Rheumatologist suggestions Yorkshire

[Secondgen]

Hi my Gp has agreed to refer me to rheumatology. I have been on 15mg pred for 6-7 weeks and the symptoms have not resolved. He is leaving me on this dose until I am seen but has said that there could be a long wait and suggested that I look at a private appointment. Does anyone have suggestions for the West Yorkshire/ Leeds/Huddersfield area please

[Koalajane]

I don’t know about Yorkshire but my thought is would your GP not try you on 20mg instead of 15mg to see if that sorts out the inflammation

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I replied to you on the other thread - but I also agree with Koalajane.

[Secondgen in reply to PMRpro]

Me too, unfortunately the Gp wouldn’t budge from 15mg and they’re being really stingy with the amount they give at each prescription- not even a month’s worth

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Secondgen]

Bonkers…. Not as if they cost a fortune, but obviously another doctor who has an aversion to them.

[Charlie1boy]

I was started on 20mg, then increased to 30mg to get the initial inflammation under control - twice the amount you are being offered.

As you can probably guess, I am of the same view as Koalajane!

Good luck.

[AgedCrone]

Either ask your GP which rheumatologist he would refer you to…or ask around amongst your friends to see if they are under a rheumatologist & if they are happy with their treatment.

If you choose to have a private first consultation, which is a very good idea, before you set a date, speak to the Private rheumatologist’s secretary to check costs,& that the specialist has an NHS practice that you could be transferred to for ongoing treatment.

Having ongoing treatment privately is not only very expensive, but some of the RA Biologic drugs cannot be prescribed privately, they have to be prescribed by a consultant on the NHS.

You would still have to join the queue to proceed to get a future NHS appointment, but you would have been able to get started on suitable RA meds…& the sooner you start these meds the sooner you will be on the right road.

Good Luck…hope you get a suitable appointment very quickly.

[Rugger]

The majority of patients with PMR are under the care of a GP without referral to a Rheumatologist. (Those with GCA usually see a Rheumatologist )

The guidelines for PMR give a starting dose of 15 - 25mg. Could you discuss this with your GP while waiting / deciding whether to go to the expense of a private appointment that may not be necessary?

Have you joined the Yorkshire support group of PMRGCAuk? If not, email [e-mail] and ask Yvonne to put you on the mailing list.

Best wishes.

[AgedCrone in reply to Rugger]

If your GP thinks you may have RA…it is essential that you see a rheumatologist. These days the medications are so advanced the average GP will not have the experience to prescribe them,& once you get into moving on to Biologic drugs…a GP cannot prescribe them they must be prescribed by an NHS consultant rheumatologist.

It really is true - with RA, the sooner you start on Dmards….…Disease modyfying anti rheumatic drugs the better are your chances to control the symptoms.

I was diagnosed in 1997…back then appointments were not so difficult to get…so I was seen swiftly & I am living with RA…but not suffering with it.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AgedCrone]

Did you mean to reply to this thread? It's not about RA... the author Secondgen has PMR, not RA [neither has Rugger .

[AgedCrone in reply to DorsetLady]

As an ex nurse,…I replied to Secondgen ..thinking as she had been referred to a rheumatologist by her GP…..she may have RA symptoms….and to explain how important an early appointment could be. Sorry if I interfered…I know zero about PMR,but I guess a Rheumatologist would?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AgedCrone]

I know zero about PMR, but I guess a Rheumatologist would?

Sincerely hope so😏.. and yes she has been referred - but NHS waiting list is so long, she is looking for a private appointment initially to get clarification. And she may well have RA instead of/as well as PMR.

[AgedCrone in reply to DorsetLady]

Yes I did understand her post..& I hope my reply may have been of help- explaining how having a Private initial private appointment can speed things up, but it doesn't mean you have to continue being a private patient.

But whilst I am here..what is exactly a PMRGCAuk Volunteer?

I don’t think we have that Title on the NRAS site….we just all pitch in to volunteer our opinions.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AgedCrone]

It was bestowed on me long time ago by the then moderator because I had GCA (that’s less common than PMR) and answered lots of questions… still do. She appreciated that at the time as the forum was relatively new, and I’m guessing it lessened her workload. Just an honorary title. 😊

As you can see, everyone pitches in on here… some more than others and both PMRpro and I read all responses.

[Secondgen in reply to AgedCrone]

No I definitely don’t have RA, tested negative for that and I had an immediate response to steroids as I was much improved but the symptoms have not resolved completely.

[AgedCrone in reply to Secondgen]

Well if you get a consultant rheumatologist’s opinion that may just tip the scales to help you?

I hope you manage to get an appointment soon.

If you do get a suggestion about a suitable rheumy in your area , often a call to see if you can get on their cancellation list speeds things up. Some patients have to cancel at the very last minute & if you are flexible you could be lucky.