Doctors referral

[Green121]

Hi,

I'm 24 yrs old, I have had trouble with my joints since I was 18, extremely fatigued, aches, heat sensation on legs. The doctors suspected fibromyalgia and I had a follow up blood test. The doctor called me in as it came up with high Ccp and the other blood test before was high as well and now it is rising. I have been given a referral to a rheumatologist, they said I don't have the typical symptoms of RA but it could be that or something similar. I now have a 5 month wait to see the rheumatologist, has anyone been in the same position?

Thanks

[Dspooky01]

Hi, I was diagnosed last year and although I was really bad I only had to wait 3 weeks to see the Rheumy (I’m in the UK).

I would try and speed the appointment up, ask if there are any cancellations, if you can afford it try private, although ensure that they are local and also do work on the NHS. That way you could transfer across after the first consultation. Early treatment is best if you do have rheumatoid disease.

Hopefully you don’t have RD but even if you do there are lots of treatments available nowadays so try not to worry too much.

Best wishes.

[Hidden]

Some areas have a shortage of rheumatologists. If you have more than 1 hospital in your area you can choose where you want to go . I did. If you know which rheum you have se yo contact their secretary and see if the bump you up the list or as others have said a cancellation list. Hope you haven’t got RD but you know where we are if you need answers to your questions. The collective knowledge on here is second to none.

[AgedCrone]

Téléphone the unit where your appointment is & ask if they have a short notice cancellation list.

Someone cancels their appointment at short notice ...l...you will get their slot but you have to be available at very short notice ...maybe the afternoon and They call you in theMorning.

Worth a try rather than wait 5 months

[colindgreen]

Hi, Given your age it may be your CCG offers a fast track service. My CCG did and I was seen within a few weeks.

Your GP will be able to check or call the hospital where the referral has gone.

Best of luck

[Summerrain14]

I was diagnosed in July but it took a good year all in all for me to be seen. Not standard at all but we had a real shortage of rheumatologists at the time and then I got lost in the system. My GP surgery were great at chasing it all up and I was seen very quickly after that.

As other people have said if you contact the rheumatologist’s medical secretary and ask if you can be added to the cancellation list this could really help,

I was waiting ages to been seen by an ENT specialist and I contacted my local hospital to enquire. They explained there was a real shortage of ENT specialists and gave me a time frame but added me to the cancellation list. I was contacted the next day with an appointment for the following morning. Always worth contacting them.

Good luck and let us know how you get on won’t you? x

[Green121]

I got told to contact the number on the appointment letter from the NHS appointment number and to see if they had a cancellation. They told me that they don't. Should I contact the hospital directly I don't have the name of the rheumatologist that I am seeing.