List of Questions | Arthritis Information

Hello all,

I will be making my first visit to the rhuematologist and I would like to know what are the questions I should be asking. I don't want to get back home and think " I should of asked..." I know some should be easy, but right now I am just overwhelmed- with releif of finally knowing, and concern with what happens next, the quality of life, how long before I will feel some relief. Acchh! Thanks for any suggestions you might give.

Mary

Hi one of the first things you need to do is fear the disease not the meds. Find out everything you can online about PsA. Find out if he has a nurse you can call after your appt if you have forgotten questions or problems. I have a nurse I can call or email as I live far from my rheumy. You need to document everything you can think of before you see the rheumatologist. Ask what your sed rate is, CRP rate and if you are HLV B27 the first 2 are inflammatory markers and the 3rd is a genetic marker. Don't be afriad to ask for any thing like tests etc . And here is something, just because it isn't on an xray does not mean you do not have it. Get that hand xrayed pronto and take them to your rheumy appt. ask your GP about other xrays particularly other trouble spots .Don't take no for an answer if you think it will help at your rheumy appt. It can take a while for the meds he/she may put you on to kick in. for me it was 3 weeks but now after 3.5 months I feel pretty good but not pain free ( the osteo can be nasty ) . You could ask about complimentary therapies ie physio, massage or exercise programs. As to quaility of life it is up to you to decide how you want to live. Some days will be overwhelming some will be relatively pain free. RAnger 05 says he is on 20mgs of MTX a wk and is pain free but that is not typical for everyone. If you are living in TO there is some pretty good programs in Ontario look up Arthritis Ontario. 2trees2009-01-10 20:31:42Ask if they are going to set up a standing order for monthly bloodwork, this way you don't have to run back and forth from the dr's office every month. When you start out on the meds they have you get monthly bloodwork o keep an eye on your liver. Ask if the dr is he or she going to have you tested for tb,have a complete bloodwork analysis done on you inlcuding testing your liver, and a possible colonoscopy. Don't laugh at that last one. Even your bowels can be affected by arthritis. If you are having bowel problems let the dr know IBS is not uncommon for people who already have an autoimmune disorder. If there is a history of family members with ps or pa let the dr know, even thyroid problems let the dr know. Thyroid problems that are not properly treated can cause your form of arthritis to flare up even worse. Ask your dr if they put you on mtx if they will prescribe folic acid for you also. Ask about xrays, if you are having problems with the hands and need support for them ask for splints. Please remember pa affects not just your joints it affects the soft tissue also, especially in your hands. Let the dr know how you feel let them know you are very nervouse about this and feel overwhelmed. And as trees said go to liblrary go to a bookstore read up on pa there are some very good books out there that have chapters dealing with pa and the effects on the body. It can be a just a devastating as ra,if not worsebecause it is not recoginised as quick as ra can be. Just don't feel alone there are many of us out here let us know how it goes. Thank you both so much. I had no idea just how much can be effected. I just had a colonoscopy because I have divroticulosis. I am on arthrotec right now and it is hard to know what is the disease and what is the medication when it comes to gastro intestinal problems. I will get my hands x rayed before I go. Thanks again.

Mary

Hi another thing to condider is something to take for your stomach. I am on 30 mg of previcid daily to help prevent stomach problems. good luck

I know I will have to take some meds, but I am not looking forward to having a fully stocked pharmacy that I have to take each day. I thank you all for the suggestions and I am going to read up on these. I do believe in being informed. If I wasn't, I don't think my GP would have ever come to the realization that there was something more than aches and pains. I called it being stoic and he interpreted it as not too much pain.

I have an appointment this evening for physio and since I will be there anyway I am going to have them assess my knees. Is there any reason not to do this? Can it cause more damage? I am still waiting to get my appointment with the rhuematologist.

No get them checked you might as well see if you have any damage there.Hi Mary,

I've had a history of gastrointestinal problems forever- since teen yrs- so when the PsA + OA reared it's ugly head I already knew there aren't a lot of NSAIDS I could take. A few months ago my rheumatologist put me on meloxicam for the pain (as well as my Enbril and the stomach meds I already take). It's turned out to be about the only thing that doesn't kill my stomach... previously I was only able to stay on Vioxx and Celebrex for 2 weeks at most before they had to take me off them. Good luck!