Hi, I used to have a lovely rheumatologist who always checked me out thoroughly at each appointment. This included feeling the glands in my neck, having me lay on the bed while she checked out my knees, studying my fingers and nails etc. Sadly she was killed in a motor accident and now I have another doctor. She talks things over but never checks any of the things I have listed above and I don't feel that this is right. My knuckles are getting more deformed and painful and my knees are getting worse but she never even glances at them. She just keeps me on the same medication even though I tell her each time that I am getting worse all the time and the pain is awful. Last time, she gave me a general steroid injection but told me that was that last one she would give me as I have had too many. Having said that, the injection didn't work for me at all.
I would really like to see another rheumatologist at the same hospital but I don't know if this is possible and how I would go about doing that. Have any of you ever done that and do you think that I am not being looked after properly?
Why should i carry on.
Should I ask to see rheumatologist?
Fingers changing, should I be worried?
What questions should I ask my dr? 
If you would prefer to see another rheumatologist just call the rheumatology appointment line, explain your feelings & they will arrange for you to see somebody else on for your next appointment.
But be careful....you were very,very fortunate to have had a previous rheumatologist who took so much time over your consultations....not many consultants have time to do that.
Have you asked your present consultant to look at the joints you are worried about? If you haven’t mentioned anything that is particularly bothering you, she won’t know you are worried.
My rheumatologist doesn’t examine me from head to toe every visit....he just checks what I say is bothering me....& prescribes appropriately.
All doctors have different methods of managing their patients & sadly time restraints often don’t allow an extensive examination every visit.
Why not wait & see how things go when you tell her what you feel needs looking at next time you see her?
I think that is what I will have to do for the present AgedCrone. It is so difficult and I don't want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire as they say.
I’m sure if you remember to say if anything in particular is bothering you at your next appointment,the new rheumy will pay attention & sort everything out for you.
Hope everything turns out well for you.