If you’re living with psoriatic arthritis, regular visits with your rheumatologist are likely a routine part of your life. Your rheumatologist will want to monitor your symptoms and ensure your treatment is still helping to address them.
They may also want to discuss new treatment options with you or steps you can take to live better with your condition and improve your overall health.
To maximize the value of these visits with your rheumatologist, you need to prepare for them. This process doesn’t take a lot of work, but it can make the difference in how effectively your psoriatic arthritis is managed.
“Being prepared for your appointment gives it a structure,” says Guillermo J. Valenzuela, MD, president and CEO of Integral Rheumatology and Immunology Specialists in Plantation, Florida. “So there’s a more productive result, and it avoids a situation where the patient has to call back with dozens of questions.”
Here are five ways you can prepare for your next appointment with your rheumatologist:
1. Keep a Journal of Your Symptoms
With psoriatic arthritis, pain and inflammation can alternate with periods of remission. In addition, symptoms can worsen as you age. Because of the variable nature of these symptoms, it’s important to keep a journal.
With a record of your symptoms, your rheumatologist will get a better picture of your health and what you need for treatment, says Dr. Valenzuela, who usually looks for more than just a pain history from his patients.
Aim to cover the following areas in your journal:
- A record of pain and inflammation. Not every day is the same for people with psoriatic arthritis. Keep track of which joints hurt, what seems to make the pain better or worse, and how long any morning stiffness may last.
- The extent to which your symptoms are interfering with your daily routine and preventing you from doing the things you want to do.
- Comorbidities you may be diagnosed with. People with psoriatic arthritis are prone to certain illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. Knowing and sharing the details of your medical history can be very important, Valenzuela says.
- A list of any additional symptoms, such as dizziness, chest pain, or vision problems, that could suggest a developing comorbidity. Knowing other symptoms can give your rheumatologist clues to any other underlying issues.
- Details of any events that were out of the ordinary, such as a bout of insomnia or physical injury, which could impact your psoriatic arthritis.
- Any mood changes or symptoms of anxiety, depression, or fatigue you may be feeling.
2. Maintain a Record of Medications and Supplements You’re Taking
Always maintain a list of all prescribed medications you’re taking and their doses. This includes medication for other conditions as well as any over-the-counter supplements, including multivitamins and anti-inflammatory supplements such as curcumin or turmeric.
“Sometimes patients will withhold this information because they feel they’re doing something their doctor won’t approve of,” Valenzuela says of supplements. “It’s good to be transparent with your doctor.”
If it’s easier, you can also bring all the bottles in a sealed plastic bag to make sure your rheumatologist has the most accurate information. Your rheumatologist will need to make sure that there will be no interactions between any new psoriatic arthritis treatments and the medications or supplements you’re already taking.
3. Bring Notes and Information From Other Specialist Visits
Since PsA is linked with psoriasis and a greater risk of certain other health conditions, you might be seeing specialists in addition to your rheumatologist and your primary care doctor. For instance, your care team may also include a dermatologist or an orthopedist. To make sure everyone is on the same page, bring the results of any recent tests or diagnoses to your rheumatology appointment.
4. Use a Recording Device
Even during a routine visit with your rheumatologist, you may need to absorb a lot of information.
You can use your mobile phone to record the conversation. Just be sure to get permission from your doctor first. You can listen later and review the conversation. There are dictation apps that can record and transcribe for a small fee.
Don’t have a smartphone or your doctor is uncomfortable with your recording this visit? Simple pen and paper will work. Or it may be better to bring a spouse or friend to the appointment who can write down the information for you so you can focus on the important conversation.
5. Make a List of Questions
Good questions can open up the dialogue with your rheumatologist. You could get a better understanding of your disease and gain a realistic outlook on it. Ask your most pressing questions first. Questions might include:
- What can I do to prevent this condition from getting worse?
- Do I need any lab work to check for inflammation?
- Based on my physical exam today, is there any evidence of new joint damage or “silent” inflammation?
- Do I need any imaging tests to check for structural changes in my joints?
- Is my disease activity minimal, or should we aim for a higher level of remission?
- Are there specific types of exercise or physical therapy you recommend to protect my particularly “clicky” or painful joints?
- What are studies showing in terms of new treatments?
- Are there any new FDA-approved treatments or clinical trials that might be a better fit for me?
- What are the possible side effects of any new treatment plans?
Good questions like these will ensure a good visit so you can understand your disease and be empowered to manage it. “Education is the most important part of your doctor visit,” Valenzuela says.
The Takeaway
- To make the most of your time with your rheumatologist, it’s helpful to bring a list of the current medications and supplements you’re taking, a log of your recent symptoms, and any notes from visits with other specialists.
- It can be easy, as a patient, to gloss over information at a doctor’s appointment. Taking notes or recording your conversation with your doctor can give you a record to review later.
- Good communication with your rheumatologist is key to effective management of your psoriatic arthritis. Write down a list of any questions you’d like to discuss with your doctor, so you don’t forget when you’re in the office.