Ann S

Your records legally belong to you, and besides, you paid for them when you paid for the service. They have no right to charge you for them, unless they have sent them out numerous times already. Hold firm! Have them sent to you!
This is just my opinion, but here is what I would do with the new Rheumy:
-Bring a list of symptoms to help you remember them all--put them in your OWN words, so he doesn't think you got them off an internet site. (Like don't call it a malar rash.)
-Bring a copy of all lab tests, but don't show them to him till after he tells you what he thinks from examining you, hearing your symptoms, and getting a family history.
(If he doesn't already know, don't mention the other doctors till after he gives you his opinion.). You can explain that you weren't trying to hide anything, you just wanted him to be able to form an unbiased opinion.
-If it isn't hard too get, have your Psych Dr. write up that letter and send it to YOU. Take it along just in case, but don't show it to the new rheumy unless you need to tho.
-Also, look through the list of 100+ autoimmune disorders and write down if any family members have any of them. (especially along the female line)
-Initially, don't tell him that you think you have Lupus.
-If your husband can be a help, have him come in with you (mine did). Sometimes they take a man more seriously than a woman.
Finally, maybe you already know this, or maybe I've said it before, but many of the AI diseases overlap symptoms and are just diagnosed as connective tissue disorders. Sometimes the disease evolves to show more specific diseases later, but sometimes it never does! The point is, it doesn't matter if they call it connective tissue disorder, or Lupus, or whatever....... the treatment and meds for the ones with overlapping symptoms are the same regardless of what they call it, and being treated is what's important!!
Try to relax (I know, easy to say, but hard to do.) and keep us informed. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, Ann