Hi Everyone. I have posted something here before and so far RF and ESR all came back negative. My family doctor refused to refer me to a Rheumy and said I don't have any pain in my hand or wrist joint and I am male and 32, so I can't have RA. According to what I have read, there is something called sera-negative and also male can be affected. My family doctor said "Rheumatologist can't do much anyway. They will just run more tests and maybe give you some powerful expensive drugs which have powerful side effect anyway. You won't get much from them".
My main concern is if I keep waiting until I have really bad symptom, then I will have to again wait another 1 year before I can see a rheumatologist. So I would rather get on the waiting list now. Besides, I heard diagnosing RA can be tricky so I think a RA specialist might be able to help me more. So far I just have some knee discomfort when I walk for a while and my shoulder started having muscle-sprain kind of discomfort for 2-3 weeks.
So what should I do now? Just wait ?
Well, for one thing, men DO get RA, it's just not as common in men as it is in women. I don't know why he thinks being 32 has anything to do with it. I think your family doc doesn't know all that much about RA and for that reason alone, I would be inclined to see someone that does.I would go to a different "family" doctor and get another opinion. I don't like the advice he gave you. He does not seem to be informed.
Have you been to an orthopedic yet? that might be someplace to start.
But, I'm all for seeing a rheumatologist as least to establish a relationship. If you do have a rheumatological disease then you have a head start on treatment as it sounds like the symptoms are still in a early stage. If you don't then you know for sure and won't be wondering. And if symptoms retuen or worsen you have an estabilished relationship with one so getting in is generally a bit faster.
You have nothing to lose by requesting to see a rheumatologist. I think you asked this question before cos I replied to you, I think you live in Calgary, and I advised you to put your name on the waiting list!! If your doctor won't refer you perhaps you can go to one of our walk-in clinics and request that they send you and then the results can always be sent to your doctor as well as the clinic. My own regular doctor plus the rheumatologist all get the results of bloodwork etc. I waited a year to see a rheumatologist in this city, not many of them around. coolbreeze, I'm not sure where in Canada you are, but I'm in Vancouver and it took me about 3 months to get in to see an RD from the time of my first symptoms, so maybe it won't take you a whole year like you think. That said, if you are having symtoms insist your Dr to refer you to an RD right away. It should not be your Dr.'s decision what kind of specialist you consult, or what kind of medicine YOU decide to use for YOUR disease. If the Dr had the knowledge the RD had there would be no need for RDs---and by the sounds of it your Dr is not well informed about RA (maybe find a new Dr?). If I were in your shoes I would also investigate RDs in your area and tell him which one you wanted to see, since he is skeptical about the whole field he probably doesn't know who the competent ones are. Good luck. Yeah, family dr's do not know much about RA. Try an internal medicine doctor. 2 out of 3 of my RD's I have had were also internal medicine doctors.Oh, ANOTHER doc like this!
Hugs,
Pip
P.S. Insist on a referral!
Hi , I agree family doctors don't always understand RA. I've had the same GP for 10 years, but at the beginning of my treatment by an RD (recommended from another GP), the second GP didn't like it that I was taking methotrexate.
I had this headbutting thing going between my GP and the RD. I told my RD and somehow he convinced the GP?! Don't know how. Now, the GP sees the results, trusts my RD and they 'talk' about my disease.
If you want to be in charge of your own health you sometimes need to step on a few doctor's toes. Go with your gutt feeling. I couldn't stand sitting around thinking I had RA and not doing anything about it. good luck. Lynda