I'm with Torbay hospital. I have regular blood tests for Mtx but have never had my protein levels checked as far as I know. Maybe once in the very early days but definitely not since. I'm interested to hear what others say on this.

If it's a urine test then i've only ever had one right at the beginning nearly 2 years ago.

hi angie, i am with paget and i feel the same as you,its a here's what you've got this is the meds blah blah,doc see you in 6 mths i only see the nurses if i ask or i phone them with a query,they are normally very good at responding but are kept busy, i do see dr thomas at lowestoft hospital he does a clinic every 6 mths there,if they want to see me before that i go to paget and he is so good and does listen but i rely on my gp most of the time and our well woman/nurse clinic,i have never had a urine test and not been informed of das etc,i did try and get this info but was told if any problems they wiill get in touch(which they do), i dont really have an issue to be fair as i get looked after well when i do need them,yes i know what you are saying but do tell the clinic if you are unhappy,its annoying as all hospitals are run differently, i do my bloods every 4/6 weeks and thats about it for rhumy but gp likes a full count done once a year ,dorothy

I always take a urine sample with me when I go to see my consultant. I am weighed, sample is always asked for but I never and never had my blood pressure taken. I have seen patients having it done so I assume that it is only if you are on certain medication that they check your blood pressure.

Last time I say my consultant I sat near where they call you to be weighed etc and I was amazed at how many were sent into the toilet to produce a sample. So from that it seems that my hospital insists that your urine is tested.

Paula

angie, glad to be of help,try asking the rhumy nurses or your gp about your shoulders,it was my gp who i went to re mine and that got the ball rolling i also go to physio off and on in lowestoft( was paget ) i now phone them myself but usually check with gp if ok before hand, as for waiting for dr thomas i was cancelled a few times as he really does get busy poor man,i tend to have a list of questions and give it to him that way he ans and i am happy,i have been when he has had a stress day in paget then comes to clinic but the nurses in low'ft keep him in teas and pamper him a bit, its better in lowestoft as its a set clinic on that day and normally very calm,i do go to paget now and again,when i went onto inj for mtx i was sent to the sandra chapmen clinic to learn to inj now thats a busy place and the atmosphere is so happy considering and they had to wait for ages for treatment and you get a cuppa maybe see you in low'tf clinic sometime,dorothy

hi gill, i have never been asked to go to norwich but i dont want to as yes it is too far and it can take all day there,my son attends a clinic in N&N and we can wait upto 2 hrs for the doc,then bloods etc etc,i have been there 7 hrs and if you are late they will refuse to see you,,really things have been the same way since i started to go paget in 2007 the rhumy nurses keep changing i havent seen the same one more than twice if that,i must admit the o/t's are so good and the physio's but as i say i do tend to go the gp road,nice to know the clinic getting it's act together would be really helpfull,when i go to lowestoft clinic all the patience do is moan about the paget but to be fair they dont want to travel either so i feel a catch 22,yep my surgery is good thankfully and i get a blood m.o.t every year,we have a well woman clinic etc also so really very on the ball,dorothy

hi angie, just caught up had my sister here on holiday,glad you getting there,i was on naproxen and got taken off when i settled down a bit as one of its side effects is the liver and kidneys yippeee i hear you say another worry,i was fine as i still had all the rest of my sweets to take,hopefully you can get to low clinics,i also get bloods and podiatry done there be better for you and not too busy(bloods ARE first thing)could do on lunch hour,would be nice to meet you,nice to put a face to the typing,hah hah,if you can look out for the meetings every so often at the orbit centre,on whapload road, the lady that runs it has had a baby and not all well but i hope someone can take over for her(she is lovely),i am not that up on things so id be of no use whatsoever,dorothy

hi rosie, no explanation at all as to why it was asked for in the first place?typical,dorothy

Hi Dorothy

I asked to speak to the Rheumy nurse about painkiller, she rang me at the end of the week but I couldn't take the call, she hasn't tried again. I understand what you say about them being understaffed so will accept that there's no-one to blame and I should be patient!

Also, because I had a fall, I booked an appointment with my GP, got a different one this time and he was fabulous, not dismissive like the other one. Explained about my ankle injury, answered my question about painkillers and prescribed a low dose of co-codamol to help my ankle. He went so far to warn me that they can cause constipation and I should get some laxative. He also put my mind at rest about the paracetamol/codeine that I find helps. I was worried as it says it's addictive, but he said that would only happen if you took it when not in pain.

My understanding is that Lowestoft Hospital won't close but will either be moved to a suitable building or separated out into sections in more appropriate buildings.

Didn't know there was an RA group in Lowestoft, thought there was only the one in Yarmouth.

On holiday from 26th April, 8 night cruise from Southampton. Looking forward to the break.

Angie

Hi all you southfolks and northfolks!! Aah it's making me feel very wistful hearing all the discussions about Lowestoft and Yarmouth and Norwich and the St james Paget hospital - I remember having the most wonderful carnivals to raise money for Lowestoft hospital - do you still have those?? Happy childhood days!!

Lots of love - Sylvia xxx