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Get The Pocket Rheumatologist
You know when something does not feel right.
You’re in the right place.
It’s not in your head. And now you finally have a roadmap.
Your symptoms may have been building for months or even years. You may have been told your tests are normal, your symptoms are caused by stress, or there is no reason for a referral.
I created The Pocket Rheumatologist because I cannot be in every exam room with every person who is struggling to be heard. But I can help you walk into your next appointment more informed, organized, and prepared.
This is not a memoir or another general health book.
It is a practical guide and printable appointment toolkit built from more than twenty years of sitting across from patients, listening to their stories, evaluating complex symptoms, and seeing what often gets missed during a short medical appointment.
It is the closest thing I can give you to having me in your pocket.
This is not just a guide to read. It is a roadmap.
The Pocket Rheumatologist was designed in two parts to help you prepare at home and communicate more clearly during your appointment.
Part One Is Your Rheumatology Roadmap
It starts the moment you pick up this guide and ends before you ever walk into a waiting room.
Read this at home. Highlight it. Write in the margins.
Part One gives you the understanding and the language to describe what is happening in your body, the confidence to ask for the referral you need, and the clarity to know what to expect when you finally get into that room.
You do not need to bring Part One to your appointment. It lives at home.
It is the foundation everything else is built on.
Part One helps you understand:
- Why normal bloodwork does not always mean nothing is wrong
- How to ask for a rheumatology referral
- What rheumatologists may be looking for when they evaluate symptoms
- Why timing, duration, location, patterns, and triggers matter
- How to describe pain, stiffness, swelling, fatigue, and other symptoms more clearly
- Which words can help your physician understand what you are experiencing
- Which phrases may unintentionally make your symptoms easier to dismiss or misunderstand
- What to gather before your appointment
- What to expect during your first rheumatology visit
- Which questions can help you leave with a better understanding of what happens next
Part Two Is Your Rheumatology Appointment Toolkit
This is the part you print.
The more you put into these pages, the easier it is to communicate clearly during your visit.
Every page in the toolkit was designed to be written in, filled out, and carried with you into every appointment.
Your symptom descriptions. Your family history. Your personal treatment map.
These pages become your voice in the room when the words are hard to find or the appointment moves faster than you expected.
“The eye cannot see what the mind does not know.”
A longstanding medical teaching principle
Your physician cannot recognize a pattern they never see.
Part Two helps you make what you are experiencing easier to see, understand, and use during the appointment.
Instead of relying on scattered notes, screenshots, and memory, you will have one organized place to capture what has been happening and how it affects your life.
The toolkit includes:
- Symptom organization pages
- Body diagrams
- Pain and stiffness worksheets
- Appointment preparation checklists
- Medical history pages
- Medication and supplement lists
- Questions to ask your physician
- Pages to organize test results and important records
- Tools to explain how symptoms affect your daily life
- The Top Two Theory™ worksheet
The Top Two Theory™
Because trying to explain everything can make the most important things harder to hear.
When you have months or years of symptoms, every detail can feel important. But a short medical appointment rarely leaves enough time to cover everything well.
The Top Two Theory™ is Dr. Emily’s practical method for helping you decide what needs to come first.
The guide walks you through the full process and includes a dedicated worksheet to help you prepare before the appointment begins.
It is designed to help you:
- Focus the conversation
- Keep your most important concerns from getting lost
- Explain why those concerns matter in your daily life
- Use the limited appointment time more effectively
The full Top Two Theory™ process and printable worksheet are included inside The Pocket Rheumatologist.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a physical book?
Both options are available. You can purchase the Digital Edition or order the paperback book.
How will I receive it?
Digital Edition: The Digital Edition is available for immediate download after purchase.
Paperback Book: The paperback is printed to order and shipped directly to you by Lulu. Estimated delivery timing is shown at checkout.
Can I print it?
Yes. The Digital Edition PDF is designed to be printed. You can print the full guide or only the worksheets and toolkit pages you want to bring to your appointment for your own personal use.
Can I use it for an appointment with my primary care physician?
Yes. Part One includes guidance for preparing to speak with your primary care physician, asking about a referral, and organizing important information before a rheumatology evaluation.
Is this only for people who already have a diagnosis?
No. It may also help people with persistent symptoms who are trying to get a referral or preparing for an initial rheumatology evaluation or second opinion.
Is this guide only for patients?
No. Family members, friends, and loved ones can also use the guide to better understand what someone living with autoimmunity may be going through and how to support them along the way.
Will this guide tell me what condition I have?
No. The guide provides education and appointment preparation tools. It does not provide a diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment recommendations.
Can I read it on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The Digital Edition PDF can be read on a phone, tablet, or computer.
What is the refund policy?
All sales are final. We do not accept returns or exchanges. If your book arrives damaged or defective, or you have trouble accessing your digital purchase, contact info@rxandreality.com so we can help resolve the issue.
Start walking into your appointments prepared, empowered, and ready to advocate for yourself.
The Pocket Rheumatologist gives you a roadmap, language, and practical tools to help you organize what has been happening and communicate it more clearly.
- Printable appointment toolkit included
- Top Two Theory™ worksheet included
Medical Disclaimer
Rx & Reality provides educational information only. Nothing on this website, in our digital products, or in any related content is intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Use of this website or purchase of any product does not create a doctor patient relationship with Dr. Emily Triana Marx or any other healthcare professional.
Always seek care from a qualified healthcare provider for questions about your health, symptoms, medications, or treatment.