2 nd appointment for rheumy first denied just physical exam push pull me type touch toes should there b bloods taken readings xrays whatever

[pauluk60]

i have put my request to those who know been there done it i want in the know so they dont fob me off again with half done appointment from those who had a full appointment and got results this as got to more than osteo falling asleep writing this down in dumps sick again even with new meds over to yo good folks links if poss all the names flying over head so any help please

[nomoreheels]

Are you saying that you're wanting an appointment with a Rheumatologist as you've been refused one referral after your GP examined your joints but didn't take blood tests? If you could please confirm.

What usually happens if your GP suspects your symptoms are RD is he examines your joints, takes blood tests for Rheumatoid Factor, sometimes but not always anti-CCP, CRP & ESR (acute & chronic inflammation) & sometimes x-rays of hands & feet. Depending on the results if your GP suspects you may have RD or another inflammatory arthritis you're referred to Rheumatology. This explains in greater depth nras.org.uk/getting-the-mos...

Can you see a different GP to the one who examined you, preferably one who has a special interest in Rheumatology? Not every GP Practice has one unfortunately but it's worth asking just in case.

I hope this is what you were asking Paul. If not then if you put me right & I'll try to answer.

[pauluk60 in reply to nomoreheels]

hi nomore first thanks for reply i had to beg doctor eyes glassing over and he finally gave way got the fist appointment but he sent his opinion with request I THINK SO ALL SHE DID WAS PUSH PULL ME TOUCH TOES TEST AND SAID I DID NOT HAVE what i am looking for what is NORMAL TEST/EXAM for rheumy or inflammatory arthritis i know its than osteo what iam scared of it not being treated properly and crippling me

[nomoreheels in reply to pauluk60]

You could request to be seen by another Rheumy but first I would ask for a copy of the report she sent to your GP, from that you should have a better idea of why she doesn't think you have RD.

The testing is a full joint examination. The joints will be palpated to feel for inflammation, X-rays taken or sometimes ultrasound, further blood tests & urine sample analysed. Rheumy's are very much used to working off an examination though, if she didn't think it was RD or IA she wouldn't necessarily complete the remaining testing protocol. More detailed info nras.org.uk/3-specialist-re...

I do wonder though why you are so sure you think you have it, what symptoms do you have other than those of OA, how do the differ? Don't compare yours to your wife's, reason being not everyone presents exactly the same.

[pauluk60 in reply to nomoreheels]

thanks for link pray tell me nomore why you cant rheumy or inflamatory arthritis i know osteo as good as specialist by now this is is something else

[nomoreheels in reply to pauluk60]

Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean by "why you cant rheumy or inflamatory arthritis". I understand what you mean saying you "know osteo as good as specialist by now but this is something else."

If I was you I'd just ask for the report sent by the Rheumy to your GP, that will probably answer your questions better than me. Then if you need to you can see your GP to discuss it's contents.

[pauluk60 in reply to nomoreheels]

the first app was 4/5yrs ago why you cant say it rheumy or inflammatory arthritis i have for through 2 nd doc who had no prob with request

[nomoreheels in reply to pauluk60]

If I understand correctly you're asking why I can't say it's rheumatoid or inflammatory arthritis? We can't diagnose, we're not medical professionals, we can't examine you or test as a Rheumy can. We can give our experiences & from what info you've given it does sound more like Osteoarthritis, but that's only from my personal experience, it can't be a diagnosis. Again, please ask for a copy of the report the Rheumy sent to your GP, then discuss it with him.

If the Rheumy appointment was 4/5 years ago ask if your GP thinks it might we worth repeating the blood tests you had. I'm sorry I can't help more.

[pauluk60 in reply to nomoreheels]

nxt app 15 november ta nomore all the best paul

[AgedCrone in reply to pauluk60]

Interrupting here .....but Paul, if you did have RA but were told you didn't have....after 4/5 years unless you were unusual you would be in a very bad state by now & your GP would have noticed a deterioration. If a specialist rheumatologist didn't diagnose RA maybe it is your OA getting worse?

Experienced Consultant Rheumatologists can in fact tell if there is inflammation in a joint by just by looking at it & feeling that joint.....they will then send for Xray/Ultra sound.....so don't worry ...if the rheumatologist examined you & sent you back to your GP saying you didn't need further appoinments your GP will now be treating you accordingly.

Try not to worry so much about being given a name to what ails you . Why don't you write everything down in a list........

1,Right knee swollen

2 Hands swollen, etc

Then continue adding all your symptoms you have mentioned here.

Take your time over the list, & when you think you have written everything down, take it to your next doctor's appointment.

That way you will give him a full over view of your condition & he will be able to help you.

As nmh days, maybe your GP could repeat your blood tests.

[pauluk60 in reply to AgedCrone]

just a seen a specialist for my guts he was ask in about my movements telling him tale about fatigue t he time when locked up in chair for ten days he almost forgot my guts gastroparesis frozen guts due to diabetes so not stomach ulcer but similar treatmentfor it

[AgedCrone in reply to pauluk60]

Maybe a lot of your problems are down to your Type2 Diabetes?

Do you stick to your recommended diet & see your diabetic nurse regularly?

[pauluk60 in reply to AgedCrone]

do i lets say i lost half st in 2 weeks with my fasting diet but that hard to keep up but will try see docs more than nurses so i am being WATCHED but specialist today you got lots of probs autoimmune system in troubs doing damaged now he i would trust with my wife/life sos

[AgedCrone in reply to pauluk60]

I really don't understand what you are saying, but.......

With diabetes you don't usually have to fast ......you eat a balanced diet & get your blood sugar tested regularly. The only time you should fast is when your diabetic nurse tells you to ....to do a tolerance test.

Do you have a diet sheet,& do you stick to it? If you need to lose weight your nurse will tell you which parts of the diet you should concentrate on.

Your diabetic nurse is a specialist ...not just a regular nurse. She only looks after diabetics & advises the doctor on the treatment he will prescribes from her test results.

So don't mess things up & miss appointments with her because you think you should only see doctors .

If the doctor gets no reports from the nurse on how your diabetes is being controlled it hinders him in dealing with any other health problems & with what he should prescribe.

So speak to the nurse & get it clear what you should & should not be eating.

[pauluk60 in reply to AgedCrone]

very overweight 20st 5ft 4 never ever missed an app/ment in the i have lost 10st/ 8st and numerous other stones so i am the specialist there i would think have the district nurses "legs"the best water works nurses weendy she my special a new man after seeing her diabetes in hands of nurses went on to bigger and better things

[pauluk60 in reply to AgedCrone]

i am in a weary way aged that's why i am worried should not have got to this well i honestly don't know what being stuck in chair for ten days siezed up EVERYTHING BEING DONE FOR ME is is that osteo don't think so pain/ache fatigue wow scares me thinking it happened if as it seems you all doubt it ra/ inflammatory arthritis what would do that ill be glad to know

[AgedCrone in reply to pauluk60]

Osteo arthritis can flare up, but I don't understand why you didn't call your doctor after 24 hrs sitting stuck in that chair - but sat there for another 9 days? Maybe he could have helped you with anti spasmodic drugs, or admitted you to hospital for a full check up, to find out what was causing you to 'seize up.'

You should stop disbelieving your doctors, tell them you are very worried,&'ask for a full review of all the drugs you are taking, & maybe then you will be on the way to getting some relief.

[pauluk60 in reply to AgedCrone]

I DID AFTER 2ND DAY USUALLY FLARE EASING OFF BUT THIS DIDNT HE CAME GAVE ME TRAMODOL AND SAID I WILL MAKE APP/MENT FOR TO SEE RHEUMY I CAN ONLY EXCEPT DECISION AS YOU SAY AGED I HAVE JUST HAD FULL REVIEW 2DOCS AND CHEMIST FOR THEM TO PUT IN DOSSET FOR ME I DID NOT JUST SIT NO CHOICE WHO GOING TO MOVE ME THE WIFE 8STONE WET THROUGH ME IMPOSSIBLE WHERE THEY GOING TO PUT ME MY SON IS RUGBY PLAYER ONLY JUST MANAGED I AM NOT KIDDING THE PUBLIC I WILL DOUBT DOCTORS AFTER BEING NEARLY KILLED BY ONE A KNOW ALL AND SENT ME HOME SAYING GO TO YOUR DOCTOR ON A FRIDAY NITE NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS BACK AT A/E 24 HOURS LATER STARTED ON I/V A/BS SUSPECTED SEPSIS

[AgedCrone in reply to pauluk60]

If you call an ambulance next time you have a flare they have special equipment to lift you heavy guys....then you would be seen by paramedics & different A&E doctors who might get to the bottom of what is making you feel so bad.

You mustn't think because one doctor got it wrong in the past it will happen again.

You are obviously needing something different from your present regime.

[pauluk60 in reply to AgedCrone]

well why didnt my doc do that all along i thought i should phoned but wife was in charge and doc

[nomoreheels in reply to AgedCrone]

Good point about deterioration Kathy, duh, course there'd be. I also wondered about T2 diabetes but my h is my benchmark on all things diabetes but can't relate to his symptoms. Paul's GP does seem to be medicating his OA, from meds he mentioned anyway, whether adequately enough though is what I wonder.

[helixhelix]

It very much depends on your symptoms. There is no standard checklist, as first the doctor will make a decision about which area to look at. It sounds as if the previous appointment was assessing the degree of osteoarthritis you have?

What did your GP refer you for, and what blood tests did the GP do?

I womder whether you also need to ask your GP for a full medicine review as some of the things you describe in otjer posts could be the side effect of medicines, or of mixing different medicines.

[pauluk60 in reply to helixhelix]

again thanks for reply symptoms are acute fatigue stiffening up all over flares last major one i was in stuck in chair 10 days four walls looking out of window son and wife cleaning me and other degrading things that i could not do myself horrible pain to screaming point dropsy etc etc dozens of niggly things going on i understand my medicine so i doubt very much its that nomore all i want is a proper exam my first doc took blood yrs ago and said not there but he was the one who said no stomach ulcer as well as 3 endos said clear guess what i am now being treated for stomach ulcer asked by me 2/3 yrs ago with a/bs and ppi s which i already take please tell me what you think nomore thanks again

[nablur in reply to pauluk60]

Wow. If I were in that much distress I’d go to the ER!

[pauluk60 in reply to helixhelix]

sos helix wrong name at end

[pauluk60 in reply to helixhelix]

they have just reviewed started having dosset of tab today so chemist docs all been checking

[helixhelix in reply to pauluk60]

What drugs are you on?

[pauluk60 in reply to helixhelix]

wow helix here go lisinopril bp flucloxacillin a/b low dose for life simvastatin cholestrol omeprazole guts tamsulosin water works metformin db2 empagliflozin db2 erythromycin new guts furosemide bp metoclopramide sl metabolism vit d /calcium supplement ranitidine guts gavison guts magnese mangy knees glutumate ?? bones tramadol when needed nefopam when needed paracetamol 2x4 a day holy smoke cant be anthing wrong with me surely oils and creams for skin psoriasis there helix hope you got what want

[helixhelix in reply to pauluk60]

Have you told your rheumatologist about your psoriasis? That could be very relevant.

I would also ask your GP whether you could be referred to a nutritionist. Yes you have problems with your waterworks, but together the diabetes 2, cholesterol and high blood pressure are putting pressure on your body and you could see big improvements in how you feel if these could be tackled without adding in more drugs.

[pauluk60 in reply to helixhelix]

not had chance helix app not till 15 November just come back from gut specialist i have something called gastroparesis frozen gut he says so taking erythromycin for it hope it startup again down to db2

[pauluk60 in reply to helixhelix]

bloods done for first app at docs said no sign of it whatever it was i can only guess i am getting small flares all the time that big flare from hell had similar but not as long c what i don't want is being looked by junior doc i want the man to be there not like last time she did not do a proper job and as someone said if i had ra inflammatory arthritis i would b in a bad way WELL I AM IN BAD WAY SCARED OF LOOSING MOBILITY i am still aware of osteo and what its doing to me i hope i stand my corner when i see them sorry but i don't have trust like i did after 2/3 events that's happened anyways thanks but i am more determined than ever to get treatment

[TheBoys]

Which country are you based in?

[pauluk60 in reply to TheBoys]

uk the boys

[Hidden]

I think you need to ask these questions of your rheumy Paul, he’s the best one to answer as he knows your history. Not long to wait till the 14th now, write your questions down before you go so you don’t forget to ask anything. I always get a follow up letter explaining what happened at the appointment and what action is being taken, it might be worth checking your rheumy will do this too so at least you have a record of what happened. It’s so easy to forget everything that was said. Good luck with this appointment.

[pauluk60 in reply to Hidden]

thanks kitty i am listening

[pauluk60 in reply to Hidden]

kittyj i know and c what you say as i have said don't trust them with my mobility sos to say i might be wrong but i have had to many professionals let me down badly car boiler a/e was the worst sent home back 24 hrs later sepsis car sir new this new that changed sparks still running boiler new boiler that wont get any heat 2yrs with that makers fitter came nowt wrong British gas you want turn the gas up i hour later steam fogging kitchen up i was her man again so after that lot you may or may c where i am coming from

[nomoreheels]

Which do you mean, diabetic meds?

[AgedCrone in reply to nomoreheels]

Sorry wrong post...

[pauluk60]

which meds????????? i gave helix a complete list of meds

[AgedCrone in reply to pauluk60]

Not your medsPaul, that was on another post....as usual I commented rather than replied.......I didn't see your list yet ...will search tomorrow off out now.

[pauluk60 in reply to AgedCrone]

ok thanks for help