Rheumatologists are like detectives looking for clues to relieve your pain and treat your condition. To give your new doctor a head start:
- Create a timeline. Go back as far as you can remember. Describe your symptoms and how they've changed over time. Do some family research. What kinds of problems run in your family? Find out what you can about the health of your grandparents, parents, and any brothers and sisters. Brown bag it. Your rheumatologist will need a list of your prescriptions for RA and other health problems; over-the-counter medicines like aspirin, topical creams, and other pain relievers; vitamins, herbs, and supplements. To make it easy, toss your medicines into a bag and take them with you. Ask your other doctors for copies of your records and any test results or X-rays, and take them with you, too.