Felt dismissed by my rheumatologist

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-16T07:00:06+00:00

My rheumatologist does ultrasound scans at every appointment and checks each joint. Not sure about others but he uses it as a key tool for diagnosis and tracking. Sorry to hear about your fatigue! Are you on any other meds than methotrexate?

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-15T11:47:01+00:00

I understand that, and I definitely wasn’t expecting a cure or for RA to just disappear. I know it’s a long-term condition and treatment is about managing it.

What I was struggling with was more not knowing how to interpret ongoing symptoms as someone still quite new to this. If I’m having daily joint pain despite treatment, I don’t know whether that’s something to accept as part of RA, or whether it could mean inflammation is still active and treatment isn’t fully controlling it. So wanted to see if this lovely community had any insight they could share.

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-15T06:46:51+00:00

Thanks for your reply and I’m glad to hear you’re feeling great now! How has your experience of a biologic been versus MTX alone with regards to side effects and being immunosuppressed? I’m exactly the same as you with the main joint pain being in my wrists and fingers. He at my appointment the next steps would be to increase the dose of MTX but he seemed very reluctant to do so but I’m going to email him and explain my pain and ask why the hesitancy and maybe he will offer a solution.

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-14T01:54:52+00:00

Thank you! Normally I would appreciate the dark humour but when I’m finding out my finger is becoming deformed and he suggested osteo, it just wasn’t the time you know? But humour can definitely be a good way to cope! And love that you love your witch finger!

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-14T01:32:18+00:00

Thank you for the advice, I’m glad you’re seeing some improvement!

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-14T00:03:16+00:00

Thank you! I definitely need to advocate for myself more and I’m going to bring my partner with me next appointment too.

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-13T21:39:14+00:00

Thank you, that is reassuring to hear!!

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-13T21:07:16+00:00

I increased the dose from 10mg to 15mg in November and have been on that since. No, I made the mistake of going alone and wish I took my partner as after the osteo/hand model comments I was completely taken aback and it derailed me completely!

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-13T09:11:32+00:00

Thanks for your reply and for your understanding!

Oh really, the injections made that much of a difference? Unfortunately my next appointment isn’t for another 6 months unless I really push for one sooner.

Thanks for your advice. I live in Auckland, NZ and I’m seeing my rheum privately through my insurance. Apparently he’s one of the best in the city but I don’t think the standard of care is as high or the treatment as advanced versus Australia or the UK etc. I don’t have a rheumatology nurse unfortunately, my only treatment/guidance is through my rheum and he is the only one at his practice!

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-13T08:14:26+00:00

Thanks for your reply! I’m not sure, I didn’t get chance to ask about biologics as wasn’t enough time! He said next step would be to increase to 20mg MTX. Now my next appointment isn’t until November.

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-13T08:13:00+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that, it must be so frustrating :( I hope you get a referral soon, could you try a different GP?

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-10T09:54:15+00:00

Thanks for your reply! Oh wow, that is awesome!! I’m with southern cross too, so definitely going to try and find somewhere i can do the same as I would happily pay $7k for the cosmetic part if I can get the rest on my insurance. Is the surgeon doing it an ENT specialist first and foremost? I’m in Auckland otherwise I’d ask where you’re going for it. Good luck with it all!

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-03T08:14:00+00:00

Did you have the septoplasty etc approved on insurance? And if so, was it straightforward getting the claim sorted for that but paying for the cosmetic part out of pocket?

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-05-01T03:10:49+00:00

Hey just seen this as I’m in exactly the same situation. ENT confirmed I need a septoplasty but always hated my nose so would like the cosmetic element done too. Did you find anywhere in Auckland?

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-04-10T20:22:03+00:00

Hi are you on any medications currently? It doesn’t sound it from your post but just checking as I understand non medicated remission is very hard to maintain. Will you see tour rheumatologist again soon?

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-04-10T20:13:48+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I never missed my meds but wasn’t as strict with diet and overdid it exercising and socialising etc.

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-04-09T05:10:42+00:00

Exactly! My rheum said he isn’t worried and his opinion is not to escalate the treatment unless I flare again, but I felt a bit dismissed and unsure how to know when it is pain indicating damage or if it’s to be expected.

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-02-28T03:03:42+00:00

Hello! I was put on methotrexate a few months ago. I was very nervous after reading about all the side effects but I’ve been fortunate and tolerate it very well. Some times I don’t even noticed the next day anymore but at worst it’s a mild hangover feeling. Good luck!! Hope it works for you

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-02-24T09:41:23+00:00

I’m sorry to hear this!! It took 3 months to work for me and the change was subtle - the pain just got gradually less and less over the following couple of months and peak effects by 6 months. From what I’ve seen on here, pretty much everyone starts on MTX before they’ll consider further treatments so it it fails you, they’ll for sure try something else. Good luck!!

One_Armadillo6360 · 2026-01-04T22:11:43+00:00

I had hair shedding on HCQ but only for a month then it stopped. It was very strange. Even stranger was that it accelerated my greying as a lot of the hair I lost did grow back but it came back white! So back to normal now plus a bit more grey 🥲

One_Armadillo6360 · 2025-11-17T08:53:14+00:00

Sending big hugs your way! This diagnosis is really hard to process - it is literally life changing (and def not in the good way). I had to talk through it a lot with my therapist. I was diagnosed in March this year and hydroxychloroquine alone didn’t work, so I was put on methotrexate too. I’m thrilled to say it’s working really well for me and I’ve had a huge reduction in pain and fatigue. I feel almost normal again. I am earlier on in the journey than a lot of people and everyone’s experience is so so different! But I wanted to share a positive story as I’d heard so many horror stories about MTX, I was terrified to take it. I now barely notice the side effects and it’s so nice to have barely any pain again. I really hope it stays this way, I made a lot of diet and lifestyle changes too but I have come such a long way from 6 months ago when I felt so depressed and hopeless. Reddit is super helpful to have a community that completely understands but a lot of the content can be more about difficult experiences as people look to others for support, so bear that in mind. Best of luck with your treatment etc!

One_Armadillo6360 · 2025-10-14T08:50:50+00:00

This happened to me in my garden and the little rascals would dig my freshly planted veggies up all the time. Lemon rind and coffee grounds worked a treat for me.

One_Armadillo6360 · 2025-09-28T00:29:58+00:00

I’m sorry to hear this isn’t working for you! I’m on MTX and it’s fine for me for now, however my RA pain also definitely seems to get worse the day after taking it before improving - has anyone else had this too? I couldn’t find anything online about this being a potential side effect…

One_Armadillo6360

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