First Visit to Rheumy

August 31, 2006

Lee Ann,

If at your next appointment in two months this rheumatologist does not

put you on a DMARD, you need to find another rheumy. A DMARD such as

plaquenil or methotrexate can stop the progression of RA, while

prednisone and Celebrex cannot. You are right to be cautious about

prednisone. It can make you feel wonderful, but it has so many adverse

side effects. Sometimes prednisone is prescribed to hold you over until

a DMARD takes effect, but he didn't even prescribe a DMARD, so I don't

know what he has in mind. Keep us posted.

Sue

On Thursday, August 31, 2006, at 10:50 AM, Leeann King wrote:

>

> I had my first visit to the rheumatologist. He examined me and went

> over my

> history and felt fairly certain that I have seronegative RA. He put

> me on

> prednisone 5mg a day and Celebrex to begin with. I got a steroid

> injection

> and had blood work and x-rays and was sent on my way with another appt

> in

> 2months. I'm not excited about steroid therapy. He wasn't much of a

> talker. This morning I felt much better than I've felt in months.

> BUT....the steroid side affects scare me. I'd love some feedback from

> you

> guys because I know you all have been through everything. Thanks a

> bunch,

January 4, 2007

I have my first appointment with a rheumatologist on the 17th and I

am so nervous. Can anyone suggest what questions would be good to ask

and what I should expect from the visit? My husband seems to think

that I'll walk out with a prescription and feel better the next day,

but I don't want to hope for anything even remotely close to that. I

do not have any extreme swelling of joints or deformities so part of

me is very much afraid of being told there is nothing wrong with me.

And sometimes the pain goes away for a few days, and if I'm not in a

lot of pain I might not be taken seriously. I will also need to get

my rheumatologist in contact with my endocrinologist. A lot of people

are telling me that I am too young to have arthritis (I'm 20), so

that is very discouraging. I am currently battling hypothyroidism,

hypoglycemia, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Raynaud's Phenomenon (not

threatening but very uncomfortable), and now Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Sometimes the fatigue is so severe I feel like a ton of bricks is

sitting in my lap and I can hardly move. This makes work VERY

difficult despite having a desk job. My finger joints aren't always

happy with me either due to all the typing I do. Sorry, I need to

seriously vent. My husband's response is that other people have to

deal with it too, so I should just suck it up and get over it. He has

his sensative moments but I think it's too much for him to deal with

so he just blocks it all out. Everyone's posts are very helpful, so

thanks to you all! Any suggestions for my first rheumatologist visit

would be greatly appreciated. Also, any pep-talks or some sort of

encouragement. We had a miscarriage scare earlier this week, but it

turns out I wasn't pregnant to begin with so that's good.

Thanks to all for listening!

Lyndsay S.

January 4, 2007

Can your husband go to your rheumy appt with you? I found this very

helpful, both in that he understands better, and he's very good at taking

notes and remembering things. I have enough trouble remembering what I have

to ask (i make a list, and just hand to my rheumy), and it's really hard to

take notes while you're being poked and prodded. But, if you're like me,

and hubby can't go, take a notebook and pen, and just insist that you have

to take time to write everything down right away. It took a while, but my

hubby finally understands that I can't just " suck it up " . Now he watches

for signs that I'm overdoing it, and sometimes infuriates me when he makes

me stop and rest!

Since I have Polymialga Rheumatica, not RA, I can't say exactly what your

rheumy will be looking for. Give him a complete history, including all the

meds you take. If he's like my rheumy, it will be important to him to find

out what else you're being treated for, there's a lot of overlap often. My

sister has both RA and Reynauds, a lot of people have both. Not as familiar

with the others. He'll surely want to do some blood work, maybe some

images. Depending on what he sees, he may start you on medication right

away, or wait for the test results. Even if you do walk out with a

prescription, it can take weeks before finding the right combo of meds and

for them to be really effective. Hopefully your rheumy will take the time

to talk to you, and explain RA and the various treatment possibilities.

What do you want to know? Make a list, and ask. Like the fact that RA is

no respecter of age, lots of RA patients are young women! Just check out

many of the posters here. I happen to be in my 50s, but my daughter who is

22 has had psoriasis, another auto immune disorder, since she was about 14.

Good luck, and let us know what happens!

On 1/4/07, Mrs. Castro <chocolatewookie@...> wrote:

>

> I have my first appointment with a rheumatologist on the 17th and I

> am so nervous. Can anyone suggest what questions would be good to ask

> and what I should expect from the visit? My husband seems to think

> that I'll walk out with a prescription and feel better the next day,

> but I don't want to hope for anything even remotely close to that. I

> do not have any extreme swelling of joints or deformities so part of

> me is very much afraid of being told there is nothing wrong with me.

> And sometimes the pain goes away for a few days, and if I'm not in a

> lot of pain I might not be taken seriously. I will also need to get

> my rheumatologist in contact with my endocrinologist. A lot of people

> are telling me that I am too young to have arthritis (I'm 20), so

> that is very discouraging. I am currently battling hypothyroidism,

> hypoglycemia, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Raynaud's Phenomenon (not

> threatening but very uncomfortable), and now Rheumatoid Arthritis.

> Sometimes the fatigue is so severe I feel like a ton of bricks is

> sitting in my lap and I can hardly move. This makes work VERY

> difficult despite having a desk job. My finger joints aren't always

> happy with me either due to all the typing I do. Sorry, I need to

> seriously vent. My husband's response is that other people have to

> deal with it too, so I should just suck it up and get over it. He has

> his sensative moments but I think it's too much for him to deal with

> so he just blocks it all out. Everyone's posts are very helpful, so

> thanks to you all! Any suggestions for my first rheumatologist visit

> would be greatly appreciated. Also, any pep-talks or some sort of

> encouragement. We had a miscarriage scare earlier this week, but it

> turns out I wasn't pregnant to begin with so that's good.

>

> Thanks to all for listening!

> Lyndsay S.

>

--

Shoreview, MN, until April! brrrr!

South Pasadena, CA

You can see my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

January 4, 2007

Lyndsay

I would just go in with a list of your meds and your complaints or symptoms to

your

doc and see what he or she wants to try first. Sometimes if they start you on

meds

you will have to get your blood checked every 4-6 weeks and they will probably

tell you

that some meds will take awhile to start working. They will probably take

blood and maybe

some other tests and xrays to begin with.

Feel free to vent anytime that is why we all joined a group like this.

Sometimes

it is hard for some of us to talk to our loved ones if they don't understand

so we

are here to help each other out.

Joy

" Mrs. Castro " <chocolatewookie@...> wrote: