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Date: 10.08.2010
From: Lisa

Subject: I think I've got RA :o(

My mum has RA, her mum had it and her mum had it..... not liking this pattern

I'm 36 and for the last few weeks my feet and ankles are stiff when I get out of bed for around 5mins til I've walked around and they've 'warmed up' and I'm getting pains in my hands and wrists. When I try to do certain things like threading a needle it feels almost as if my thumb joint is slightly misaligned.

I've been reading up today and looks like I should go to the docs asap as delaying it, if it is RA, will cause more damage to my joints.

Just wondering whether it would be best to take out private health insurance before I go and get the probable RA diagnosis from the GP? Would I be better off with private care or is NHS care good for RA?

Thanks everyone
Lisa
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Date: 10.08.2010
From: Rachel

Subject: Re: I think I've got RA :o(

Hi Lisa

I am also 36 and my mum and all her sisters have RA. I was diagnosed with it a month ago. I went to the GP and he referred me to a Rhuemathologist who confirmed it was RA. I started off with stiff hands every morning but then had a big flare up with swollen joints and I couldn't walk. I would go see about it asap. It may not be RA but best get it checked out. I live in Jersey so don't know about the NHS but I have private health insurance through my work and I haven't had to wait on appointments and have been put on medication straight away.

Good luck let me know how you get on.

Rach
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Date: 10.08.2010
From: Lynn B

Subject: Re: I think I've got RA :o(

Hi Lisa and welcome to the forum, lots of lovely guys on here as you will probably know from reading some of the threads. I can only tell you what I would do and I would certainly go and see you GP and get a referal to a good rheumatolagist. And as for your health care they are the same doctors and the only difference is the waiting time. Please let us know how you get on. take care.Lynn
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Date: 10.08.2010
From: paul

Subject: Re: I think I've got RA :o(

Hi Lisa,

I was private with PPP through work but after 2 years of any chronic condition they stop paying and also the Doctor i saw during those 2 years was rubbish compared to the one i see now on the NHS at St Thomas's Hospital London (not my local PCT).

Best check if you go private on the policy and what it covers and for how long. Also you may not be able to claim for anything that you already know you have.. insurance companies will try and get away with everything if they can.

But the quicker you get diagnosed and on the correct medication the better.

regards

Paul
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Date: 20.08.2010
From: Lisa

Subject: Re: I think I've got RA :o(

Hello and thanks for your replies.

I still haven't been to the docs or sorted health insurance - think I'm burying my head in the sand a bit! I guess I'm hoping it's something else but with the symptoms I have I'm not sure what else it could be. Perhaps I should just bite the bullet and make an appt with the GP next week.

Had a little look at healthcare, it seems they don't tend to pay for day to day treatment of chronic diseases but will pay for treatment of flare ups or operations relating to them.

Thanks again for your advice, I'll keep you posted....

-x-
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Date: 21.08.2010
From: Jill

Subject: Re: I think I've got RA :o(

Hi Lisa

I agree with Lynn B, its not worth paying for insurance just for the R.A., assuming it is that, its only the waiting time that is different, and once u begin to get rhummy help, often u can ring the sec and she will try her best to fit u in to clinic, so u wont have to wait that long, also they r the same doctors that work private, also whenu do see a rhumatologist, he will ask for a follow up appt for example he/she may say, see u in three months, that mite seem like a long time to us/u, but in the scheme of things it isnt a long time to wait, becos it can take a while for things to get better, or worse.....but as soon as they realise If u do have R.A. they will put u on the correct meds, and u will be looked after very well.........usually on first visit, u may wait a month or more to see him/her, but once u have, they will see u 8 weeks after, and then mb longer if y doing well..........id go for it, get it sorted now, c ya GP, and go on NHS, trust me, ive had excellent support, a lot of ppl have, as long as U learn the ropes as u go along, for example, if u r suppose to go back and see rhummy, but havnt heard after a week(with appointment date) ring secretary up, ans she will book it, as there will always be human errors and we can slip thru the net, so always be in charge of your appointments, and chase them up if u havnt heard, assuming they say they will send appt thru post ok........that way u dont get forgotten......let us know how u get on

tc Jill
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