Pocket duties, please?

Megrose489

I've got a rheumatology appointment next Wednesday, earlier than I thought so I am pleased about that. The last time I saw her was in March. When I went back to my GP two weeks ago, she (the GP) wrote to the rheumatologist, who then wrote to me and said she would be happy to see me again. I got the appointment letter this morning.

I'm hoping to discuss the fibromyalgia and overall pain - shoulder pain has developed since I last saw her - which I'm struggling with at the moment, and maybe she will adjust my medication.

I may also get further injections into the bilateral trochanteric bursitis, which is painful again, as are both thumb joints. She injected both of them last time, but did say that the operation was quite successful, so I might want to think about that. Over the past few years, I've had six injections, so far, into my left thumb, but only one into my right, so I'm not sure what she will want to do now.

Anybody free on Wednesday afternoon would be very welcome to hop into my pocket.

Meg

GraceB

Meg,
Hi, I'll come with you. I hope the appointment goes well and that you get some relief as a consequence.
GraceB

mig

Count me in. Mig

emmaadams

hi meg count me in .. i hope all goes well with your appointment xx

LignumVitae

Count me in too!

dreamdaisy

I won't be around but I'll be thinking of you and hope it's a positive appointment. DD

slomo

That's a date! Hope it goes OK.
slomo

theresak

Hi Megrose, I`ve just replied to your pm.

I wish you luck for the appointment, but will be on holiday for a few days from Sunday, so would struggle to be in your pocket.

villier

Count me in Meg hope it goes well xx

Megrose489

Thank you all so much. I'll let you know how I get on.

Meg

stickywicket

I'll be there. I hope all goes well.

(Sorry I'm late onto this, Megrose. Jet lag :roll: )

bubbadog

Count me in! I'll squeeze in your pocket!

stickywicket

Thinking of you, megrose. I hope all goes well.

Megrose489

Thanks Sticky. Well, I had hoped that it would be review of where I am with the fibro, OA and bursitis,as the rheumatologist had said in her letter. However, the rheumatologist said she couldn't review anything, as it was an injection clinic. So, I had to choose which hip was worse and this was the one she injected. I asked about my thumbs, but she couldn't do them! I also mentioned that I have now have shoulder pain. She sympathised, but couldn't examine me. She did, however, send me for bloods.

A little confused, as the last time I went to the same clinic, she injected both hips and both thumbs. So, now, with only one hip injected, I'm lopsided!

She said she would write to my GP and ask if she wanted to refer me back to rheumatology for a normal appointment. I've made a GP appointment for 16 December and hope to discuss it all with her.

I think my problem is that I need help of some sort in three different areas. I take medication (Nortriptyline 25mg) at night for the fibromyalgia, but struggle with fatigue and flu-like aches during the day. I'm a little reluctant to double the dosage, which has been suggested to me. I've doubled it before - with side effects - and didn't notice any difference. I take paracetamol for the bursitis and the OA - not particularly effective. I've had seven injections into my left thumb joint now - including two for trigger thumb. Is it time to see an orthopaedic surgeon, do you think?

Any advice on how to explain this to the GP would be gratefully received.

Lopsided Meg (still with sore thumbs and one sore hip!)

Megrose489

Just wanted to apologise for my above post. I think I was just so disappointed this afternoon and let rip when I got back!

Feel a little better now, but still lopsided!

Meg

stickywicket

You let rip? That's letting rip? Oh Megrose, I hope you never see me when I let rip :oops:

How odd that the letter stated one thing and the appointment yielded another. Of course, it makes absolute sense that an injection clinic is an injection clinic and no more but to promise more in the letter sounds distinctly odd. I suspect somewhere along the line right hands and left hands are not communicating. I think a chat with the GP is a good way to go.

Unfortunately, if an injection clinic has you written up for one thing that's what you'll get. I don't think they make on-the-spot decisions.

Is it time to see an orthopaedic surgeon? For me that would depend on how much I wanted surgery. This might be another thing to raise with your GP. He will (if you give him time – and that can amount to weeks) get a report from the rheumatologist so, if you use the intervening time by deciding where you think you'd like to go, it could be useful. GPs aren't experts and probably won't even have any x-rays / scans but will have the reports and I always find mine helpful to chat to.

As you probably know I see no point in taking pain relief that relieves nothing and merely adds to the side effects but, if you mention this, too, to your GP, he / she might come up with another suggestion. I hope so.

Megrose489

Thank you, Sticky for your wise words.

You're absolutely right. I know I've got some thinking to do before I see the GP and I want to make sure that I'm clear in my own mind exactly what I would like to happen.

Thank you.

Meg