First Consultant Appointment Tomorrow!

ninakang

Hello Everyone,

More advice please! I have my first consultant appointment at the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation dept of our local hospital tomorrow morning. I was diagnosed with RA a few weeks ago and I have been able to manage the pain with Ibuprofen so far but I'm finding this is becoming less effective as the weeks go by and just takes the edge off the pain.

I get the pain in different places - mostly my knees and left ankle, but quite a lot in my hands (office based job, lots of typing) and sometimes in my neck.

I'm going to ask the consultant about different ways of managing the pain and what pain relief options there are. But also what I can do day to day to make things easier for me.

Do you think there's anything else I should be asking? I don't want to miss anything because I waited ages for this appointment!

Nx

Rainbow77

Hi there

Your first appointment is really important and you will realise that the 15 mins you spend with the consultant is really important and you need to get the most out of it. So you need to plan what you want to get out of it.

Firstly write down all the symptoms you have been experiencing - what joints, types of pain, how long it lasts.

Things that you can't do etc to give him/her an idea about how it is affecting your life. How are you in the morning? stiffness etc

Pain relief - that is a top priority. Tell him that the painkillers are not working and can you have some different ones to try in the short term.

Long term - Dmards - rheumatic. Ask about different types of treatment and where to start.

They will probably do a thorough examination - so wear your posh undies and a vest if you are a bit shy! YOu will probably go for blood tests and x-rays etc. But each hospital varies.

Write down any questions that you want answered and then also write down the answers - because you will probably forget the answers - or take someone else with you so that they also hear what the consultant says.

Ask them about your next appointment and what to do if you need help before that etc.

I hope this gets you thinking about your appointment. It is nerve whacking - but it will be fine. There is nothing worse than coming out and realising that you have not asked what you wanted to but when you get to the hospital, you forgot.

Just take one day at a time - drugs is very much a trial and error thing and will need tweaking but you will get there.

Take care - look forward to hearing about your appointment.

Fayann xxxxx

eckstardeluxe

Ask about their Pain Clinic, I never knew anything about it until the Consultant mentioned referring me. Since doing some research about them, I've got to go somewhere I am actually looking forward to! Good luck, hopefully you will feel better after seeing them, mines was very frank and honest and answered more than my questions, I felt completely informed. x

ninakang

Thanks for this - I'm going tomorrow armed with a list and a pen :-) I thought about taking my lap top with me but then I'd only end up surfing the internet and coming on here and missing my appointment *lol*

I have plenty of patience waiting around at hospitals, I take a book and snacks with me and have a nice sit down *lol*

woodbon

Hi Good Luck :!:

About work, have you had any assessments about equipment. There are lots of different things that can make an office job, typing etc better. I think the jobcentre or whatever they call it these days, have occ. Thearapist trained to access and even pay for the equipment to keep you at work. I think I've seen it under the disability and illness heading on their site. Also on the 'Working Matters' section on this site. Love Sue

colinone

Hi Nina my advise is sit down and write a list of things you want to ask otherwise you will forget
Colin

petmad

Hi ninakang, as the others have advised write yourself a list of what is happening to you and questions you want to ask. I found it helpful to type mine and save it, that way I will have it available whenever I require the information for future appointments. Best of luck. Linda

ninakang

Thanks very much for all your replies. The appointment went very well this morning, I was at work for 11:30! Didn't even get to read my book!

I saw the consultant who answered all my questions well - he even recommended this website, HOW cool is that?), he examined me (BIG mistake, I am SO ticklish) and then he said that he wanted to do more tests and see me in a couple of weeks when the results have come through. In the meantime, they gave me a steriod injection to ease the swelling.

So I had my x-rays, hung around for a blood test and then came back to work. I feel fine apart from a sore arm (blood test) and a sore bottom (steriod injection - how come nobody's mentioned this before?)!

Just thought I'd fill you in! Thanks for all your advice.

Nina X

ninakang

woodbon wrote:

Hi Good Luck :!:

About work, have you had any assessments about equipment. There are lots of different things that can make an office job, typing etc better. I think the jobcentre or whatever they call it these days, have occ. Thearapist trained to access and even pay for the equipment to keep you at work. I think I've seen it under the disability and illness heading on their site. Also on the 'Working Matters' section on this site. Love Sue

Hi Sue,

In reply to your question here, thanks for your concern and advice but I work for the Fire Service and saw our Occy Health team when I was first diagnosed. You get paid a bit less in the Fire Service than in the private sector but I think it more than makes up for it in these kind of benefits.

Nx

page35

ninakang wrote:

Thanks very much for all your replies. The appointment went very well this morning, I was at work for 11:30! Didn't even get to read my book!

I saw the consultant who answered all my questions well - he even recommended this website, HOW cool is that?), he examined me (BIG mistake, I am SO ticklish) and then he said that he wanted to do more tests and see me in a couple of weeks when the results have come through. In the meantime, they gave me a steriod injection to ease the swelling.

So I had my x-rays, hung around for a blood test and then came back to work. I feel fine apart from a sore arm (blood test) and a sore bottom (steriod injection - how come nobody's mentioned this before?)!

Just thought I'd fill you in! Thanks for all your advice.

Nina X

hi Nina
glad your appointment went well, i am new to RA too. i had an injection in bottom too and was told it would work within 3 days but took about a week before i felt any bennifit from it.
sorry am very new to typing too