Rheumatology Appointment

[Bonosglasses]

I've got a first appointment with a consultant rheumatologist next month to determine whether I've got rheumatoid arthritis (suspected by GP). Can anyone tell me what to expect at this appointment please?

Thank you

Co-codomol and hot water for my feet tonight.😢. Didn't realise they were so bad today, until I tried to get shoes on this morning. I managed to stay off the heavy medication until I got home from work, but practically stepped into the house and into a bath tonight.

It's completely exhausting, isn't it? My whole body and mind are shot tonight.

Hope you can get some relief soon.

Hi

Sorry I haven’t been on for a while. Hope everyone is ok 🌺

I would like to ask your advice. I had an appointment scheduled for next month for the official diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis but it has been cancelled and no other appointment arranged.

I’m really struggling at the moment. Pain is getting worse and is spreading into more joints. It’s worse in my shoulders at the moment and I was in tears tonight trying to wash my hair.

I’ve been trying to just wait until my appointment and have put off going to the GP but now my consultant appointment isn’t happening for a while I am wondering if It would be unreasonable to go to Out of Hours tomorrow if I’m still in pain. I’m having trouble lifting my arms, getting dressed and washing, not to mention the pain in my hands and feet. I was told to take paracetamol but it’s just not working.

Sorry I just don’t know what to do and don’t know how long I will have to wait for a GP appointment.

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you

That's awful they've cancelled your appt. You should complain to PALS and get one quickly. If you could afford private (around £200), you could see someone next week and that might speed up any next steps. I had to do this for my daughter as she would have been in danger if i hadn't. If you go to out of hours and a and e, that should support your case for referral i think.

Can you get in touch with the Rheumatologist's secretary to find out what's going on with your appointments? Consultants' secretaries are often very helpful. Ask the hospital switchboard to put you through to her.

Rheumatology in general seems to be very busy, a relative was referred to rheumatology by the GP in early September '17, has just received their first appointment for end of May.

What Blank says. I waited over 10 months for a diagnosis and was at my gp's almost weekly for more effective painkillers. Unfortunately, I don't think you can have steroid jab until you get a diagnosis - though I could be wrong. I did find a couple of glasses of dulled the pain somewhat Best of luck OP

I had both steroids and anti-inflammatories from my GP prior to diagnosis whilst waiting for my referral- mind you that was 20years ago and protocols may have changed.
I think you need to see your GP and stress that you are not coping on paracetamol alone. Explain about the hospital appointment and ask them to chase. I would also chase myself. Try to speak to the consultants secretary rather than reception as they are usually more able to find spaces for you if you are suffering.

Thank you for your replies. I’ve dosed myself up with codeine today so hopefully that will help a little bit. Don’t like taking it cos it knocks me out.

I’m going to ring GP and consultants secretary on Monday to get some different pain killers/chase up appointment.

You poor thing. I know exactly how you're feeling. The time between official diagnosis and medication was hell. I did end up at urgent care one Saturday night. I was literally rocking and wailing from the pain in my wrist. The doctor there gave me prescription strength co-codamol. It does help, but like you, it knocks me sideways, so I take them only when I really need to.

That said, I haven't had any since January. I actually feel pretty good at the moment and 20th March was the 12 week mark on the hydroxychloroquine.

Not much consolation to you at the moment I know, but I promise you will get out of this pain soon.

Second calling the secretaries. They're certainly great at my unit.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

So it all continues. I rang the GP after my last post as I couldn’t lift my arms without being in a lot of pain. GP advised I speak to secretary to chase up appointment. The department has four secretaries, all of whom were either on leave or work part time.

So basically it took four days to speak to anyone to get a new appointment which was supposed to be next week. DH has booked in a days leave to take me. Anyhow got a letter today cancelling my appointment next week and rescheduling it for the original date!!

Rang the secretary to confirm it was back to the original date and she said ‘yes appt is at 1.00pm on 27th’. Only thing then is my letter says it’s 12.00pm! Do I turn up for 12 or 1?? 😆

Oh the joys of being poorly.

You really are going through it, aren't you? I guess even with rheumatology in hospitals, it's a postcode lottery. I have been so lucky with my hospital i think. The secretaries are great and so are all the consultants and nurses I've seen.

Got an appointment next week, for official results of my hand and feet scans last month, although the consultant told me at the time joints were not looking too bad. Strangely though, since the day after the scan, I've been suffering with just my middle finger. It's completely bent over and unable to straighten it for at least 2 or 3 hours in the morning.

Hopefully, you'll be on the drugs soon!

Well finally got a diagnosis today - of sorts. I’ve got early rheumatoid arthritis. It’s bloody typical that for both of my appointments I haven’t had any swelling and have had full movement. Even though I was in tears on Wednesday and Thursday trying to get dressed.

Plan is physiotherapy for my shoulders and another appt in three months. But if I have a flare in the meantime I have to ring the rheumatology nurse and go straight in to be seen.

Consultant said he feels it is only a matter of time before the arthritis ‘captures’ then it’ll be time for medication.

I’ve been told to increase my pain meds for now. Got to take codeine which knocks me out. Going to be fun to see how I function.

💐 for everyone

Can I join you? I was diagnosed in February and struggling to get my head around it as I'm in my early 30s with an 8 month old.

Currently been on hydroxychloriquine for 14 weeks but still suffering, not seeing the rheumatolgy team until early June.