Re: Newbie at it all

[Guest guest]

I’m sorry that your post didn’t get to me till today

and you have now seen your rheumatologist. I am disappointed in doctors

who care more about making the diagnosis easier than they care about making the

patient more comfortable. Apparently whatever kept things from being

posted has been fixed and now things are posted quicker. Please tell us

how your appointment went and maybe someone can give opinions.

I’m not sure about the puffy patch on your head but it

could be water retention (edema). If it is, you should be able to press

on it and remove your finger quickly. If you can see the indentation your

finger leaves it is probably edema, and the Methylprednisone often causes that.

I hope you got good treatment from your rheumatologist. God

bless.

From:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

[mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of reneehearttoheart

Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 10:42 AM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject: Newbie at it all

I have just gone through a hugh painful flare

up of what my doctor suspects is RA, high RH factor, however, I have had

fibromyalgia for over 20 years now also am on the lowest level I can be with

vitamin D so have an defiency there as well.

My fm flared up horribly the last week of Jan. went on for a week and then got

worse and worse and started affecting me differentloy. Have becoming pretty

imobile and in so much pain, I had lots of blood work done and found all these

other things, waiting now until the 15th of April to get in to an RA doctor.

Was so bad last week my dr. prescribed methylpredisone which helped

tremendously. Was a real person again. Last pill yesterday morning and now it

seems today is a slow day and stiffness is starting again in knees and hands. I

have an anti inflammatory I can go back on with dr. approval until next weeks

apt. Hope it will hold it off but she doesn't want to mask symptoms so they can

diagnois.

I am open to any special things that you might prepare me for or tips and info

to ask my new dr. How can I tell hes a good RA person, I keep hearing horror

stories that they go through un caring doctors.

I am also wondering if anyone feels this, I have a 2 inch by 4 inch patch at

the bottom of my head that feels like its puffy. Its not swollen just has that

feel, my neck is sore on the sides but this is just a peculiar area that I have

been noticing. Can or does anyone have some symptoms of RA there?

I welcome any advise for a newbie!

[Guest guest]

Remember that your Doctor may order more tests, take additional history on your symptoms etc and start you on a treatment plan.  I would stress a biologic would help immensely.  On a first visit the urge to drown the doctor with complaints is strong.  Just give him the information he asks for.  Make sure he/she does a complete exam making sure to feel for heat and swelling in the areas you feel hurt the most.  My RA doc always examines my hands and feet for swelling which I always have.  Medrol Pack Steriod Treatments are dangerous.  I would avoid quick fixes of steriod but start on a low dose of 1mg a day and increase a mg a month until you are up to 5mg.  Weight gain is the most obvious symptom but there are others which include osteoporosis with constant use.  Go to www. arthritisfoundation.org for more information.  Go with your instinct.  Doctors who treat a patient as a friend or an equal and dont talk down to you but explain everything they want to try and why and how it will benefit you.  Yours, Deborah

On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 2:42 PM, reneehearttoheart <reneehearttoheart@...> wrote:

I have just gone through a hugh painful flare up of what my doctor suspects is RA, high RH factor, however, I have had fibromyalgia for over 20 years now also am on the lowest level I can be with vitamin D so have an defiency there as well.

My fm flared up horribly the last week of Jan. went on for a week and then got worse and worse and started affecting me differentloy. Have becoming pretty imobile and in so much pain, I had lots of blood work done and found all these other things, waiting now until the 15th of April to get in to an RA doctor. Was so bad last week my dr. prescribed methylpredisone which helped tremendously. Was a real person again. Last pill yesterday morning and now it seems today is a slow day and stiffness is starting again in knees and hands. I have an anti inflammatory I can go back on with dr. approval until next weeks apt. Hope it will hold it off but she doesn't want to mask symptoms so they can diagnois.

I am open to any special things that you might prepare me for or tips and info to ask my new dr. How can I tell hes a good RA person, I keep hearing horror stories that they go through un caring doctors.

I am also wondering if anyone feels this, I have a 2 inch by 4 inch patch at the bottom of my head that feels like its puffy. Its not swollen just has that feel, my neck is sore on the sides but this is just a peculiar area that I have been noticing. Can or does anyone have some symptoms of RA there?

I welcome any advise for a newbie!

[Guest guest]

Dear I,m so sorry for all your pain. I don,t have fibro but I do have arthritis in my feet,elbow and right hand. I have a very physical job but I started stretching in the morning before work. Also WD 40 works on arthritis pain you only need a little,also analgesic gel works also. Plese me me posted on your progress.

From: reneehearttoheart <reneehearttoheart@...>Subject: Newbie at it allRheumatoid Arthritis Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 1:42 PM

I have just gone through a hugh painful flare up of what my doctor suspects is RA, high RH factor, however, I have had fibromyalgia for over 20 years now also am on the lowest level I can be with vitamin D so have an defiency there as well.My fm flared up horribly the last week of Jan. went on for a week and then got worse and worse and started affecting me differentloy. Have becoming pretty imobile and in so much pain, I had lots of blood work done and found all these other things, waiting now until the 15th of April to get in to an RA doctor. Was so bad last week my dr. prescribed methylpredisone which helped tremendously. Was a real person again. Last pill yesterday morning and now it seems today is a slow day and stiffness is starting again in knees and hands. I have an anti inflammatory I can go back on with dr. approval until next weeks apt. Hope it will hold it off but she doesn't want to mask symptoms so they can diagnois.I

am open to any special things that you might prepare me for or tips and info to ask my new dr. How can I tell hes a good RA person, I keep hearing horror stories that they go through un caring doctors.I am also wondering if anyone feels this, I have a 2 inch by 4 inch patch at the bottom of my head that feels like its puffy. Its not swollen just has that feel, my neck is sore on the sides but this is just a peculiar area that I have been noticing. Can or does anyone have some symptoms of RA there?I welcome any advise for a newbie!