So soon ! so good !

[larissa]

Last week i wrote to ask my doctor to refer me to St Thomas' and they rung today and gave me an app for the 29th Jan !

I had expected a long wait !

Does anyone know what to expect on my first visit ? and am i still under my local Rheumy too ? I have met people who have a local Rheumy and still go to St Thomas every 6 to 12 mnths ?

[Hidden]

It will depend on wether you asked your Rheumy for shared care, but you can ask for this, so you would go every 6-12 mths to St Thomas's where your care would be led from and your Rheumy locally would oversee this and see you in between if necessary.

I assume your going for a second opionion, If so go in jan and see how it all goes, if you feel it is the right place for you then ask about the shared care route.

Hope that helps a little, good luck.

??

[MandieR]

Hi Larissa,

Great news on your quick appointment! I too had my 1st appointment at St Thomas's last August. They are a really lovely team of nurses and doctors. Made me feel as if I mattered, finally. They will work in conjunction with your usual care team, unless you ask otherwise. They will do your weight, BP, and a very wide range of blood tests.

I left feeling very optimistic.

My Dr is Dr Sanna, who is a very thorough, very approachable Italin guy.

I wish you a wonderful, peaceful, pain free Christmas and a great 1st visit to St. Thomas. X

[larissa]

Thankyou, i am very pleased to get an appointment but i have just been wondering .... can they tell if i am not flaring ? do they take all my past results and symptoms into account ?

[teecayc in reply to larissa]

I'm not sure what you mean by if they can tell if you are not flaring? Would that be a problem??

They will definately go through absolutely everything, you'll get asked lots of questions so take a note book with you to remind yourself of your symptoms.

I see Dr. D'Cruz and two lovely doctors from the Dermatology Department (well, I haven't to go back now until I start flaring again) but they're very nice, I felt very confident I was in the right hands.

Good luck!

[larissa in reply to teecayc]

sorry , i meant if i have lupus and am not flaring,would Lupus still show up ? does your ANA only show up positive when Lupus is active /flaring ?

I apologise for my lack of knowledge !!!!

thankyou x

[mstr]

Hi Larissa, so pleased that you have got your appointment to St Thomas'. Larissa from previous posts we seem to have the same diagnosed of UCTD at the moment even though we have both tested positive for ana (me 6 times so far) with all symptoms of lupus though! Larissa are you able to feedback how your appointment at St Thomas goes as I am unsure whether to seek a second opinion too. I know my rheumy is thorough but I still doubt the UCTD too as according to the ACR criteria you only need four symptoms at any one time and ana positive. I hope you are successful in getting your diagnosis too. x

[larissa]

Hi mstr, yes we are very similar . I've had 5 positive ANA's and symptoms and like you thought i had enough criteria to have diagnosis !!!!???

I suspect my rhuemy may be sitting on the fence !

Anyway , i have heard and also researched St Thomas' and they seem to be the best so thats where i want to go.

I dont want to have Lupus but if i have i would like to know and i do suspect i have.

I am hoping i will get more answers and i will ofcourse let you know , i will post on here, so watch this space ! x

[mstr in reply to larissa]

Thank you so much....and I truly hope you get your answers! x

[jennyhe]

good to hear you are going to St Thomas` you will get all the care you need there, I am still under my local rheumie and see him around every 6 Months and go to St Thomas` once a year