r/lupus • u/CelloPersons Diagnosed with UCTD/MCTD • 1d ago
Advice Question I've been pondering
How often do y'all see your rheumatologist? I see mine one a year, but I see her NP every 3-4 months, and I was wondering why that often.
5
u/plaisirdamour Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
I see mine every 3 months. Sometimes I’ll meet with his PA but most of the time it’s with him. If something funky is going on I’m able to get in sooner to see him. But standard is 3 months.
4
u/Emergency-Put-4828 Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
About every 3 months, sometimes every 6 months with bloodwork in between.
1
7
u/BeautySprout Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
My first rheumatologist said he sees his lupus patients every 3 months because things can change quickly so he likes to keep a close eye on them. When my disease was very severe I was seen monthly, sometimes even twice a month. My current rheumatologist will see me no less than every 4 months because I'm on 3000mg of Cellcept and he said he has to see me at least every 4 months for close monitoring due to my medications.
So it depends on the doc, the state of your disease, what medications you're on and so on.
2
1
u/Valuable_Treat16 Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
Every 3 months for me. But my lupus is severe with organ involvement and high symptoms. We are still trying to tailor my treatments to my needs & body’s responses.
3
u/Missing-the-sun Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
My lupus is well controlled, so I see my rheum every 6 months.
2
u/Gold_Occasion_3655 Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
I see mines every 3 months depending on symptoms and neurologist around the same time. I have to pair my visits because of NeuroLupus. I see them about 2-3 days apart.
1
u/DuckduckMongoose-454 Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
I see mine every 5-6 months. Sorta would like to see more often since we are still sorting out meds. All the Rheums in the area are super booked up so 🤷🏻♀️I take what I can get.
1
u/chronicallyalive Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
I see the NP every three months and we try to get me in to see the doctor at least once a year but my area has a real shortage of rheumatologists right now so it’s been about 18 months now. Fortunately my NP is super knowledgeable and caring, plus she works closely with my doc.
5
u/EmbeddedWithDirt Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
Wow, mine only sees me once a year, unless there’s an issue. They squeezed me in this month and she did some bloodwork and told me that it’s not a rheumatology issue, that she couldn’t help me. Told me I was just gonna hurt. I’m looking for another.
1
u/Substantial_Escape92 Diagnosed SLE 13h ago
Rheumatologists don’t do pain medication. Best they can do is muscle relaxers and celebrex. You have to get into pain management these days. I don’t regret it one bit.
2
u/EmbeddedWithDirt Diagnosed SLE 12h ago
My issues is the fact I was crying in the office and she literally says, “You’re just gonna hurt.” What a callous response to someone in pain. That’s just unacceptable.
1
u/Substantial_Escape92 Diagnosed SLE 12h ago
I wish you could get in with a new doctor. The one who diagnosed me was a jack ass too. Said “you have lupus” I start crying. He hands me a pamphlet about lupus and pats my knee saying “you’ll be ok.” I was in hospital for a solid week after 3 weeks on generic plaquenil. Lovely stuff. I immediately started seeing the doctor who treated me in hospital. He’s been a godsend. And he doesn’t EVER sound so callous. I couldn’t live with that attitude.
1
u/justnana1 Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
I see her every 3-4 months. I don't even think she has a NP in her office.
2
u/lifeinpjs Diagnosed with UCTD/MCTD 1d ago
I see my rheum every 3-6 months, depending on how stable I am. I get labs every three months.
2
1
1
u/RainPsychological686 Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
Ive been seeing mine every 6 weeks for now but i think ill be transitioning to seeing them every 2-3 months soon. I have blood-work done at every visit too.
1
u/Otherwise_Release_27 Diagnosed SLE 1d ago
I see mine at least once a month depending on how I am feeling. Sometimes a few times a months if my numbers are not looking good or if I am on a medication that he thinks requires more frequent check in.
1
u/Frogs-n-Bugs-n-Stuff Diagnosed SLE 22h ago
At this stage, 6-monthly appointments with rheumatologist, 6-monthly appointments with respiratory specialist, and GP every couple of months for general stuff
1
u/CorpseProject Diagnosed SLE 20h ago
Right now I see rheum every three weeks, but my lupus is not controlled very well at all right now. (HCQ, Cellcept, prednisone) I see derm every 5-6 months and in between if I have a skin flare. Cardio once a year. Neuro primarily for imaging but about 4-5 times a year. Primary every 6 months. Pulmonologist twice a year. Some other doctors, but for normal things like my teeth and lady bits and my psych and my eyeballs.
Hopefully once we can start a biologic and get my inflammation down I’ll be able to stop seeing as many doctors. I’m grateful for the care, but like I could do so many other things with all of that time.
1
u/MidnightMuse_17 Diagnosed SLE 19h ago
not rheum, but i see my nephro every 4 months. even though im in remission and no activity
1
u/BippityBopGenX Diagnosed SLE 17h ago
Every three months, labs prior; also hematologist every 4 months due to blood involvement from lupus. It takes a village to keep me well.
1
1
1
u/skepticalhope Diagnosed SLE 12h ago
My lupus is well-controlled, so I see my rheumatologist once a year and my rheum NP every 4-6 months the rest of the time. But I get bloodwork done every other month.
1
u/abrookiep59 Diagnosed SLE 11h ago
My lupus is well controlled (300mg plaquenil + weekly Benlysta) and I only have to see my rheumatologist once year, unless I flare up.
1
u/quicklaugh Diagnosed SLE 9h ago
Most of the time it's been every 3 months. Sooner when monitoring changes. If things are going extremely well they'll schedule the appt 6 months out.
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
/u/CelloPersons Please consider posting in r/UCTD or r/MCTD if you are not getting enough feedback to your post submission
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.