At my first rheumy appointment, the dr asked a lot of questions and about my level of pain. He then performed an exam by touching the joints on my body while asking if I hurt. What the dr. is doing is trying to determine what your symptoms are so he/she can make a proper diagnosis, even if no determination is made during that appointment. Sometimes, it can take years to make a diagnosis of lupus, etc, but lupus and other autoimmune conditions have a mind of their own and the symptoms can develop slowly over time. After the exam, the doctor will send you to the lab for blood work and will order specific tests for lupus markers, etc. During your second appointment, he will go over the results with you and at that time and will ask if there are any new symptoms. If the blood work shows autoimmune markers and your symptoms are bothersome, he/she will prescribe medication to lessen the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

Hi StaceyShipp. You will probably get asked a lot of questions, get a physical examination and do some blood tests. I would imagine your doctor will look for rash, joint swelling, take your temp to see if you have a fever, etc. -- all things that can be hallmarks of lupus. You should think about all of your symptoms and maybe even write them down to tell him or her. As far as what to ask -- if something hurts or even just seems off to you, ask the doctor about it. It might not seem like much to you but it might be something important to the doctor. Good luck!