Rheumy Nurse appt

SheilaD
SheilaD Member Posts: 201
edited 5. Jan 2012, 13:16 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi everyone

Hope everybody is as well as can be expected. I have my first Rheumy Nurse appt this afternoon and wondered what i can expect. I was diagnosed with RA in November and put onto Methotrexate 10mgs and given a steroid jab, which seemed to help tremendously within 3 days. I have noticed since Christmas I am getting more niggly pains in different joints. Do you think the Nurse may put up the dose of Methotrexate or will i have to wait for my next appt with Consultant late Feb.

I was due to have my bloods taken yesterday (Weds) but unfortunately my appt was cancelled as the nurse was ill. Can the Rheumy Nurse do my blood test?

Love n hugs
SheilaD xx

Comments

  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sorry not on this med but good luck i think if she can not do it then she can give you form to take to hospital to get it done val
    val
  • annalou
    annalou Member Posts: 38
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good luck for today Sheila, hope your appointment goes well.

    XX Annalou
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This is a guess, SheilaD but I think it's just to check how you're going on. Again, at a guess, the nurse will be under instructions to increase the meth if needed or maybe refer you back to the rheumatologist if there are problems. Another guess - she'll send you for the blood test while you're there. However, all hospitals vary in their routines so nothing is certain. I hope it goes well.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • sulkycat
    sulkycat Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sheila - I notice you are in Leeds, same as me.

    If you are at the same hospital - I go to fabulous Chapel Allerton - the RA nurses there will arrange blood tests there and then (the blood room is near the reception). They tend to check with the consultants about Methotrexate changes but again can do that on the same day, although it can mean waiting around for the new prescription etc.

    Obviously this is based on my own experience there, I go every month. The RA nurses are very good, the consultants great and the Professor is brilliant - good luck.
  • SheilaD
    SheilaD Member Posts: 201
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for your replies Sticky, Annalou and Valval.

    Sulkycat, yes I am going to Chapel Allerton. I have a good Consultant there who I will be seeing again in Late February.

    Will let you all know how I get on. :smile:

    Love n hugs

    SheilaD XX
  • traluvie
    traluvie Member Posts: 2,579
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am not sure how it works Sheila, but i wish you well and i hope all goes well..xx
    th_tn_TisFORTIGGER.jpgxxTracyxx
  • sulkycat
    sulkycat Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Sheila, if you are ever at Chapel Allerton and spot a short woman in black, with bright pink hair then do come and say hello!

    (The nurses now call my name then follow it with 'we know you are here, we saw your hair!')

    As one of the RA nurses said, 'nobody would ever want to get rheumatoid arthritis - but if they do then this is the best place to have it' - they are very well funded, mainly because of the Professor.
  • SheilaD
    SheilaD Member Posts: 201
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi

    Am back from my Rhuemy Nurse appt (Jo) and yes Sulkycat she is lovely. I will certainly say Hello if I get the chance to meet you. She listened very carefully to my questions and gave me understandable answers to them. She has also refered me to OT and Physio and given me plenty booklets on different aspects of RA and OA of which I did not know I had OA aswell :roll: I have just to continue with 10mgs of Methotrexate and Folic acid 5mgs day after as my body is still disagreeing with the meds.

    Also had my bloods done while I was there so all sorted now till my Consultant appt end of Feb/Mar.

    Love n hugs to everyone

    SheilaD xx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That's good news, SheilaD. I'm glad it went well and that you have all the extra info and OT & physio appointments.

    The OA? Ah yes! An eventual little bonus for those of us with RA. Welcome to the gang.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • sulkycat
    sulkycat Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Excellent news! And I know Jo, she is excellent.
    Do you know that on the 2nd floor there is a dedicated Arthritis Care room? It's next to ward 8 and has all the magazines and loads of information, all free to take.

    Also do use the RA nurse helpline if needed, you just leave a message and they get back to you asap - it's often Jo who rings back.

    OT and physio are both very good indeed, Lynne in physio is lovely. There are also hydrotherapy in the pool, the gym etc. The OT team were very good and fit grab rails and bath aids for me very quickly.

    Can't sing the praises of the hospital enough, you are in very good hands.
    (ps I have OA and RA too, you are in good company!)

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