Finally got an RD appointment | Arthritis Information

 

This past Saturday I had a lot of swelling and pain in my hands, feet, ankles, knees and neck and went to the Saturday clinic at my regular doctors office. Strangely enough, a satellite office for the same medical group had burned down and I ended up seeing a PA from that office. I told her of all my trouble getting a referral from my regular doctor. She gave me a prescription for Ultracet and told me to come back on Monday and she would take care of everything. On Monday she had my neck xrayed and got an RD appointment for me for July 12. The Ultracet is working very well and most of the swelling has gone down. I think I will have to make her my regular doctor! I am so glad that I might finally have an answer for these crazy symptoms!

Is there anything I should do to prepare for my appointment? What should I expect on the first appointment?

Thanks again to all for being here!!!beadturtle38862.2259837963

Hey that's great!  It's strange that your doctor couldn't set up something for you. 

My first app't was so many years ago, but from what I remember, she went over pretty much all my joints...looking at them, asking me which ones have been giving me any problems,  lots of bloodwork..hmm...can't think of anything else right now.

I would suggest you write down your questions and take that list with you.  Once there you may forget about the questions you wanted to ask.  So that list will help you remember.

Good Luck!

Kelly

My first appt. with the RD was in January. She looked at the swelling in all of the joints, took my family history, made note of the medicines I was on, and ordered blood tests and bone scans.

The doctor might order a chest x-ray and go over treatment options. He/she will probably discuss some things that you already know - that auto-immune disease are lifelong, that without treatment,, they can cause debilitating damage, and that with treatment, life will return to normal.

Your doctor will be looking for signs of depression, how debilitated you are. You need to decide whether or not you can work with this doctor, so be paying close attention to how well he/she listens, and how you interact.

Good luck. Congratulations. I hope it all goes well with you. Amazing what a difference one good doctor (or PA) can make!
Thanks so much for your responses. A list of questions is a good idea. I know I will be nervous. My guy, Joe is going with me. I hope that he will help me remember some things too.

I hope that the doctor will be able to make a diagnosis soon. I am getting anxious for some relief.

Kelstev, I always look for your posts to see what your most recent avatar is like. This one is very strange, but I like it!

Fiona - I am soooo very glad to have found a PA who is more perceptive and more willing to do a little work!!! It sure makes a world of difference!! My first appointment was just about 1 year ago.  My reg. MD had ordered the Sed Rate test and I had the results to the RA dr. before they would set an appoinment.  When I got there, I was given an examination, he looked at my joints and bent them all, had me put my arms up over my head, checked hips, knees, all the joints.  Asked which ones hurt.  Because I have the RA factor and it showed in the tests and had enough damage to my joints that he know I had RA, he gave me a Rx for Mthx. and a folic acid.  Then he ordered more blood work and x-rays.  The x-rays were of the things that bothered me--hands, feet, ankles, wrists and a chest x-ray.  I think I had to go back in 1 month.  Later on, they did a test for TB so they could RX the biologics.  Oh, they take blood pressure and weight each time I go.  They are very nice.  They took my history, asked if anyone in the family had RA, my medical history.  Asked about dry eyes, what meds I take, what vitamins.  Because my RA MD is associated with a big teaching hospital, I was asked if I wanted to be part of a study--get my appointments paid for, drugs, travel, etc.  I said no.  I had the RA too long to risk not being treated immediately.  If I lost my job and health benefits--I certainly would.  That is about it.  Be comfortable with these people--you are going to see them a lot!  Mine told me to be sure I get a flu shoot every year and a Pneumonia shoot every 5.  Good luck.  My doctors appt went a little different. They ask all the questions meds, family history, and where the pain was at that time no pain and inflammation so they ordered MRIs, x-rays, bone density, and blood work. The bone density in hips is bad. I ask why she said its from the disease. The x-rays showed sweeling and the MRIs showed bone erosion in hands, feet, and wrist. On the second appt when they went over all of this I was started on 10mg of mtx a week along with folic. Since then I think I have gotten worse the pain the pain in the hand and shoulder has turned into knee, foot, elbow pain. I have an horrible time sleeping at night because of the pain sinct the doctor appt. they have given me sleeping pills and mutiple kinds of pain relievers. I refuse to take any kind or narcotic I have to watch my children. The ultracet didn't do it for me its hard to tell because it could just be a good couple of days then I have a really bad one and relize it doesn't help at all. Even on pain reliever on a good day I'll have pain in a finger or swelling in my foot and pain. So I hope you hhave more luck then I have. My doc. is great she just has to wait a couple more weeks to change meds. because she said the insurance company will not pay more expensive treatment untill I have given the mtx an eight week run. I don't think that you will get immediate relief all the meds take time to work unfortunatly. I wish you tons for good luck and hope the treatment they give will work fast for you.Thanks Catnip and phxgirl1. At least I have some idea about what to expect. I had a bone density test in October and it showed osteopenia. I wonder if it is cause by the arthritis. I have not yet gone through menopause, so it was sort of a surprise.

It is very frustrating knowing that even after waiting to see the RD, I may not get a diagnosis right away. And even if I did, it would take more months for treatment to help. I guess I will have to try to be patient. I am very thankful that the Ultracet helps, as do the people of this form.My doc says that the osteopenia is from the arthritis because I am only 23 and I have it. My mothers on the other hand in her 40's and does'nt.
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