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Date: 06.08.2012
From: Megan

Subject: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

I have been in pain now a couple of years, had blood tests and nothing has shown up. My GP told me to lose weight and things would feel better, i have lost 2 stone, and he was wrong i am still in pain. i will have saved hopefully enough by january to go private. how do i go about this? my symptoms are so varied, i have joint pain, muscle pain, i hurt when touched, i itch, sore feet, and these are just a few of the symptoms.Thanks for your help.
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Date: 06.08.2012
From: willis

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

Hi Megan, what blood tests did you have done? i have no idea on how to go private darling i can only suggest you go back to docs and ask to be referred to a specialist if the blood tests are coming back with nothing showing - this can sometimes happen when there is something not right. hope you get help soon xxx
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Date: 06.08.2012
From: marlene

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

Hi Megan, you should not have to go private!!
Go back to your GP armed with a list of your problems so you don't forget to tell him/her everything.
It is a long process to be diagnosed as Arthur has so many symptons and most GP's are not that good at reconising the condition.
You need to be under a rhumy team to get to the bottom of this.
You will have to badger your GP into sending you to the right people.
I wish you all the best keep your chin up.
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Date: 06.08.2012
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

hi Megan , got to agree with marlene , got back to GP & asked to be refered to a Rheumatoligist

if they dont would consider changing GP , private you need a referal anyway , not sure about cost but this thread says £300

http://www.arthritisforum.org.uk/cgi-bin/showthread.pl?threadid=1330&offset=0
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Date: 07.08.2012
From: Megan

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

Thanks everyone for your replies, believe me i have tried time and time again with my GP. The blood test i had was the rheumatoid factor, and because it came back normal he said everything was ok.Some days it is so bad i just dont want to carry on, i just want to find out what is wrong and if there is any treatment available. I will go to my GP in January for a referral. Thanks.
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Date: 07.08.2012
From: marlene

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

Hi Megan, why can I ask are you going to wait until January??
If you feel so bad you don't feel like carrying on surely you should go to your GP sooner!!
Megan take care!!
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Date: 08.08.2012
From: Paula-R

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

Even if your blood test comes back normal (rheumatoid factor), you still can have RA. There is two diagnosis of it sero negative (no RA factor showing) and sero positive (RA factor present). Sadly some doctors are not aware of this. If you have no RA factor they look at your history and symptoms to diagnose it.

I suggest you ring up The National Rheumatoid Society up and have a chat with them and then go back and see your GP. Helpline Number 0800 298 7650.

Hope this helps.

Paula
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Date: 09.08.2012
From: Patricia

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

Hi Megan :-)

I have Inflammatory Arthritis. I call it inflammatory Arthritis because I haven't ever had the rheumatoid factor or anti ccp in my blood. My rheumatologist now just puts RA down on my blood forms. Like you I had an awful job to get diagnosed. Just felt like I was going mad!!! Was told first of all it was stress and then it was osteoarthritis. Neither of those diagnoses was right and I just knew they weren't. I started feeling a little unwell a good number of years ago, aching muscles, stiffness, cramp under my feet and real tiredness, but I was only diagnosed in May 2010. I became quite poorly in the end because my GP just wouldn't listen to me.

I did go privately but that was because my husband had insurance through his new job. It cost his company about £125 but I did have to be referred by my GP. If you are paying the fee yourself I think all you would have to do is phone up a private hospital in your area.

I can only stress to you that you really do need to be seen by a Consultant sooner than January if you can. Take someone with you if you can to really let the Doc know how much you are struggling. It is SO WRONG that you are being left like this but it happens quite a lot from what I can gather. Is there another GP in your practice who is easier to talk to?? I have now found a lovely GP in the same practice who is really caring.

I do hope you can get the help you so need Megan. It is hard enough being poorly without the stress of all this for you.

Take care.

Patricia x
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Date: 09.08.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

A lot of NHS rheumatologists also have private practices. I wanted to see one a while back (not for RA at the time) and I just found his private number on internet. I'd seen him before so knew who I wanted to see but you could ask around for a recommendation. It cost me about £250 for the appointment but he then referred me back to the nhs for my tests as he knew I couldn't afford them. It was money well spent as I was very worried about something and I got the reassurance I needed.

As others have said,you shouldn't really have to pay to see one. Can you see a different GP or even change GP practices? I did and it was the best thing I ever did.
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Date: 10.08.2012
From: Paula-R

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

I had an appointment yesterday with my specialist nurse. She had a student in with her and when the nurse popped out of the room the student asked me about my RA. I was telling her about how it all started and me having problems getting my GP to test me for RA. I had asked him to test for RA but he said I didn't have it because my hands looked alright. By this time the nurse had returned into the room she told the student that bloods can come back normal and a person still could have RA.

I went private, we had private insurance then. I had to pay the first £100 pound. I think your GP still has to refer you (not certain about that). I had a blood test done, one they don't do on the NHS, the other bloods and x ray he instructed my GP to do (I had a £1,000 limit on outpatients appointments and was worried it all would exceed the limit).

I had to go back for the results. I think it all cost around £360, this was May 2008. I now see the same consultant on the NHS.

I have read lots of post on various forums of people having problems getting their GP to diagnose them with RA. I once read that in their training they only have about 30 minutes on it. When you consider that there is about 400,000 people in the UK with RA and millions with OA, alot of GP's sadly jump to the conclusion it is OA.

If you ring the NRAS helpline up like I suggest in my previous post, they will give you the information about RA for you to have when you see a GP again.
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Date: 11.08.2012
From: Deborah

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

Hi Megan,
If you want to have a private consultation just ask your doctor to refer you he will refer you and will get the appointment there and then.

Just ask your doc how much it will cost.

I know it is dreadful that we have to resort to these measure's but if you don't get any satisfaction from all other channel's what choice do we have? Deborah xx
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Date: 12.08.2012
From: Megan

Subject: Re: How do i go about paying to see a consultant

Thank you all for the information, we have six GPs in our practice and they all say the same, my bloods are normal. I have to wait until January because I dont have enough saved up yet, but hopefully will have by then. Thank you for the national rheumatoid society phone number, I will give them a ring for advice. Xxxxx
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