The time has come for me to say goodbye to my rheumatology team that I have been with for 32 years...

I started off at Taplow (Canadian Red Cross) when I was first diagnosed and when Taplow was closed, I moved with the team to Wexham... Over the years I have got to know the rheumatologists who came in as registrars and saw them through training, starting off with Barbara Ansell and seeing Ann Hall and Francesca Demetriadi take over the reigns...

Bobby Jarvis would put me through my paces and Sheila Lawton would lovingly make my splints... Cecilia Warren would support me with family life and help with benefits and Nikki Kennedy would be there with a friendly smile and words of wisdom. Anita would make me smile with her huge personality whenever I came to clinic.... The receptionists would instantly recognise me as I approached them and always ask how I was doing.

Having moved to Leicester 5yrs ago, I still continued to go to Wexham because I had known the team all those years. Sadly, things have changed over the last year and I've had a different rheumatologist with each appointment over the last couple of years... the familiarity is no longer there so I have decided to say my goodbyes and transfer to a local rheumatologist.

I don't know what the team are going to be like, part of me is looking forward to being local but also sad to say goodbye to a hospital I have known for a majority of my life.... Despite the arthritis being the negative side, the hospital and its team were a positive. I sincerely hope that the rheumatologist I meet next month will share the same values that Barbara Ansell instilled in her team.

Wow!

Dr Barbara Ansell DX me! So I know exactly what you mean. She was the TOP of her profession for so long and really a wonderful Dr and lady.

I remember her clearly and think of her with kindness and gentleness.

It is hard to move on though. When my RA came back after a few years of good behaviour I insisted on returning to my rheumy who had seen me through my teen years (14years- 19years)...and he was near senile! What a shock and disappointment we had!

Much love,
Amanda

Oh yes, she was a force to be reckoned with wasn't she?!

But all the children adored her and she was V clever indeed!

Love,
A

I was DX at Wexham too although I forget the mans name which is shameful as it was only just over a year ago!

I moved to Amersham hospital shortly after I was DX'd though as that was closer to where I live - Wexham (which is about 30mins drive away) kept sending me appts for 8am in the morning - now considering I had RA so couldn't move in the morning as well as a newborn baby that just became impractical! The team I see now cover Stoke Mandeville (where I had my babies) and Amersham and they are all really lovely it's so important to be able to get along with them. The Rheum nurse is especially nice and so easy to contact by phone or e mail.

I hope you get on as well with your new team.

xx

Let us know which hospital you will be attending and then if someone else goes to it they can tell you what to expect.

Jayne

I go to the Hinckley one. It will be a bit different to what you are used to. The clinic starts at 8am and they only do early appointments. I think it is only on a Tuesday. I have been going about eighteen months and have yet to be offered any other services ie physio etc. You will get ten minutes if you are lucky and will get to see the nurse in between appointments. I see the consultant twice a year and the nurse once. I have been told that Leicester is one of the worst NHS authorities Until recently you could have injections done at Hinckley but now they want you to go to Leicester. However if you refuse and say you want them done in Hinckley they will. Perhaps I will see you there.

Jayne

I had a phone call from the hospital today... My appointment was with Dr Hassan on 26th January but it seems there is a cancellation for next Wednesday with Dr Chaudhuri.... plus its an evening appointment so works perfectly for me. They have explained that Dr Chaudhuri is based at Warwick so if I need treatment I may be referred to Coventry (old Walsgrave site) but seeing as I am already under the orthopaedic surgeon and physios at Leicester Royal, this shouldn't be a problem.

So far.... so good

Met with new rheumy tonight and he definitely gets my

We went through the last 32yrs... didn't feel rushed.. and it was as if I'd known him for a while.

He's confident that the hydroxy is helping, albeit it being a bit slowly at the moment but I've got a lot of stress in my life right now so thats not helping. He has given my a steroid injection to help see me over Christmas. I'm seeing the foot surgeon tomorrow and the rheumy would like me to look at getting my shoes specially made again as my feet are really struggling.

I had specially made shoes many moons ago along with callipers but refused to wear them when I reached my mid teens because I just wanted to be like all my friends..

Its a bit scary going down that route again but it's been 17yrs since I last had them so maybe they've improved on the style....

Us girls love our shoes don't we... I know when I want to dress up... have my hair done, make up looking perfect, gorgeous dress flowing, jewellery twinkling.. then you get down to my shoes and they are the most boring, sensible shoes ever... kinda spoils the glamorous moment doesn't it....

I've seen the surgeon today.... he's done my hip replacements over the last 14mths so had every confidence in him...

However... we've hit an obstacle

When I was 12 I had surgery on the same foot... had some toes shortened to stop them clawing and had a bunion removed from big toe.... or so I thought....

The x-ray I had today shows that in fact my big toe was fused which is going to make any future surgery a little more complicated. So my orthopaedic surgeon is having to refer me a specialist foot surgeon...

I'll still going to see the orthotic for my shoes so might have to design my own pair and practice fluttering my lashes

Glad you got on with your new rheumy, Helly; it makes all the difference, doesn't it? Sorry about the complications with your toe though

Anthea x