What happens on the first visit to a rheumatologist?

[cocolepew]

watching with interest.

They will take a thorough history (ie ask you lots of questions about your symptoms). They will examine you. They are likely to request blood tests- and may send you for X-rays of your joints.

If they have enough information to make a diagnosis then and there (without waiting for blood results etc), they may suggest a course of treatment.

Thanks! I wasn't sure if it was common to get a diagnosis at the time or if I would need to keep going. Or at least wait for blood test results.

Completely depends on your symptoms. I suppose the most probable scenario is that the rheumatologist will tell you what they think is going on and then see you back with the results to confirm ( though be warned it is sometimes difficult to make an exact diagnosis in rheumatology!)

I saw the consultant in December, he took a history and then gave me the forms for more bloods, X-Rays and rebooked me for a follow up and ultrasound of my hands.

I then saw him a month later, he had the X-ray and blood results, ultrasounded my hands and gave me my diagnosis of RA there and then.

(As an aside - coco - new Lee Child book out Very Soon!!!! )

On my first appointment he looked at my fingers, hands, knees and feet, I had X-rays taken of them all, and he took a full medical history, he didn't diagnose me with rheumatoid arthritis on that visit officially but he did say that in his opinion I had developed it and that it wasn't too advanced.

I've been back four times in 16 months to see him.

I know Sidge!!

I went too my gp thinking I had an unreactive thyroid. Turned out not to be and shd was concerned about pains and pins and needle's I was getting, she mentioned fibromyalgia.

She referred me to the rheumatologist. I got a letter saying that the clinical staff had read the letter and wanted me to make an urgent appointment. I'm going in September. It freaked me out a bit then asking me to make an appointment so quickly, it took 4 months for an energency gynae appointment to come through. Though I shouldn't complain I suppose!

Underactive