Second opinion | Arthritis Information

My appointment for a second opinion has finally arrived. Thursday is the big day.

I am just wondering what to expect. Will the RD say what treatment plan she would have used?

I'm the newbie whose sole therapy has been prednisone. I must say it has been very effective these last 3 months. But I have lots of concerns.

Ironically I mentioned plaquenil(sp?) and my original doctor willingly prescribed it. I have no idea if that's what's right for me but it has worked well for my sister-in-law!

He was resistant to pescribing it before.

I would really some ideas of what to expect from this second opinion appointment. Thanks a lot.

Dotty

Dotty good luck at the second opinion. List some questions you want answered, and talk about the meds, don't just let them perscribe away. Talk about the best options for your life.

Good luck, Dotty!Dotty, I can't really tell you what to expect,I just wanted to tell you that I'm really interested in hearing all about it. Please post after your appointment. Hopefully you will get good news with your second opinion...keep us posted. Dotty, good luck and please let us know what the doc says.
Kelstev. I hate bugs.Yuckky. LOL! Good luck on your 2nd opinion appointment Dotty. I also have my follow up apt. tomorrow on Thursday with the RD (who I went to from the GP). At the first apt. the RD ordered more blood tests (anti-ccp and PCR) that the GP didn't do. I didn't have the obvious swelling or redness for the RD to see by the time I went to him, just aching and stiffness in the usual places (feet, ankles, knees, hands, wrists, and elbows). It seemed pretty obvious to the GP that I have RA, so we will see if the RD thinks so too. Currently, I am just taking Celebrex 200mg 2 x day + Tyenlol as back-up. Now it's not doing so well controlling the achiness. Hi Dotty,

Be sure to write down any questions you have before the appointment. I've found that I forget what I wanted to ask then get mad at myself. So I write it all down and that has helped a lot!!

Don't settle for just anything the doctor says or wants to give you. Be insistant and persistant until you are happy and satisfied! If the rheumy won't answer your questions or won't listen, remind him/her that they are not the only rhuemy in town and you can see another. I've gone through quite a few of them until I found the one that clicked with me (and he is wonderfully fabulous!!!!!!) and some of the ones that I fired work in the same office as the one I'm seeing now. Awkward - not at all!

Good luck and looking forward to hearing what the 2nd opinion is!!
good Luck Dotty!

Hi dotty, i've had two RDs the first was an off the wall woman who suggest i take meds that 'might' have had a placebo. Hug?! The second has saved my life 5 times! I had flares like you wouldn't believe, he even had to say 'this is very confusing you should be responding to the Remicade/mtx better. Finally I am.

the second opinion : you will be much more prepared and able to explain your symptoms, when and how Much it hurts, etc. We become better at this.

good luck and i'll be waiting for your post. Lynda

Only using predisone as a treatment should not be an option. You need to be changing from that asap! Long term predisone use can cause problems you won't want to deal with down the road. I'll admit it will help dramatically but any doctor that isn't willing to quickly find a better treatment that works for you is not looking out for your best interest. I'm slightly confused as to if you are using plaquinel currently or just thinking about it?

Hope all goes well at your second opinion.