How often should you see your rhuem doctor?

[his angel]

I live in a small town where we only have one rhuem so he schedules your appts every 6 months. I see my gp alot but think my rhuem doc would help me more. Am I wrong? I can go out of network and town if needed but only if necessary. Please let me know of your experinces. Thank you.   Sunshine

[mshistory]

Right now, I see mine every 3 months and get blood drawn every 3 months, but if I get to a point that I feel well enough, we'll stretch our appointments out to six months. My rheumy says he has some patients who feel well enough that they only see him once a year as a kind of annual checkup - it all depends on how severe our symptoms are and how well they are being managed. Right now, I wouldn't want to go more than 3 months without seeing  my rheumy, but that may change if I start feeling better.

[SueAnn]

I see my rheumy every two months at the moment with blood work every month because I am on Imuran.  Once we get the dosage right, I hope to go every two months for blood work and go back to every 3 months for doctors appointments.

I think it all depends on how you are doing and your rheumy.

Does your GP and your Rheumy work together to treat you?  If they are able to work together well, then it might not be necessary to go out of network.  Just a thought.  I know that my doctors will get on the phone with the other doctor when I am in the office and discuss my treatment, which is pretty cool of them I think. 

SueAnn

[Pisces24]

It depends on your health, circumstances and symptoms. I could not even guess for you how often to see him/her. I would say minimumally at least once a year.

I see all my -ologists once a year but it depends. I have one going on maternity leave so seeing her 8 mos from last appt. Also if I have a special test done, sometimes I will need to come back for an appt to talk about results, etc. or if dr doesn't like the tests results they will get repeated in 3-4 mos and I'll come back. It varies.

[Madison Granny]

I see my Rheumy every six months and have for the last 2 years.  He told me if I'm bad or things change to call and get in to see him sooner.

[Sadie963]

When I was first diagnosed by my primary doc due to lots of aches, joint pains and bloodwork - high ANA and high SSA-Ro plus other inflammation markers.  He sent me to a rhuematologist but it took 6mos to get an appt. (and that was 13yrs ago).

By the time I finally got to the appt. I was not feeling so bad so I refused his suggestion of taking Methotrexate. After that, I went six months then he changed it to once a year for bloodwork tests. They never offered me Plaquenil and I thought Methotrexate was much too strong to take when I had no serious joint pains and the fatigue was not so bad.

I don't think I really understood that a lot of symptoms I was having were actually to Sjogrens and I kept attributing them to my never ending high stress job that I had at the time.

Fast forward to last year:  I had a bad flare that put me in the hospital so when I got out, I had to go once a month, then every other month and now every 3 months. I'm hoping to be off the steroids very soon (cross your fingers ) then I'm pretty sure they can stretch the visits out a bit more.  I'm taking Plaquinel 200mg two times a day and Prednisone 2.5mg a day.

I have been extremely fortunate with the rheumatologists I have had to work with due to my illness. I hope anyone who is having a hard time with their rheumie does not give up because there ARE good drs. out there. I just wish it was not so darn difficult to locate them.

I wish everyone a symptom free Christmas holiday and many, many more to come

[Billydude]

I was seeing mine every six months in the first couple of years.  Then she said that there was no need to make another appointment unless there was a problem.   I think she wasn't very  happy with me when I went against her advise and decided not to do Rituxan.

[eyeamdry]

Every three months with a blood draw.  I visit my GP because he is closer if I get sick.  If things become very bad, I will schedule an extra appointment with my rheumy.  It's about an hour and half drive each way. 

[Nancy60]

I see mine every 4 months now, used to be every 2-3 months, but I was having lots of symptoms, positive bloods etc...She routinely does a CBC and Chem panel, other tests are on an as needed basis (basically if new or worsening symptoms crop up she will investigate more).  Several of my other specialists I see only 1 x a year unless I have new problems.  I see my PCP/Internist annually and for any problems that might come up. 

Nancy

[Jenny]

I've only been going to her  for about  4 or 5 months and see her every 2 months. My vitamin D was  very low and a couple of other things have been low, and i recently started on Plaquenil, so I take blood tests often. She told me at my last visit I only need to go every 3 months.  Hopefully if everything looks good, I can stretch it out a bit.

[Patze]

It depends on what is going on....  Usually see the rheumy every six months, but this last year I've seen him four times and have to see him again next month (bloodwork, ugh).

I see the Internist twice a year to review whats been going on, and anytime I need to see a doctor quickly.



Patze

[kellyptyler]

as many others said: It all depends on how I am doing..I think the longest I've went is 4 months..but as of right now I'm not doing well so it's every 2 or 3 months.

[DragonflyC]

I see mine every 4-6 months for check-ups.

If something pops up (e.g., a flare), I'll see him for that, too. I don't wait for the scheduled exam.

[Navigator]

I see him once a year as I am pretty stable now...but if I have a problem I can email him and he will respond within the day and I can get in to see him within days if need be.

[Katybarstool]

I see mine annually, but I do have access to a rheumy nurse line, and if I'm having problems, they will see me in clinic or arrange for me to see a rheumy on the ward.

Kathyx