My dermatologist referred me to a rheumy last year and a month ago she gave him a nudge because I’m on mtx and breaking out with joint pain left right and Centre . I understand there’s a priority system as to when you get an appointment but almost a year seems wrong. I’m curious how long others have waited especially in nz.
Hi Kal, I’m from good ole nz too… nice to meet you 
It was May last year when my GP first referred to rheumy, through Waikato hospital (what district are you in? That might make a difference to timing)… unfortunately they were “too busy” to even put me on the waiting list, but did put me on the “accept with advice” list, which basically meant they reviewed the tests the GP had ordered, had him organise a few more, and felt it was probably better to see ortho’s… ortho’s didn’t think whatever was going on was ortho either 
However, this was really only my own fault… I was seeing a new GP, didn’t realise he was planning to refer to rheumy’s, so I didn’t fill him in on everything and the first referral only mentioned ankles and thumb.
As things progressed pretty rapidly from there and hands, knees etc joined the party, tilcotil proved to reduce pain levels by about half and I responded really well to prednisone (prescribed for asthma) my GP started a trial of Mtx… after a few months of that he put in a second referral… I was seeing a rheumy about 2 months later.
If the “nudge” from your dermatologist doesn’t seem to do anything I wonder if it might be worth ringing the hospital the referral was sent to and asking where you are on the waiting list… or IF you are on the waiting list… perhaps talking to someone in the rheumy dept might be helpful in pushing things along (if they are not fully aware of your symptoms they may have put you on the “maybe, one day” list).
The other option (if you can afford it) might be to consider seeing a rheumy privately, you could probably have an appointment in days… expensive though, and it will need more than just one appointment, but might get a foot in the door through the system too. Rheumy’s seem to be in terribly short supply here.
Oh, I noticed in your profile you call yourself the “crazy cat lady” made me smile… I used to be one of those too 
I’m in the taranaki region, when I got a letter from the hospital I was
placed on semi urgent list.
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Cool!! Semi-urgent probably means somewhere between about 2-4 months (well it does around here), if the letter from the hospital says up to 4 months, the appointment should end up being quicker than that!! Will keep fingers crossed for you.
How are you holding up? This thing can really take it out of you!!
Well as a person who was in the medical field taking care of others in
their time of need and being 'the strong one ’ in the family taking care of
my mum full time I find myself in uncharted territory feeling lonely and
unsupported by the family I’ve always taken care of or looked out for.
That’s pretty much why I’m here to get the strength of others in a similar
situation. It’s pretty hard not to feel a bit sorry for myself some days. I
just look for practical ways to help myself ie purchase of an electric tin
opener, makes me feel a bit more in control. I also know I’m far from the
worst case just a bit daunted by the pace it’s moving atm.
Oh, gosh… I can relate to all you have said… yep, it’s hard going, and you are allowed to feel sorry for yourself sometimes, I guess it’s all part of the process of grieving for our health (I’d say that’s completely “normal”), we are allowed to do that!!
I am so sorry to hear that PsA has found you!! I’m pleased you have found this forum… there are lot on here with much more experience, and understanding, of it than I have and I have found the information on here so incredibly helpful!!
I understand the feeling lonely and unsupported all too well… it must be hard for family/friends to understand what we are going through too and sometimes, trying to be helpful, they come out with the most insensitive of things… I hang on to the hope of finding a treatment that will allow me to me function (the fatigue knocks me the hardest, at this stage I can mostly cope with my pain levels)… In a sense I find myself thinking that maybe we are the lucky ones, we have a diagnosis, and it IS something that can be helped (not all illnesses can be), it’s frustrating waiting it out though!!
I don’t know what dose of methotrexate or what other meds you are on, but while you are waiting to see a rheumy is it possible to see your GP… they might have some suggestions… different NSAID’s can help, I found tilcotil actually did help some, ibuprofen was a waste of time for me.
Also, have you been intouch with the Arthritis Foundation NZ, they have a phone support service that you might find helpful.
Awww… I’ve been looking around the op shops etc for a cheap electric can opener too 
Have you found it helpful? The methotrexate seems to have helped my hands so I’ve no urgent need of one just yet, but still keep my eye for one
If you ever want to chat in private please use the “Message” feature here, I’ll be more than happy to do that, us kiwi’s have to stick together!!!
hi kal,welcome to the kiwi squad,thats three now(that i know of) ,im in Tauranga.About two months for me to get an appointment with Rhuemotology,i think i might have been lucky,sucks that they make you wait that long.My GP hurried the refferal up,i think that helped get me in quicker.Hope things get better for you fast
Thank you @random