the nurses do? Can they change meds?

Wonkylegs

bailey27 wrote:

I have appointment monday with who i thought was my rheumatology consultant. I have a a big list of things to ask him and am pinning a lot of hope on this apointment as my current medication is not settling things down.
I phones today to make sure that i am seeing him and not one of his junior doctors as i wantedquestions answered etc. The secretary told me that i am seeing the rheumatology nurse and not the doctor.
I have never seen a nurse for this so not sure what to expect.
I was hoping to have my meds changed and to show the doctor the changes in my spine I am feeling a bit down now as I feel like not much i going to happen at the appontment. I hope i am wrong.
What can the nurses do? Can they change meds?

Hey don't be despondent ....... a lot of times I get more out of my Rheumy nurse consultation than I do with the consultant.!

One important reason is that I get Lots more time with the nurse than I do with the consultant ..... so I can talk to her about what worries me, and she is as knowledgable about the drugs as the consultant is, and sometimes MORE knowlegable about the daily living side of arthritis.

I saw my rheumy nurse today, and we have talked about different options to do with different doses of my existing meds or a change of meds. She can sort all that out with the consultant, and was able to answer all sorts of questions as we had 30 mins together.

I would say that if this is the first time you have seen a rheumy nurse then you will probably be asked loads of questions about how your arthritis is affecting you, and they will expect you to ask lots .... so do take that list of yours!

dont' be afraid to say what you are feeling - they appreciate when you are honest with them as it helps them to help you.

good luck!
WOnky

lizzie7ne

Hi Bailey,

I find my appointments with the Rheumy nurse much more productive than with the Consultant, the Rheumy nurse has more time and seems to understand more how our day to day life is affected by Arthritis.

Good luck

lizzie

frogmorton

Hi Bailey
I hope you will get on ok - you know they can often be more 'human' than consultants and don't make you feel apologetic about 'wasting' their time. Rheumys do sometimes
Good luck
Love
Toni x