SHOULD I CHANGE MY RHEUMATOLOGIST?

As an empowered patient, you are the leader in gathering your healthcare team and creating a collaborative partnership where everyone is in sync with your medical care.  This requires you to regularly assess your team members to make sure that your healthcare needs are being met.  So how do you know if your rheumatologist is right for you?

RA is a complicated condition because it affects every patient in a different way.  For some people, treatment is simple and straightforward, but for others, many adjustments need to be made over several months to find a treatment plan that works.  If your rheumatologists doesn’t get it right the first time, but is committed to working with you to find effective solutions, then it is worth sticking with him/her.

However, if you feel that your rheumatologist is resistant to your feedback, refuses to make adjustments, or is discouraging in any way, then you should consider finding a new doctor. If you feel hurried during your office appointments, or you don’t get replies to questions you send by phone or email, then you should try to find someone who will be more willing and able to spend the time you need to address your concerns.  It is extremely important that you feel that your voice is being heard, because your feedback is the most important part of the process of getting the right treatment for your RA. 

Sometimes, your doctor may not seem caring or may dismiss your personal goals.  Your doctor may dismiss your symptoms, or try to get you to settle without giving explanations or trying other treatments.  In these cases, your doctor may not be properly invested in your care and you should probably seek a new rheumatologist.  

Even the most highly recommended specialist may not quite meet your needs.  Its really just a matter of finding a doctor whose practice style matches is a good fit for how you want your healthcare delivered to you.  In terms of getting the most current or best treatments, it helps for you to read and do your own research, so that you arrive at your office visits as a knowledgeable consumer.  If you find that your specialist is simply unable to answer questions you have, even if you have good doctor-patient relationship, then you may have to take your chances and move on to a new doctor that may be better equipped to help you.

Finally, regardless of who you are seeing, if your treatments are not working, and you continue to suffer despite your doctor’s best intentions, do not give up hope.  Get a second opinion to see what other options you have.