This was a good article but it missed one additional category--finding a rheumatologist who is also familiar with other auto-immune diseases. I also have Myasthenia Gravis and was thankful to find how knowledgeable my rheumatologist was with MG and its potential effects on my RA treatment.
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I wasn't sure my doctor was listening to me. Then when I got the paperwork he filled out for my short term disability, I discovered he had heard more in the 30 minutes we spent together than any of the dozens of doctors I have seen in the past year.
My own personal physician discounted my symptoms out of hand-said that the knots on my fingers and their left ward twist was just "wear and tear". That my swelling was fluid retention, and he acted pissy when I told him I wanted him to run tests.
He eventually made an appointment with a rheumatologist, but I believe he did it to shut me up. For months and months I had been saying...there is more wrong with me than this bout of bronchitis, or this new infection..something systemic is going on here....and it felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall.
My Rheumatologist is one of the Good Guys...I am blessed to have found him.
congratulations to you for listening to your gut and insising that your doctor refer you to a specialist. does he take you seriously now or have you found another family doctor? Also, a big congratulations for finding a good rheumatologist. One of the most important aspects of living well with this disease visit have a good medical team. Glad to hear you're a step ahead.