Fingers crossed - I’ll wait to see what Dr Kaul’s has to say before I start telling my GP she’s wrong!
This is the reply I got from him when I asked for referral:
Dear Mrs Avery,
Thank you for your message. Transfer of care between hospitals is done by your current hospital team, as they have access to your full relevant records and are responsible for your ongoing care. If you would like to be seen closer to home I recommend speaking to the rheumatology team at SGH to request this directly
Best wishes, Dr Crosby
Axminster Medical Practice
I should have tried Bath a while ago. I bet they’re great aren’t they?
I’m in Redbridge East London and am under King George Hospital. Unfortunately have seen the department deteriorate since I’ve been with them which is such a shame. Last appointment the rheumatologist spent half the appointment talking about her daughter. No joint count or examination whatsoever.
Glad you’re on a new med. Let’s hope it’s successful for you.
Dr Ellie is great for sure, who is my rheumy. I’m not aware of good PsA rheumys in East London. You need to google them and see if they have published any PsA research - if so then you might get some sense out of them. Do remind them to read NICE guidance NG65 too. It literally tells them how to treat PsA more optimally. But you really need to stop taking so many steroids if you can. The last thing you need is osteoporous issues too. That happened to me at the beginning of the PsA journey given I’m a life long asthmatic too. So as PsA hit me I also endured 7 unexplained fractures over a two year period too.
Hi Poo. Thanks a million. Have been in touch with Bath and they were very helpful. Am also trying to contact my current rheumys secretary for a dexa scan and for someone to check out my shoulders and hips.
So glad Bath are being helpful. They are known for that. I’m still racking my brains for more PsA experienced rheumys in your neck of the woods but not coming up with much sadly.
Your GP can order the DEXA scan for you. My GP does for me and they took over the prescription for osteoporosis meds too. Indeed I have a DEXA scan tomorrow, given I’ve now stopped osteoporosis meds as the five years is up. The scan at two and half years into those meds showed my bone density levels were back to normal, so I’m hoping for the same result again. Given I can be a ‘faller’ as in too impatient and rushing about and being clumsy, you’ve no idea how amazing I found osteoporosis meds to be for me, given I started off with 7 unexplained fractures (so no falling etc).
How long have you been taking Talz? If it’s about 9 months to a year and it’s really not helping then ideally you should be changed to something else. Its sister med Cosentyx was my magic med but it didn’t kick in until the end of month 8. But then it worked amazingly for a good 4 and a half years. So the waiting was worthwhile. However I’ve I gave Tremfya 11 months - it did well in month 5 and I felt on top of the world and then just died a death sadly. Now just started Skyrizi and feeling hopeful yet again, having spent from mid December suffering PsA issue after issue relentlessly.
I’m so delighted for you. Dr Ellie is incredibly supportive and geniune. Is the NHS appt with Dr Ellie? I do hope so. Hopefully now you will start a more coherent and PsA based treatment plan which can only help you better. Well done you.
- I’ll wait to see what Dr Kaul’s has to say before I start telling my GP she’s wrong!