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Pingback: Tweets that mention Patient Stories May Provide Real Help via Social Media | If you don't have RA, please read | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior -- Topsy.com
First, the raining hearts are cute.
This is a great post. One of the things that has been so difficult for me is that there are very very few adrenal patients and I am different still in some ways from the ones I have found to talk to.
If I didn’t have blood work, I would think I was crazy.
M
I didn’t know that you can have RA and be sero-negative. It seems to be the story of my life…
Michelle, that’s a very pretty blog. Hopefully with early treatment you will do those things them forever.
As far as tests for RA go, you might want to read throught the Tests section in the RA Map on the menu. Just click on the big E there. Also, there is a “Do I Have RA” Page on the menu that you might find helpful. Only about 70% of RA patients test positive for Rheumatoid factor, but there can be more to diagnosis. I hope this helps you. Feel free to ask questions.
Rheumatol Int. 2011 Feb 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Something’s missing here: a look at the quality of rheumatology referral letters.
Jack C, Hazel E, Bernatsky S.
Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal, PQ, Canada.
Abstract
A convincing body of evidence points to an early window of opportunity for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, data indicate that in many cases, this window of opportunity is missed. Once a patient does present to their primary care provider, important additional delays in rheumatology assessment can occur. To report the results of our study assessing referral letters to rheumatologists, we examined referral letters received over a one-year period by one full-time rheumatologist practicing at a tertiary-care center. We found only a small percentage of referral letters made mention of the pattern of joint involvement. Just 17% of consults indicated symptom duration. Only 2% mentioned any circadian rhythm of symptoms (such as morning stiffness), and only 6% provided information about functional status. Almost two-thirds (62%) of consults specified only ‘joint pain’ in the referral letter. We provide objective evidence that referral letters sent to rheumatologists are often lacking in key elements of the medical history. This lack of information means that appropriate triage of referrals by rheumatologists is very difficult. As a response to this, we have developed, with family physicians and rheumatologists, a standardized referral template which is being pilot-tested. Our ultimate goal is to improve wait times for patients with urgent conditions such as inflammatory arthritis.
PMID: 21340567 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
Patient stories is the first thing I search for when I’m diagnosed with anything. Not the Mayo clinic’s idea of what it is. Patients. I can’t tell you how many sites said “you must test positive for RA” in bloodwork. Thank goodness I learned to ignore that and keep pushing doctors to do the right thing, because other patients experienced that ignorance, fought it, and won.
WHAT SHE SAID!