how often

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twilight
twilight Member Posts: 15
edited 20. May 2010, 14:21 in Living with Arthritis archive
hi i was wondering how often we all go to the docs or the rheumy, ive been waiting for an app from early march 2010 after which i was put on mtx and was very poorly which resulted in me stopping it after 2 weeks and being told that my follow on app which was already booked for july would be bought forward so i could try another drug. today i received a letter telling me my app is now in september so i rung up and told them that i was waiting for the app to be bought forward not put back, to which the receptionist asked if i had seen the doc :? confused by this i said no i very rarely see the doc as im unable to take painkillers so whats the point,? should i be seeing the doc for anything that ive missed out on i have my bloods done every month with a gps nurse and see the rheumys understudy maybe once/twice a year is this normal or should i have more of a care plan im fairly new to all this and dont really have any interaction with them, other than trying new anti rheumatic drugs every now n then,this is what seems to be the norm in my area.


ps rheumys nurse just rang i now have an app next tues lol!

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  • snowball
    snowball Member Posts: 3,465
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    Hi Twilight glad to hear you have an appointment with your rheumy, I would make a list of the quetions you want to ask, as we all forget when we get there. Good luck please let us know how you get on.

    Julie x
    ((((hugs)))) n xxxxx to ya all
  • twilight
    twilight Member Posts: 15
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    snowball wrote:
    Hi Twilight glad to hear you have an appointment with your rheumy, I would make a list of the quetions you want to ask, as we all forget when we get there. Good luck please let us know how you get on.

    Julie x
    no questions have seem them several times b4 lol
  • snowball
    snowball Member Posts: 3,465
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    twilight wrote:
    snowball wrote:
    Hi Twilight glad to hear you have an appointment with your rheumy, I would make a list of the quetions you want to ask, as we all forget when we get there. Good luck please let us know how you get on.

    Julie x
    no questions have seem them several times b4 lol

    Oh okay :) I do hope they manage to find a treatment that works for you. I can only take mtx at 5mg and that makes me feel sick :roll: so I take it before I go to bed. Take care.

    Julie x
    ((((hugs)))) n xxxxx to ya all
  • twilight
    twilight Member Posts: 15
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    thanks :)
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    Hi twilight!

    glad to hear you got your appointment sorted out and that you get meds that suit and clout arther on the head. :mrgreen:

    I see my rheummy consultant every 3- 4 months but can phone him in between if need be for advice, or contact the rheummy day ward and be seen there. I also see the Mtx nurse specialist and the anti tnf nurse specialist at hospital.

    I've just changed docs and it'll be the nurse that does my bloods every month now; so apart from med cert (Fit Note) for the ESA roundabout I've just jumped on I don't expect to see my doc for anything to do with arther...

    I think the frequency of seing docs and rheummys varies depending on where you are... :roll: so I count myself lucky with the care I get.

    Iris x
  • twilight
    twilight Member Posts: 15
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    thats interesting we have a tel number we can call for 1 hour everyday (and thats it) to ask for advice but other than that nothing :?
  • snowball
    snowball Member Posts: 3,465
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    When I ring my rheumy I get options now :shock: and you have to leave a message and someone will ring you back within 48hours, not on weekends or bankhols :roll: well I rang Monday and I'm still waiting :roll:

    Julie x
    ((((hugs)))) n xxxxx to ya all
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,483
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    Well doen Twilghlight!!!

    Assertiveness paid off :D

    Hope the apt is good for you.

    Love

    Toni xx

    Oops sorry - I see rheumy at least 6 monthly, but sometimes more...
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    I think provision varies from area to area. I see my rhuematology consultant once every 3 months, I see a rhuem nurse every week for meth injections, I do my bloods every fortnight and I go to the GP when other stuff is affecting me: he knows nothing of rheumatology, but he deals with my repeat prescriptions.

    One thing I have learned over the years is that if I ring my hospital rheumatology helpline and no-one returns my call within 24 hours then I chase it up. I am one, very small, cog in a very big machine and of course I get overlooked. They don't deliberately forget me but they have hundreds of patients to deal with, not just me. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • twilight
    twilight Member Posts: 15
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    it seems we differ all over then mmmm :|
  • carolanivey
    carolanivey Member Posts: 64
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    I'm pretty stable right now so I go every four months, and get my bloodwork every two months.
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
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    Hi Twilight,

    Nice to meet you and this lot are a good bunch of people..... think you already know that cus I am late.

    Your question is a bit like how long is a bit of string.....I used to see the Rumo every 4 months cus he deals with one of my other conditions but now we have that sorted to every 4 months I have dropped to seeing him every 6. He is contactable through his secretary though in between if needed.

    Doctors.... Well I see mine very rarely but have got new ones now so maybe will see them more.... It all just depends.

    You take care and again nice to meet you. Cris x
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