First appointment with rheumatologist

maxinebarratt

hi there, still waiting to get a consultation with a Rheumy at my local hospital. What can a expect from my first visit :?: Showing signs of RA but it could be anything, just want a diagnosis so i can start getting on and learning to cope day to day.

dorcas

Hi maxine! welcome to the forum

My first rheummy visit was umpteen years ago but will have a go. :roll:

What I can remember is that he went over the referral letter form my doc and my complete medical history..not just arther, examined me from head to toe, took bloods, sent me to xray and asked about other family who had any of the arthers, psoriasis or other autoimmune diseases.

He asked about when my arther symptoms started, which joints were involved, was there redness, swelling, stiffness in the morning and how long it lasted, where I had pain and to describe it.

He talked about the medication I'd had and that he would prescribe for me. He did not give me a diagnosis....in fact it took a year for the PsA to be diagnosed which isn't uncommon for the 'seronegative arthers (means they don't have/ show a positive rheumatoid factor in the blood test) so depending on your tests etc you may have to wait for a definite diagnosis too.

I hope it goes well for you when you see the rheummy! write down the questions you have and maybe keep a diary between now and the appointment as it can be useful for you and the rheummy.
hope to see you joining in the other posts too.

Iris x

tillytop

Welcome to the forum Maxine - I only joined last week and have been made most welcome.

I think Iris's suggestion about a diary and list of questions is really useful because it is easy to forget what you meant to say when you are sitting in the doc's office. Also, if you have someone you can take into the appointment with you you might find it helpful. I have usually chosen to go on my own but, when my husband came with me to a difficult appointment last week it made a huge difference. He and I "rehearsed" the points we wanted to cover and he was able to pick up on some things I had forgotten and to ask some questions which I would not have thought of. There is always such a lot to take in, particularly with a new diagnosis and it's easy to come out of the appointment and not remember the details of what was said, so having someone with you to discuss with afterwards can be very helpful.

Finally, just to say that I am glad you have found this forum. You will find lots of people who can help and advise - and lots of fun non-arthritis chat too - Can recomment the cafe on the chit-chat forum.

Hope you don't have to wait too long for your appointment. Tillyx

dreamdaisy

Hi Maxine, I too am relatively new here (just ten days) but it is a good and useful place to be. Now for the negative stuff.

Don't hold out too much hope for an instant diagnosis. There are many types of arthritic conditions and not all can be diagnosed by blood tests etc. Take a list of your current symptoms and include EVERYTHING, whether it seems relevant to you or not.

More positively, do take someone to support you. I have been on this merry-go-round for a number of years now and The Husband is always good at spotting the stuff I miss. He is also good at telling the docs relevant things that I dismiss as irrelevant.

Keep us up to date. I wish you well. Dreamdaisy

frogmorton

Hi

welcome form me

Iris reply was really good and probably says it all..Daisy is right that you might NOt get an answer straight away, but I did get meds to help phew!!! and at least SOME idea.

The other thing is to take someone with you to back you up and give you support and also to remember what you forget

Good luck and take care

Toni xx

elnafinn

Hi Maxine

Welcome to the forum and all the best with your first rheumi appointment. You have been given great information above. If you do have to attend alone, then no worries, try to stay calm and mention if you do not understand or ask for it to be explained another way. Take a pen and paper so that you can jot anything down that you feel you may forget. I hope you are able to work well with this rheumi and receive good advice, care and help.

Luv
Elna x

skezier

Hi Maxine,

A welcome from me as well, they are a good lot here. Mine was very like Iris's as well, had a ton of xrays, was ultrasounded and blood tested as well as him taking a history and doing the examination. He then did a couple of steroid jabs, drained a bit of fluid (it was t test but I can't remember what for) and arranged an MRI as well. It took a while for the tests to all be done but with luck yours will have a better idea whats going on and start you on some drugs fairly quickly. I have a ton of oa already in residence so they took a bit longer trying to see which was where. Hang in there and I promise you it takes a bit of time to get sorted, the full picture and to get your head round it but you will get there. Nice to meet you. Take care Cris

maxinebarratt

The info you all gave was a great help, and yes i realise i wont get answers straight away ... i think i'll feel a lot better when the time comes because at the moment it feels like i'm going round the twist :? . Poor Keith, my hubby doesnt know what to make of things :roll: . One time i'm telling him about the pains in my fingers, then an hour later its my knees. I go to bed another time with aching feet then through the night i wake up with gnawing pains in my toes....... :!: I'll be honest with you, if someone told me that i'd think they were making it up :roll: but it'll come good in the end...... [/i]

dorcas

Hi again maxine!

hey at least you've found us on the forum! and we do know what it's like to have arther and won't think you're loopy....well no more loopy than the rest of us here.

hope you don't have to wait too long for your diagnosis.

Iris xx

cheshirefay

Hi Maxine,
Welcome to the forum,
I know what you mean about it moving round , it is the same for me too. I am single which in a way makes it easier as I don`t have to feel guilty about never feeling quite right and I can moan when ever I like
I hope you get sorted with an app soon, mine came VERY quickly , within two weeks of my Doc app so hopefully you won`t have to wait long .
ATB Fay x

chellereid

Hi Everyone,
this is my first time posting anything it seems very friendly and helpful

I have been battling with joint pain on & off for a while now, mixed with lots of unexplained stuff!!

My first appointment with a Rheumatologist is on Tuesday & I had been laying a lot of hope on getting a diagnosis but am glad to have read this forum & had a reality check!! At this stage i just want to inform my doctor that I am not imagining everything & not going mad!! I want him to take me seriously!!

Anyhow at least I am in the system now so I am confident it will get sorted eventually

I am pleased to have found this forum

Thanks guys x

elnafinn

Thread bumped up for NewToThis.

Elna x

elnafinn

Bumped this thread up for Laura. x;)

Elna x