Will they give me a Rheumatologist appointment???

Posted , 7 users are following.

Under GP/NHS and have tested negative for everything.  I have had the same pains since I was about 20ish although getting worse over the years and I am now 47.  I have also had 9 miscarriages and had problems with my 10th pregnancy as my daughter had a bleed on the brain between 20 and 28 weeks.  My GP and the miscarriage unit I was under tried everything to find  a reason for all this but I kept testing negatively even though the doctors too think there is some sort of systemic thing going on. 

Has anybody been able to get a referral on NHS to a rheumatologist even though all the inflamatory markers etc tests come back negative?

Thanks in advance x

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    Hello 9Sparkles, all of my tests apart from the CRP which was slightly elevated, came back negative. I also have lots of pain. I went private in the end to see a rheumatoligist but I refused to pay any more money as he advised i should see him again. So I went to myGP and demanded that i be referred to an NHS rheumatologist. I waited 3/4 months for the appointment. Was finally seen and now thankfully the wheels are in motion to get a proper diagnosis. Good luck. You may have to be forceful but they will refer you. It's your entitlement to be seen x
  • Posted

    Hi 9Sparkles

    Wow....you have been through alot!  My NHS GP after checking all other posibilities for my pains and all results coming back negative did refer me to the rheuamtologist. I was seen withing six weeks.

    Good Luck I hope you get to see your NHS rheumatologist soon.

    Stay positive x

  • Posted

    I saw a rheumatologist 4 weeks ago and waiting on hearing back.  I normally have very stiff joints and muscle pain, but didnt experience either at the time of the appointment.  I felt like he thought I was a hypochondriac.  I had also paid to go private 5 years ago and everything showed negative and because all the pains are getting worse this is why I went back to my gp and got a referral.  I have to get a scan then will get my results but not quite sure what to expect.
  • Posted

    Hello 9Sparkles,

    How tough things have been for you, my heart goes out to you.

    My experience is, the Doc referred me to rheumatologist after 2 years and numerous tests coming up negative. But to be truthful, the Rheumy only confirmed Docs diagnosis and treatment. I didn't need to see him again. Just don't want to get your hopes up, there is no miracle cure for this.

    Take care, Anne

  • Posted

    Not in the UK...just can't understand why your doc doesn't just refer you to a specialist.Rhumo..you certainly have had a rough time..really feeling for you...don't know wether the miscarriages have anything to do with Fibro though.I had 3 but nthey were not related..to Fibro......any miscarriage is enough to have to deal with but that many is unreal...that's enough to suffer from alone...hope you get sorted really soon...knowing what's what certainly brings the stress levels down..and that's such a key to living with Fibro...will be praying for you 9Sparkles...:-) xxxxx
  • Posted

    Hi Sparkles,

    I just asked for a referal to the rheumy, I think the GP was glad to hand me over, I also had no postive bloods although a few years before i had a couple of very borderline ANA's. Once i saw the rhuemy and had a few tests done (all negative) I was still kept on as his patient. The rheumy is supposed to be the one to diagnose fibro anyway. A top london neurologist told me there is such a thing as sero negative lupus meaning tests come back negative but it doesnt mean you dont have it. P.S I havent been diagnosed with fibro, im waiting again for a new rheumy appointment with a different DR as new surgery GP thinks i have something like lupus going on but  I dont think thats the case at all, it just so happens i have a problem with my knee where it swells up and that seems to be my new GP's reason for thinking I have a systemic disease where I actually think its just a bad knee as other knee is not swollen.

    Just ask for a referall, good luck.

     

    • Posted

      Hi Charlotte

      Good Luck with your rheumatologist appointment. Hope you get the answers you need to move on.

      Take care x

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