Appointment with Professor Dasgupta

[FleetRose]

After being ill for two years with 'atypical' PMR and waiting nearly a year for an NHS appointment, my Rheumatologist has said he is baffled and doesn't know what is wrong with me. I have decided to make a private appointment with the 'top man', Professor Dasgupta. Please can can you send me a private message if you have been to see him and what your impressions were. I will be travelling some distance in the hope of some answers! Thank you so much.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

No advice, but please do let us know hoe you get on with the Prof...

[FleetRose in reply to DorsetLady]

Will do!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Where in the UK are you? There may even be someone good closer.

[FleetRose in reply to PMRpro]

I’m in North East Hampshire, not for from M3/M25.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to FleetRose]

Rod Hughes would definitely be worth a whirl, in Chertsey, just up the road! Really empathetic, really listens and puts his brain in gear.

[Carrollee in reply to PMRpro]

I have often thought of going private to Rod Hughes but until recently not been in a position to.

Is one given more time in a private appt and how do you start the process. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Carrollee]

Contact his secretary, Jody, Bupa finder gives these details

finder.bupa.co.uk/Consultan...

but I have these contacts which I'm pretty sure are correct according to someone who has seen him.

02 07031 3403

drrodhughes@gmail,com

[piglette in reply to Carrollee]

You can just make an appointment by contacting his secretary, 020 7031 3403, unless you are going through insurance when you will need a referral from your GP or whatever the insurance company require. I pay direct, but normally tell my GP what I am doing just to let them know. Dr Hughes will probably require some information from you before your actual appointment. The first consultation is around £220.

[Viveka in reply to FleetRose]

Rod Hughes, 100%, and you are even quite near him. He likes to see people in person for the first appointment, then it is by telephone which is cheaper, and also on a need-basis.

[Ana-16]

Not sure how to send private message but I had a zoom appointment with him during covid soon after developing PMR and wanted reassurance about pred dosage etc. He was very sympathetic , thorough in his questions etc. I was happy with the appointment

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Ana-16]

To send a PM. click/tap on the person's name/avatar image which brings up their Profile page, Towards the top right is a blue box saying Chat. Click on that and a message box appears - follow the instructions.

[AtopicGuy]

Have you been screened for peripheral autoimmune neurological conditions? I was amazed when I found out how much overlap there can be between the symptoms of these conditions and those of PMR. One key difference is that CRP and ESR blood tests can remain normal, because auto-antibodies are to blame, not auto-inflammatory cells.

[FleetRose in reply to AtopicGuy]

Hi AtopicGuy

Thank you for the suggestion. Apparently I have been referred to neurology (I found out by accident). I'm not sure what screening will be involved but it may provide an answer. Certainly my ESR and CRP have been normal all along.