How often do you go to an RD appt while flaring?
Out of (12) appointments over the past 1 1/2 years I've only been in a flare that was highly "visible" to the eye (1) time which is my most recent visit. Most of my appointments have taken place on my "good" days where my swelling, although still present was very minimal. You never want to wish away the good days as god knows, we all love and need them but it's definately good to see the RD on a bad day so the RD can actually see what your going through.
Not once in 18 months. The three times I called in with sudden bad flares, I was called back by the nurse and told to suck it up and ride it out with no change in medications. This rheumatologist also would not prescribe pain killers, just predisone.
Actually, I went yesterday and had right hand, wrist, and left ankle and knee swollen and hurting. He could see the swelling and redness. I also had to limp in with my cane. My rd broke his hip while playing tennis and I had to go to one room with nurse and she chked blood pressure which was high and then told me about dr.'s accident. She said when he was done with the patient he was seeing I would go to the room and see him because he wasn't supposed to be on his feet. I told him it's no fun hurting and not being able to walk is it? He was quick to firmly say "NO!" Then I proceeded to tell him "At least you know you will heal soon and feel better. He said "Yeah, I know, take care!" I actually felt like he finally understood me. He even gave me two refills on my pain meds!I was just wondering how frequent it is to not be in a flare when going to RD appts. Sorry ya'll have to go thru that. It just makes me sad.
I finally hit him with a pretty good one this last visit, which ended a 2 year wait for the RA dx. My hands were swollen, my middle knuckles are huge for my tiny hands, and my knees and ankles were swollen. He finished examining me and said..um, we're calling this RA.