Guest guest Posted February 25, 2005 Report Share Posted February 25, 2005 I'm also new to RA. I haven't even seen the RA doctor yet. I started having alot of pain and swelling in my hands, went to the doctor and, sure enough, they found Rheumatoid factor in my blood. I have other symptoms of RA but they were confused with my other illnesses. I have Graves disease and recently found out that I have vasculitis. I also see an internist because my red cell count was very, very low. I finally was given an IV of iron which solved the anemia problem. I have been reading emails and gathering information. Does anyone have advice for my first visit to the doctor? Sheril Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Welcome to the gourp, Sheril. Gather all your questions and write them down. That way you are more prepared for your appointment and won't forget to ask something. Be sure to tell your rheumatologist of your other illnesses including the issue you had with anemia and vasculitis. You may even get some of your questions answered here. This is a great group of people that has become family to me. When do you go see you rheumatologist? Be sure to take, or have you doctor send, all your lab work and any x-rays or scans that may have been done in diagnosing the RA. GOod luck with appointment....Marina in Ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 26, 2005 Report Share Posted February 26, 2005 Welcome Sheril! I'm glad you found the group. There are great people here, and you will find the information that you need. Did your doc give you anything, until you can see a rheumy? You need to make an appointment, sometimes you have to wait awhile. Your going through a lot with your health right now, and I'm so sorry for that. I hope things will get back on track for you soon. Take care, Tawny --- In , Sheril Karstens <busymom@d...> wrote: > > I'm also new to RA. I haven't even seen the RA doctor yet. I started > having alot of pain and swelling in my hands, went to the doctor and, sure > enough, they found Rheumatoid factor in my blood. I have other symptoms > of RA but they were confused with my other illnesses. I have Graves disease > and recently found out that I have vasculitis. I also see an internist > because my red cell count was very, very low. I finally was given an IV of > iron which solved the anemia problem. > > I have been reading emails and gathering information. > > Does anyone have advice for my first visit to the doctor? > > Sheril Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 In a message dated 2/27/2005 7:44:13 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Sheril writes: New to the loop Hey Sheril ... welcome to the group. I agree with the others suggestions for your first rheumatologist visit. I would only add that I find it very useful to always, always ask for copies of my lab work. You probably won't have much the first visit, but get them each subsequent time you go. This is helpful so that: 1. you can get more info about your specific condition (there is a ton of knowledgeable people on this list to help you navigate and, of course, on the web too -- knowledge is power!); 2. in case you ever have a problem with your doctor and need to take your info to another doc for a second opinion (which I highly recommend); 3. to have a log history or diary of your physical health. Hope this is helpful! Best to you! Love and Prayers, Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 In a message dated 2/27/2005 7:44:13 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Sheril writes: New to the loop Hey Sheril ... welcome to the group. I agree with the others suggestions for your first rheumatologist visit. I would only add that I find it very useful to always, always ask for copies of my lab work. You probably won't have much the first visit, but get them each subsequent time you go. This is helpful so that: 1. you can get more info about your specific condition (there is a ton of knowledgeable people on this list to help you navigate and, of course, on the web too -- knowledge is power!); 2. in case you ever have a problem with your doctor and need to take your info to another doc for a second opinion (which I highly recommend); 3. to have a log history or diary of your physical health. Hope this is helpful! Best to you! Love and Prayers, Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 Welcome, Sheril! Sorry that you have such a complicated medical situation. You've already gotten sound advice. Writing down all questions you wish to ask the rheumatologist is a very good idea. If you can also write up a short medical history or note milestones where symptoms began, that would be helpful. Bring all medical records you may have at home and a list of any medications you currently take with you. I'll try to post something related to first visits. I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] New to the loop > > > I'm also new to RA. I haven't even seen the RA doctor yet. I started > having alot of pain and swelling in my hands, went to the doctor and, sure > enough, they found Rheumatoid factor in my blood. I have other symptoms > of RA but they were confused with my other illnesses. I have Graves > disease > and recently found out that I have vasculitis. I also see an internist > because my red cell count was very, very low. I finally was given an IV > of > iron which solved the anemia problem. > > I have been reading emails and gathering information. > > Does anyone have advice for my first visit to the doctor? > > Sheril Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2005 Report Share Posted February 27, 2005 Welcome, Sheril! Sorry that you have such a complicated medical situation. You've already gotten sound advice. Writing down all questions you wish to ask the rheumatologist is a very good idea. If you can also write up a short medical history or note milestones where symptoms began, that would be helpful. Bring all medical records you may have at home and a list of any medications you currently take with you. I'll try to post something related to first visits. I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] New to the loop > > > I'm also new to RA. I haven't even seen the RA doctor yet. I started > having alot of pain and swelling in my hands, went to the doctor and, sure > enough, they found Rheumatoid factor in my blood. I have other symptoms > of RA but they were confused with my other illnesses. I have Graves > disease > and recently found out that I have vasculitis. I also see an internist > because my red cell count was very, very low. I finally was given an IV > of > iron which solved the anemia problem. > > I have been reading emails and gathering information. > > Does anyone have advice for my first visit to the doctor? > > Sheril Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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