Comments on: 21 Things to Know About Finding a New Rheumatologist / Rheumatoid Arthritis Specialist http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/ Bringing information & encouragement to fight RA Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:03:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: JillCutro http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-151728 JillCutro Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:14:37 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-151728 Does any one know of a rheumatologist in Manhattan, NY who has RA ? Does any one know of a rheumatologist in Manhattan, NY who has RA ?

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-80013 Kelly Young Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:02:51 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-80013 Polly, carrying around your films is a good idea or a digital version if you have it. I can't answer about the blood labs since I don't know which ones. I do know that some of the numbers can vary by laboratory or can go up or down more quickly than they are often tested. For example, the CRP can change in a matter of hours but is sometimes tested every 2 yrs. If you are looking for RA from a blood test, you should ask about your anti-CCP test. RA cannot be diagnosed by only a blood test since there are patients with negative blood tests even after years of RA with evidence of damage. You might want to read through some posts on diagnosis of RA, too. <a href="http://rawarrior.com/tag/rheumatoid-arthritis-diagnosis/">Click here for whole list.</a> Polly, carrying around your films is a good idea or a digital version if you have it. I can’t answer about the blood labs since I don’t know which ones. I do know that some of the numbers can vary by laboratory or can go up or down more quickly than they are often tested. For example, the CRP can change in a matter of hours but is sometimes tested every 2 yrs. If you are looking for RA from a blood test, you should ask about your anti-CCP test. RA cannot be diagnosed by only a blood test since there are patients with negative blood tests even after years of RA with evidence of damage.

You might want to read through some posts on diagnosis of RA, too. Click here for whole list.

]]> By: Polly http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-79906 Polly Sat, 30 Jul 2011 07:31:14 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-79906 Kelly, When I go to a new doctor, should I take the x-rays from the old doctor. Do you think that blood work should be checked more than one time. My blood tests did not show any sign of RA. Thank you, Kelly,
When I go to a new doctor, should I take the x-rays from the old doctor. Do you think that blood work should be checked more than one time. My blood tests did not show any sign of RA.
Thank you,

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-76480 Kelly Young Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:58:54 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-76480 Hi Velva, that it not the topic of this post. There are many pages on this site which could be used for the purpose that you request. There are almost 550 pages here so you might want to use the search function or one of the other organizational tools such as the Tags List. There's a tab on the menu for inquiring about diagnosis and an RA Map on the menu created for new RA patients. I'll try to post a link for you as soon as I can. Hi Velva, that it not the topic of this post.
There are many pages on this site which could be used for the purpose that you request. There are almost 550 pages here so you might want to use the search function or one of the other organizational tools such as the Tags List. There’s a tab on the menu for inquiring about diagnosis and an RA Map on the menu created for new RA patients. I’ll try to post a link for you as soon as I can.

]]> By: Velva http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-76435 Velva Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:09:40 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-76435 I find this article not very informative for people who have not yet been diagnosed with RA, but know they have it. I need to know what to expect. I find this article not very informative for people who have not yet been diagnosed with RA, but know they have it. I need to know what to expect.

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-63641 Kelly Young Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:15:14 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-63641 An immunologist who knows about both conditions might be able, but I think that most MS patients need a neurologist and RA patients see a rheumatologist (for joints). Since RA (and MS) can affect many systems of the body, there's no perfect specialist for either - and especially not for both. I feel for you. An immunologist who knows about both conditions might be able, but I think that most MS patients need a neurologist and RA patients see a rheumatologist (for joints). Since RA (and MS) can affect many systems of the body, there’s no perfect specialist for either – and especially not for both. I feel for you.

]]> By: Candy http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-63595 Candy Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:36:18 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-63595 I have a question is there a doctor that would treat both RA and MS, if so what would they be called I have a question is there a doctor that would treat both RA and MS, if so what would they be called

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-60718 Kelly Young Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:55:28 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-60718 I am so glad you went to find another doctor & it sounds like you are getting better care! This is so much harder than people realize especially when we have to do it more than once. But you really need this care! Thanks so much for putting your experience here to encourage others! I am so glad you went to find another doctor & it sounds like you are getting better care! This is so much harder than people realize especially when we have to do it more than once. But you really need this care! Thanks so much for putting your experience here to encourage others!

]]> By: Esther http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-60538 Esther Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:25:54 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-60538 I've been diagnosed since October 2010. I have already changed rheumatologists. The dr. I have been seeing is affiliated with a university/teaching hospital. She never makes eye contact, never shakes hands at all let alone gently, talks to her computer screen and doesn't offer much information...I have to keep asking questions to get to the next step. She tells me only what she want to and that's not good enough for me. The staff is rude. Therefore I have changed rheumatologists. The dr. I am now seeing fits all of your 21 tips. The one tip that stuck out to me was the one saying that a rheumatologist should welcome the accompanying friend or family member warmly. My new dr. did exactly that for my husband who accompanied me to the first visit. He is sending me for x-rays of the hands, wrists, and feet. He says that this should have been done at my first visit with the previous dr. He also says that my rheumatoid arthritis is pretty severe and the present treatment was not aggressive enough. I left the office with an inspirational feeling...something I have not had in quite a while. I am so glad I sought out a second opinion! I’ve been diagnosed since October 2010. I have already changed rheumatologists. The dr. I have been seeing is affiliated with a university/teaching hospital. She never makes eye contact, never shakes hands at all let alone gently, talks to her computer screen and doesn’t offer much information…I have to keep asking questions to get to the next step. She tells me only what she want to and that’s not good enough for me. The staff is rude. Therefore I have changed rheumatologists. The dr. I am now seeing fits all of your 21 tips. The one tip that stuck out to me was the one saying that a rheumatologist should welcome the accompanying friend or family member warmly. My new dr. did exactly that for my husband who accompanied me to the first visit. He is sending me for x-rays of the hands, wrists, and feet. He says that this should have been done at my first visit with the previous dr. He also says that my rheumatoid arthritis is pretty severe and the present treatment was not aggressive enough. I left the office with an inspirational feeling…something I have not had in quite a while. I am so glad I sought out a second opinion!

]]> By: Irwin Lim http://rawarrior.com/21-things-to-know-about-finding-a-new-rheumatologist-rheumatoid-arthritis-specialist/comment-page-1/#comment-48627 Irwin Lim Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:33:54 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/?p=1472#comment-48627 Thanks Kelly. I've directed a number of my RA patients to your site. Support from other people living with RA is very useful. Thanks Kelly. I’ve directed a number of my RA patients to your site. Support from other people living with RA is very useful.

]]>