Guest guest Posted May 23, 2010 Report Share Posted May 23, 2010 > Hi everyone... > > Tomorrow I have my first appointment with a rhematologist. I'm not sure I have RA or not, but I'm hoping to compile a good checklist of questions to make sure I ask the doctor while I'm there. > > I had a neck surgery in 2004 which left me so tired for MONTHS that I couldn't barely stand up in the kitchen. Even after my neck healed, I felt a level of exhaustion I've never experienced. Doctors could not figure out what it was. I had weird rashes and uticaria also, which I had never had before. I went to the dermatology department at UCSF and after many tests, they could not really figure out why I had these rashes. > > In the last year or so I've noticed several of my joints flare up to the point of not being able to bend them. My thumb got so huge, I could literally not bend it. Then it'll go away and be back to somewhat normal. My whole body at times feels, achy, ACHY...and i look like an old woman walking around...hobbling. I suffer from plantar fasciitis too which is really driving me crazy, and my right foot kills me on the top...very stiff like I don't have much flexibility and I want to pop the bone. > > My regular doctor gave me some arthrotec...and by the evening I felt so much better! It was like a miracle. He recommended I see an RA Doctor. > > If anyone can give me some important things to ask, I'd really appreciate it. I would like to maximize my time with him tomorrow. Thank you! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2010 Report Share Posted May 23, 2010 I like to type up a worksheet for the doc that they can use for their report. That way they listen more and write less. I include: Current symptoms: type, location, intensity Current meds: type, dose, freq Other medical problems: Surgeries and hospitalization: Family history: Your primary care doc name and contact info When I was in the RA workup phase I brought copies of my labs and xray but also included a summary on the worksheet: CRP, ESR, AntiCCP etc Be sure to bring your own notepad and as you're wrapping up say something like ok, we are going to do x,yz, and you'll see me back in x weeks? Sent from my iPhone On May 23, 2010, at 8:08 PM, " fingerson88 " <fingerson88@...> wrote: > Hi everyone... > > Tomorrow I have my first appointment with a rhematologist. I'm not sure I have RA or not, but I'm hoping to compile a good checklist of questions to make sure I ask the doctor while I'm there. > > I had a neck surgery in 2004 which left me so tired for MONTHS that I couldn't barely stand up in the kitchen. Even after my neck healed, I felt a level of exhaustion I've never experienced. Doctors could not figure out what it was. I had weird rashes and uticaria also, which I had never had before. I went to the dermatology department at UCSF and after many tests, they could not really figure out why I had these rashes. > > In the last year or so I've noticed several of my joints flare up to the point of not being able to bend them. My thumb got so huge, I could literally not bend it. Then it'll go away and be back to somewhat normal. My whole body at times feels, achy, ACHY...and i look like an old woman walking around...hobbling. I suffer from plantar fasciitis too which is really driving me crazy, and my right foot kills me on the top...very stiff like I don't have much flexibility and I want to pop the bone. > > My regular doctor gave me some arthrotec...and by the evening I felt so much better! It was like a miracle. He recommended I see an RA Doctor. > > If anyone can give me some important things to ask, I'd really appreciate it. I would like to maximize my time with him tomorrow. Thank you! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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