I recently moved to North Norfolk - not a million miles as I was already in Norwich. Who knew! Tiny Cromer Hospital has a Rheumatology clinic every Monday so off I trotted (hobbled) on Monday for my appointment.
Well, not only is the hospital amazing (not inpatient). Front door, lift immediately on the left straight into the waiting room. Brilliant!
Next, the rheumatologist. A CONSULTANT rheumatologist no less. I have never ever seen anyone at Norwich that's not either a nurse or a Doc on rotation. And it's a bit like a sausage machine.
This lady was amazing. She had time for me. Listened. I've had a really poorly knee for months - actually May 2022. Norwich rheumy kept saying they wanted to inject it and increase the mtx, but we never got past a phone appointment. They also said from looking at the xray in May 2022 there's 'a bit of osteo'.
Well, Dr Coath pulled up the x-ray and went over it with me. She said it's not a 'bit of osteo' and an injection won't make a scrap of difference. Her words were severe, bone on bone, no fluid, damaged cartilage. I knew it hurt!
Result is physio referral and no increase in meds. Then possible knee replacement - which I want to avoid.
What a difference someone that cares makes. And anyone planning to move to the gorgeous North Norfolk coast - the treatment is top-notch and it's a stunning place to live.
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HappykindaGal
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We hear so many stories of poor rheumatology departments, it does your heart good to hear about the good ones. At my hospital I have only ever seen consultants, and only two different ones in my 20 years since diagnosis.
I was shocked! I'm so used to being ushered in and out with almost zero conversation that to be converse with someone like a human being was a pleasant surprise.
My rheumatologist is lovely, she takes time to listen, and also asks me what I want out of the appointment. She sees me every 3 or 6 months depends on how my joints are. She will also liaise with other consultants.
This is brilliant to hear..there’s still hope out there as many of us have bad experiences and like you haven’t actually seen a Rheumatologist for years! Hope it continues for you and that you get some benefit from the Physio.
I hope so too! It would be a joy to be able to walk more than a few steps again. Getting to the bin shed without half dying and needing a lie-down is a goal, hahaha.
Bless you! I feel your pain, I’ve been having awful problems with my left arm, starting physio next month and a long wait for a guided steroid! Good Luck, let us know how you get on x
What a great experience. I’ve been watching Wes about the NHS reforms and it sounds like that’s the experience he’s aiming for everyone. My friend had a knee done last year and wished she’d not put it off as hobble is right. She got put off by another friend until she could barely walk and could hear it creak. Now I can barely keep up.
Wow! That's the sort of experience that should be the norm. As we know, it's not. I wish you hadn't had such rotten experiences previously but it must feel like all your birthdays have come at once now. Happy days
I should have added when I broke my leg and ankle the other year it really hurt but at least I knew it would get better all the D3 I've taken must have done some good as it healed well in about 8 weeks but to have endless and chronic pain with no hope of respite is dreadful. I hope you find physio helps quickly. x
Absolutely delighted for you and I hope it continues. Knee replacements can be well worth the answer....my friend has had both done and is happy with the result. He too was bone on bone until he had to give in. Enjoy the Norfolk Crab and the Norfolk Coast (I often get to Hunny). Big hugs and may your smiles increase now.😊🌹☕
Wow just had a look at your info and you too say "glass always half full "and that is me to a T. I helped make a Covid Quilt that is now hung in our local museum and is exactly what was in the centre of my input (a wine glass half filled with red wine ) our quilt was illustrated in the Book Threads of Survival - the making of a quilt. Keep smiling.
Wow! That sounds amazing and you’re very talented. I’m going to look for the book now.😊. A friend popped in last night and our wine glasses were definitely half full (briefly 😂)
I’ve been in north Norfolk for 5 yrs and not seen a consultant in Cromer! Telephone or NNUH. My consultant left 2 yrs ago and I only got a new named one last year after a crisis call to the team secretary. Saw a new Dr, and she was fab. As you say, listened, explained and ruled out. Came way with an fibromyalgia diagnosis and a confidence that my RA was settled.
I’ve had most my scans and consultant ordered blood tests at Cromer. And it is a lovely little hospital, always seem to be on time there.
If you ever fancy a coffee, I’m happy to meet up! I love living here 😍
I believe they stopped clinics for a while in Cromer? This was Dr Coath. Quite young so probably newly qualified consultant and super nice. The Cromer surgery does the blood tests which is fabulous too. Moving from Lionwood and NNUH has been a revelation. My expectations were never high to be fair 😂.
How fabulous. It makes such a difference, doesn't it. I'm so glad you have the support that everyone should receive...onwards and upwards! Take care xx
It’s great to hear that there are still excellent rheumatology departments out there. Your experience reminds me of my own treatment in the 1990’s when you could build a relationship with a consultant who really cared.
Very interesting. I also live in north Norfolk. And have recently been referred back to rheumatology here from the Royal Free, which is where I went because I wasn't getting any rheumatology service from the N&N! Perhaps I should ask to go to Cromer rather than N&N. It's a lovely little hospital, though limited mostly to diagnostics, not treatment.
It's great! The doc here is Dr Coath. I think it's just a Monday clinic. NNUH used to be good but they lost their rheumatologists except for Karl Gaffney and were in some disarray.
I live in NN too! About 15 mins from Cromer in fact but not sure it was given as an option (only diagnosed 18 months ago) and nervous of it because it was so small. Had a horrible time with my first consultant at NNUH so have been off meds and out of hospital for about 6 or so months whilst I have been regaining my energy to fight and getting a re-referral. I had an appointment just over a week ago and had Dr Coath - she was lovely, kind, consultative, gentle and empathetic - non of the traits of my previous consultant. Apparently she works as part of a team of three so said I may not always get her but they all work very closely together. I will definitely be asking about the option to see her out at Cromer next time though.
Sounds like the three of us could compare lots of notes!
Isn’t she fabulous. I think Cromer closed for a while. The administrator said there wasn’t a clinic here so I called someone else (Karl Gaffney is one of my clients but in his private capacity in the London Osteoporosis Clinic). They said yes, it had reopened in Cromer. The same administrator hadn’t been told and she was very apologetic. I did everything possible to avoid going to nnuh as it was always pointless. Despite knowing things were not right. I can’t believe they misread the X-rays back in 2022. They’ve had a problem recruiting in nnuh which I think led to people not giving a stuff.
Perhaps other people should take lessons from Dr Coath. And at least pretend they care.
Another bonus to my move along with the sea. I do miss my neighbours in Norwich though
I totally get it. It’s cruel we have to go through what we do until someone actually listens. Like you say though onwards & upwards it’s a good mantra x
I'm very pleased for you. Isn't it weird though how we are shocked by good medical care! It's seems to be a mix from department to department. I got amazing treatment in gastro department. Saw same consultant every time. Loads of labs done and good consult. I got shocking treatment in rheumatology. Even the staff looked sick!
that’s really uplifting, really helps when you get honesty, I’m sure the physio will help no end. My son is a chiropractor & he got me doing the right exercises, took about 10 weeks persistence daily & painful, but my whole leg is much stronger, knees still painful but it’s helped me so much, alas I am having knee replacements, for me the sooner the better, but I hope you get some improvements with your exercises & daily life will be easier for you. 🌸
I envy you. I live in Covent Garden & over a school. Right on Drury Lane. I’m so sick of the noisy bloody kids & tourists. So sick of crowds.
I went to Norfolk a few times with my lovely mum. (Wells Next the Sea). Beautiful hotel & a lovely village green. Right by the sea. We went to Cromer for the day. Really lovely. Really refreshing. Sea air really blows the cobwebs away. My mum died 7 yrs ago. One of my loveliest last memories i have of my mum are of us going there for Christmas. Bus rides & cafes, people watching & making eachother laugh. Sweet times. Lucky you! X
What lovely memories to have. Isn't it funny as I'd love to live in Covent Garden. Well I would have. I knew the hotel in Wells you're talking about. It's still lovely 🌹
It was The Crown Hotel. Right opposite the green. The owner’s a professional chef. So that’s why the food was fantastic. I had the best sausage & red sauce sarnie for breakfast. Rally meaty sausage. (Oo er!!) The bread thick & just the right amount of butter. I had half with a cuppa in bed! Then i settled down for the best sleep i’d ever had in yrs!!!! I couldn’t believe it. Felt so fresh when i woke up. Must have snored the hotel down! Then i had the ofher half of the sarnie. Great hotel. X
a lot of the Norwich consultants do a day a week at Cromer, it’s fab I remember when it was an old rundown place and a very wealthy lady left all of her millions I think 5 or 6 to that hospital to be used to update it!!
Has a fab MRI are as well with evening and weekend appointments
Yes, Sagle Bernstein. I was in the NHS around the time the Chief Executives were still wondering what to do with it. I now live in The Old Hospital Cromer. An old Victorian building that was the original hospital and then a care home.
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Hopefully the thick walls will have masked the snoring hehe
I have just had an ultrasound on my right shoulder and am very upset
Anyone relate 
Bad time at rheumy appointment
RA Experience: Baricitinib/olumiant 4mg.
