Just had a phone call from rheumatology, I’ve been waiting on it for around 2 months with the promise that some sort of treatment or management plan would be started. It was a call from a completely different doctor who I’d never spoken to before, she spent around ten minutes on the phone and it wasn’t particularly useful. She basically made me feel like she thought I was faking it and just after painkillers until I explained that it wasn’t just my knee anymore and that I was on crutches and could barely move some days - she’s now advising that I’m seen face to face again and sent for an ultrasound on my hands but she reckons it won’t be for at least another 6-8 weeks. They’re not doing anything in the meantime... I feel so fed up and don’t really know what to do from here, I can’t keep living like this!
I’m debating using my university bursary to get seen privately so I can be back in form - I need to be well enough to go on placement and be able to concentrate on exams and stuff. Do you reckon this is a good idea or a waste of money?
Take care x
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Clokii
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I'm sorry to hear you are suffering and not getting started on a treatment. I think you should be very insistent that you need to be seen by Rheumatologist and soon as 6-8 weeks is just too long to wait in your current state. Is your GP aware of how badly you are suffering now? You could ask for his/her help to get you seen urgently by the Rheumatologist and, ask the GP to run blood tests (including ESR and CRP) in the meantime.
Thank you for your advice! I’m going to get on to the GP and see what they can do - when I’ve said anything in the past they’ve kinda just been like it’s outside of our scope as a gp but I think I’m just going to have to be a bit more pushy with them x
Absolutely, forget any doctor who does not immediately pay serious attention and get you some short term medication. Be ASSERTIVE, which is not arrogance at all.
I am so sorry to hear you are really struggling. Are you in the UK? If so please call NRAS helpline for some more information and support and to ensure that when you do get seen you have all the right questions to ask. 0800 298 7650 is the number. or if you email helpline@nras.org.uk with some more details we may be able to give some suggestions to get you seen quicker. We have a great network of contacts of health professionals throughout the UK and can occasionally speak directly to a clinical lead when it's appropriate and necessary. you may also want to check out nras.org.uk for information on getting diagnosed.You are not alone and we're here to help every step of the way.
I can't believe that you are getting the run around. There is no excuse letting you suffer. My GP immediately prescribed steroid pills (Prednisone) don't remember the dose, but it was not gigantic at all, and in a day or less all of my joint pain was gone.
Prednisone is cheap and extremely effective, and quick acting. It's only when taken for a long time (6-9 months and of course several years in v large doses that you would normally begin to have worrisome side effects. A good Rheumatologist will therefore get you onto one of the slower to help drugs such as metatrexate, hydroxychloroquine etc. depending on what they consider best for your particular diagnosis. These drugs may take a month or more to become effective, hence the Prednisone.
Given what you have said, I would immediately see any doctor and get them to prescribe Prednisone right away and see if that helps.
Any doctor or medical person who even implies that the patient is faking anything is a complete, useless, IDIOT. Unfortunately too many doctors behaved this way, more so in the past, and especially so with female patients. It is inexcusable and should be stamped out.
As a former neuroscientist I know that there is a hell of a lot going on in the brain that cannot be measured at all, and we must believe what people tell us they are feeling. Recent history tells us that too many ailments reported by patients that could not be measured with any existing instruments in the past, are no longer treated as faking etc. and we can now measure them with our new technology.
Hi If you can I would hang on , I know it’s awful I have waited 2 yrs to be seen for my back , it does get you down but you just try and keep going , you can always ring again and say how you feeling .
I'm so sorry to hear that you are having problems with getting treatment. I agree that your GP could order an ESR, CRP whilst you are waiting and, if these are raised, he can justifiably ring your Rheumatology department and ask for a rapid referral. Where is the pain in your hands? If it is your wrists or knuckles that are hurting the crutches will be very hard to use. When I was in this position, after having a total hip replacement, I had my crutches padded up ( the part you hold on to) with wads of cotton wool kept in place with bandaging. That helped a bit. I really hope you get seen soon.
I’ve booked a consultation with a private rheumatologist so fingers crossed they will help me get somewhere 🤞 I can’t go on feeling so ghastly! I’ve been trying to get onto the GP today but they’re constantly engaged so no luck so far!
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