Have a pad of paper. Have questions on it & write down things they say. I have an appointment in a couple days, was diagnosed 16 years ago & always take in new information I learned. Need an open dialog with them. Good luck!

Stay in shape for as long as you can. Walk, walk, and walk more if possible.

Sorry to hear you have this very awful disease my my advice to you is to that any medicine that they want you to take before you take it to find out all the information you can about it side effects and whatnot I wouldn't throw with this and the Methotrexate that I'm on has killed my kidneys down to 60% please be safe and God bless you

Maybe X-rays, but it seems like for the 1st visit or so, a lot of blood work. I think the 1st visit, the MD ordered so much blood wrk that filled 6-7 tubes.

MD will want to get an idea of what your problems and complaints are. Do your best to remember when problem started happening. Then, all good rheumatologist do a good physical exam of your joints.

Pay attention to how you feel and think about the rheumatologist. Does he/she seem to listen? Do you "click" with the MD's personality? Don't be scared to fire rheumatologists you don't like. Remember, the RA is a lifetime illness, you want to choose a rheumatologist you wouldn't dread seeing.

I fired my 1st rheumatologist and the 2nd MD I saw was a "keeper". And I've been seeing her for the last 17 years.

2 websites worth looking at are
(1) the Mayo Clinic has information on what you can expect at the 1st visit & how to prepare for the 1st visit.
(2) I like healthgrades.com. This is where patients can post their reviews about the MD.

@A myRAteam Member Thanks...I'm patiently awaiting this appointment.

Mentioned Users

A myRAtea...