First Appointment With Rheumatolgist

remixmum

Hi, yet another newbie here
I have had blood tests that showed "quite a high RH factor" according to my lovely gp, he didnt mention numbers, but requested that I was seen urgently at hospital. At the moment I am on ibruprofen and paracetemol

Can anyone help with any information or questions I need to ask at my first appointment next thursday?
Will I be recommended drug therapies then, or will they just do a load of tests and call me back another time?

Thank you in advance

Geri

skezier

Hi Geri,

Welcome to the forum though i am sorry you have had to find it.

Its all a bit of a shock to begin with and you must have so many questions running around your head just now. this is a good place to ask cus they area good lot here.

The high one might be indicative of ra but it might not. I have thrown high and then just above normal then high again and so on for years. So its not a done deal as such.

Something Is obviously wrong and your gp is right to get you referred fat as they can as only the rumo's really know what they are looking at.

My first appointment wasn't for the bones, rumo's also deal with some of the circulation things. After a while I couldn't cope with the bones any more so asked him about them and he then asked a load of questions, took bloods and xrays, arranged an mri and then we talked about available treatments.

know other rumo's hit it hard straight away but mine was hit with sulfa and now mtx. Its all their preferences with what drug they use.

Its a good idea to make a list of your questions and try and get some things explained if you can when you see the rumo.

A lot of diagnosis is done by history of how your bones are so it might help to jot some bits down to remind you if your memory is anything like mine.

Its hard in the start but it does all get clearer and better as you get to know it better. Good luck next Thursday and we do half decent pocket duties if you need us as well. nice to meet you. Cris x

julie47

Hi geri

Welcome to the form from me too , I hope you enjoy reading all the threads and putting your views forward too.

You will have lots of questions to ask at your appointment, so make a list.
You will go through all the family history, be weighed,have a wee sample, and more blood tests. as skezier says it may involve xrays too.

You will need to explain how you are, what joints hurt, and howlong stiffness lasts.

At the moment that is all i can think of but someone will comw along and give you more or a better update.

I hope the appointment goes well
and that your arthritis is soon brought under control

juliepf x

ratface

Hi Geri,

Nice to meet you, but sorry you have need of this site (like the rest of us you will find quite a few answers to your questions, if it hasn't already been discussed ask the question and someone will undoubtedly answer it).

My first appointment with the rheumatologist was about 20 years ago so a lot will have changed. I had just 1 swollen finger at the time, my GP had done 2 rounds of bloods and then sent me to the hospital. The rheumatologist did another set of bloods and examined me, shoulders, hands/wrists/fingers, legs/ankles/feet, probably neck and spine as well. Had x-rays done of my hands. Went back a few weeks later and he then informed me I had rheumatoid arthritis. Started me off on Naproxyn. Few years down the line went on to stronger meds. Only just now started anti-TNF's.

When I go to see the rheumy department I type out a list of problematic areas (i.e. hips/legs/fee/shoulders and etc. etc.) also what medication I am on and the dates of my blood tests (I got fed up of being told I hadn't had them done and when I could tell them the dates they were able to find them). I also include any questions I think relevant (getting on a bit and my memory doesn't always serve me as well as it should!). I make 2 copies of my notes, one for them to keep and one for my file. They have said that they find this helpful - I also have my copy handy and can jot down anything they tell me and can then google it if I need a more in depth explanation.

Another thing, if you are prescribed several drugs per month (it used to be 3) and are working there is a prescription pre-payment scheme which makes them a lot cheaper. There is presently a thread relating to this ongoing on this site at the moment.

Hope this helps a bit. As I say, my initial appointment was many years ago. Best of luck with your appointment.

Ratface xxxx

keith1971

Hi & welcome!

The other lovely people have pretty much summed it all up perfectly for you.

The one thing I'd add is if you're really not sure about anything they tell you (blood numbers, diagnosis etc) don't be shy to ask them to explain it to you all again in simple English until you fully understand what they mean.

It can be months between appointments on the NHS & not understanding something after you leave the appointment can lead to weeks of unnecessary worry.

Hope things work out well for you.

x

dreamdaisy

I remember my first rheumatology appointment very clearly and I hope that yours goes much, much better.

What happens all depends on who you see as each and every rheumatologist is different. Hopefully yours will turn out to be interested, open minded and thoughtful, one who will want to try and establish just exactly what is going on with you. He will try to do this via (possibly) more blood tests, Xrays or perhaps an MRI scan, and joint prodding. Try not, if possible, to take any pain dullers on that day, my consultant has always told me that she wants 'real' feedback, not opiate-affected feedback about pain. I have always replied that she has an inner torturer and this is the only way she can let that side of her personality show.

At least your GP is on the ball, that is encouraging. As for treatments, well that all depends on what they think is happening. We cannot help on that front until we know what is going on. Let us know how you get on and don't be afraid to ask us any questions that rattle round your mind. We are old hands at this business and know our stuff, and we can usually explain things in a language that resembles English, not the docs preferred dialect of Medicalese. Good luck for next week. DD

remixmum

Thank you for all the lovely welcomes

It is mainly in my hands, wrists, knees and one foot.

When I fist saw doc in feb, I had no swelling, just constant pain. Since then everything has swollen (including my waistline, but that might be due to cake)

The double list of questions is a great one cos I once had a consultant screw up my list and throw it in the bin, I was so shocked I only remembered one question.

DD you did answer one thing for me, not to take pain meds that day, I had already pointed out to all the "helpful" people who have decided that I would be fine if I ..took supplements, had a vegan diet, went to church etc, that I would not be taking or doing anything that would mask the symptoms until I saw the hospital.

Cris, pocket duties would be appreciated next thurs at 10am, I am taking 18 year old Jack, but he will prob just sit there listening to heavy rock on his ipod, until we get to the important part and then amaze everyone with relevant points.

Once more please accept my heartfelt thanks

Geri

frogmorton

HI Geri


welcome to the forums form me

I reckon with your symptoms and hopefully a letter going from the Gp and positive bloods your appt should go well for you.

There should be not too much abiguity.

The gang will have alreday told you that they may offer you some xrays of your hands and chest as a baseline and l wouldnt be suprised if they started you on some mediaction so wise to get informed now if you can.

It is lovely to meet you

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

Oh remixmum you have made me smile re the well-meant advice. I take it you are also weighed down with copper bangles, have magnets everywhere (it's hell walking past the fridge, isn't it? you just end up plastered all over it!) and eat a daily dose of stinging nettles (there could be some validity in that one re pain but I don't have the cojones to find out). Why do these non-affected idiots tell us all this garbage? It is soooo hard to remain polite sometimes.

If this has sprung from a visit to your GP in February well, I am dead impressed. He is doing well by you, no doubt about that. Where do you live and who is he? I want to join his list.

We will be there in spirit nest Thursday, please post and let us know how you get on. Is there any history of RA or any other form of A in your family? There is a genetic component to this dross. DD

remixmum

Sorry no history of arthritis in family, my mum and 3 siblings all have high chol and type 2 diabetes, not me, I got RA and bad eyesight

I live in Northolt and was at docs with no2 son and just asked if there was a free appointment and it all kicked off from there.

I am very aware how lucky I am cos I called hosp to check something and the guy said I was a lucky bunny cos there is no money to take on new patients at the moment :x

remixmum

Ooh I might try the stinging nettles as I have a garden full of them, do brambles and weeds help as well

skezier

Hi Geri,

I'm Cornish and you wouldn't believe some of the cures I been told

One thing I do know is once they have done the tests, xrays etc they will start to help you so its going to get easier for you.

The more you know about this stuff the better you understand it and there are some very good booklets and advice i the AC about Arthritis bt at the top of the page.

Shall be in the pocket on Thursday and know so will a lot more. Tis a very isolating thing if your not careful but least here they do understand.

Lucky.... funding.... I got a box of teasey flakes for that one

Keep calm, do the lists and sometimes sods law as it is you don't have the swellings the day you see the rumo so it can help to take pics of it all to show in case its not swollen that day.

Hang in there and shall be with you though I might snore a bit got a bit of fatigue again just now. Glad you found the forum and hopefully you can ask the rumo some of the questions. Cris x

remixmum

Ok I have discovered that lots of alcohol helps symptoms (or helps forget symptoms) Maybe I need to drink lots of beer or wine ALL THE TIME. :

Maybe not, plans are in place, I shall (if given drugs on Thursday) give up alcohol for a minimum of 3 months. (Prob have a few till Tues though)

After this 12 weeks I shall be a really cheap date, so anyone that knows how to make nettle wine, bramble wine or weed wine I can have a good vintage ready

Thank you my pocket peeps and goodnight

Slightly Inebriated

Geri