New rheumatologist appt. Friday | Arthritis Information

I've been thinking for a while about going back to where I was diagnosed as a child some 23 years ago and finally called several weeks back to make the appointment. I'm going back to the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Va. I was originally scheduled for a Jan. appt but someone cancelled and now it's this Friday at 1pm. At the moment I'm having a terrible time with remembering things, probably from the steroids and mtx. Can anyone make any suggestions on things to ask or points to make when I do meet the new doc? Right now my only concern is if the doc wants to initiate one of the IV therapies for RA I'm about a 3-4 hour drive from there and that could get a little rough driving that during the initial loading dose phase. I'm thinking that there has to be a way to get something like that done here. Maybe the new doc could touch base with my PCP and order it through him here?

Bob

I chronicled everything that had been going on with me from onset- symptoms, medications, etc. when I went for my 2nd opinion. For me it was not that hard because it had only been a few months- I'm sure that would be more of a challenge for you given the length of time you have had this. Maybe try a snap shot of what led up to the past few months and then chronicle the rest.

I do believe with his prescrip you can get an infusion locally.

best of luck to you!

well wave when your in Va - welcome - I wish you the best - but I am new at all this - have my apt tomorrow with a specialist.Bob,
I have my Remicade at the nearest hospital oncology department. It can be done anywhere infusions are given. I still drive 35 miles one way, but I shop for groceries and banking and whatever else needs to be done in a bigger town than where we live.I am going through the same thing. My appointment is tomorrow and I don't even know how to approach it. I have some x-rays and some bloodwork but the rest of it, I guess I have to fill in what has happened the past few months.

Good luck--glad you didn't have to wait for the appointment!

Glad you're getting in, Bob. Don't forget to post what the new doc says. You too, katie.

I like to get copies of my lab results to keep on file here at the house. It's pretty helpful to do things like this because when you have more labs done and they comment on something, say a high WBC count, you can go back and look and see if it's something to worry about or if it's "normal" for you. I happen to always have a high WBC count due in part to the prednisone which will cause that. Having copies of labs and xrays is always helpful to a new doc but I've never thought of some of the things that WTB suggested. Things like the past meds list or the lead up to the last few months thing.

Thanks by the way for that WTB, I'm in the process of typing up my own formal "report" for the new doc that basically tells of my long period of remission then my return of symptoms in 2001 to the mega flare in May of this year to date. I also wanted to include the very lengthy list of meds that I've taken for it up to now. I'm the poster boy for failed meds here lately.

I'm glad I didn't have to wait either. I had just called yesterday to request to be put on a cancellation list and they called me first thing this morning to ask if I can make it friday afternoon. I told them I'll be there with bells on. I've said it once before and I don't want to jinx myself WTB, but I think maybe my bad luck as of late might be turning around a little bit. Thank God in heaven too because I doubt I could have taken much more!

Good luck with the doc Katie.

One more tip too that I got from dad. If you can think of questions, write them down because you'll get in there and be nervous and might forget until you're 5 miles down the road. Then it's a little late.

Bob H.