Re: newbie too

[Guest guest]

Hi,.....I am new too. Actually I joined up a couple times before but I

don't think I ever posted. [or my fibrofog has caused me to forget if I

ever posted before, lol] I do know that if I didn't post it was because

I have not had a dx of RA. So I guess I felt like I couldn't join in

because of that. But, now I see that this group includes FM, and I do

have that dx. But,.....I sure do have many of the symptoms of RA. So

that leads me to ask all of you with RA, if you can have it without any

of the blood test showing positive. I've had a slight elevation in the

SED rate, but the rheumatoid factor always comes back negative. Also, I

don't have any deformity of any joints except my right 4th toe curves

in, but I don't know if that is connected to any arthritis type thing.

What symptoms can you have besides the deformity of the joints that a

Dr. would suspect RA. Especially if the blood work comes back negative.

If it's not RA, then the FM pain is as bad as RA can get. Most days the

pain comes on before I get out of bed and in places that have no weight

on them, so I think something systemically is going on.

When that happens it brings me to tears and all I can do is wait it out

until it dies down to a tolerable level. I take pain pills, but because

of the sensitivities I have to most medicines I can't take very high

doses.

I also have MS, and there are pain levels with it too. Besides

spasticity. Some days I can't tell what is causing what, so its hard to

know how to treat each illnesses because what might help one hurts

another.

Anyone else have these problems too.

Fatigue is a common symptom in all these illnesses, and some days its

hard to handle the weakness. My Dr. suggested a medicine for the fatigue

but because of my sleep apnea I'm not suppose to take anything for

sleep.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. I'm usually pretty

upbeat, but lately everything seems to be taking its toll on me.

Menopause doesn't help either as it flares EVERYTHING up.....

My name is Jackie, I'm 53, married to Steve for 32 years. Two kids, Tina

30, and 28, 2 grandbabies, 4, and Skylar 2. 1 dog a

Dalmatian Max, 12.

I live in a little town south of Portland, Oregon.

Jax [jackie in oregon][expecting more snow, lots of it]

[Guest guest]

Welcome back, Jax! Sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time

lately.

Both MS and FMS affect your body as a whole, so you already do have two

serious systemic illnesses. I hope you don't have to add RA to them.

Yes, one can have RA and not have a positive rheumatoid factor. RF, sed

rate, CRP, and other labs don't tell the physician as much as your

history and clinical picture. Your symptoms are more important than the

labs.

What symptoms do you have that cannot be explained by fibromyalgia or

MS?

Here are some links to help you understand the symptoms and signs of RA:

RA disease basics from HealthTalk:

http://www.healthtalk.com/rheumatoidarthritis/diseasebasics.cfm

On RA from MEDLINEplus:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000431.htm

Picture of rheumatoid hand deformity:

http://www.surgical-tutor.org.uk/default-home.htm?tutorials/rheumatoid.htm~right

Picture of a hand of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis from Loyola

University:

http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/medicine/Rheumatology/Hands/Hand11/Hand11\

..html

Re: [ ] Newbie too

> Hi,.....I am new too. Actually I joined up a couple times before but I

> don't think I ever posted. [or my fibrofog has caused me to forget if

I

> ever posted before, lol] I do know that if I didn't post it was

because

> I have not had a dx of RA. So I guess I felt like I couldn't join in

> because of that. But, now I see that this group includes FM, and I do

> have that dx. But,.....I sure do have many of the symptoms of RA. So

> that leads me to ask all of you with RA, if you can have it without

any

> of the blood test showing positive. I've had a slight elevation in the

> SED rate, but the rheumatoid factor always comes back negative. Also,

I

> don't have any deformity of any joints except my right 4th toe curves

> in, but I don't know if that is connected to any arthritis type thing.

> What symptoms can you have besides the deformity of the joints that a

> Dr. would suspect RA. Especially if the blood work comes back

negative.

> If it's not RA, then the FM pain is as bad as RA can get. Most days

the

> pain comes on before I get out of bed and in places that have no

weight

> on them, so I think something systemically is going on.

> When that happens it brings me to tears and all I can do is wait it

out

> until it dies down to a tolerable level. I take pain pills, but

because

> of the sensitivities I have to most medicines I can't take very high

> doses.

> I also have MS, and there are pain levels with it too. Besides

> spasticity. Some days I can't tell what is causing what, so its hard

to

> know how to treat each illnesses because what might help one hurts

> another.

> Anyone else have these problems too.

> Fatigue is a common symptom in all these illnesses, and some days its

> hard to handle the weakness. My Dr. suggested a medicine for the

fatigue

> but because of my sleep apnea I'm not suppose to take anything for

> sleep.

> Anyhow, I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. I'm usually pretty

> upbeat, but lately everything seems to be taking its toll on me.

> Menopause doesn't help either as it flares EVERYTHING up.....

> My name is Jackie, I'm 53, married to Steve for 32 years. Two kids,

Tina

> 30, and 28, 2 grandbabies, 4, and Skylar 2. 1 dog a

> Dalmatian Max, 12.

> I live in a little town south of Portland, Oregon.

> Jax [jackie in oregon][expecting more snow, lots of it]

[Guest guest]

HI Jackie, nice to meet you. I'm still rather new too. I have fibro

also. Along with ra, osteo , leaky mitral & arotic heart valves. A few other

ailments too. I'm 43 yrs. w/ 2 kids, my oldest is 22 yrs. old and youngest is 15

yrs. old. I've been married 23 yrs and 3 dogs. I live in Tenn. a very small

country community love it here. I to don't post much but would like to start e

mailing others also. I to have so much pain that most days I just want to stay

in bed!!lol!! But I try to do what I can ya know? Hey,, can't give up, right?

But I felt I had to write you. Hope your doing better and hope to here from you

to. Hugs , Gail (aka freda)

[Guest guest]

Hi I just joined too--and posted a message but it hasn't shown up--am wondering if I need to adjust my settings? This is a test. I'm a member of circle 2012 dreams as well. Thanks for taking over Mystic. Looking fprward to herb news. Cheers Bea deilfangel <deifspirit@...> wrote: MM-Hi i just joined. i am a member in the circle 2012 dreams2 grp!i am a nurse practitioner who uses complementary alternative

medicine in my practice. I look forward to reading your posts.peace and love,nancie

Shape in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

[Guest guest]

is having major problems- a lot of my posts aren't showing up in other grps as well.

nancie

----- Original Message -----

From: Bea Bernhausen

Herbal_Connection

Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 8:09 PM

Subject: Re: [Herbal_Connection] newbie too

Hi I just joined too--and posted a message but it hasn't shown up--am wondering if I need to adjust my settings? This is a test.

I'm a member of circle 2012 dreams as well. Thanks for taking over Mystic.

Looking fprward to herb news.

Cheers

Bea

deilfangel <deifspiritmsn> wrote:

MM-Hi i just joined. i am a member in the circle 2012 dreams2 grp!i am a nurse practitioner who uses complementary alternative medicine in my practice. I look forward to reading your posts.peace and love,nancie

Shape in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

[Guest guest]

hello ,it works

tonya'

----- Original Message ----From: Bea Bernhausen <beabernhausen@...>Herbal_Connection Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 10:09:22 PMSubject: Re: [Herbal_Connection] newbie too

Hi I just joined too--and posted a message but it hasn't shown up--am wondering if I need to adjust my settings? This is a test.

I'm a member of circle 2012 dreams as well. Thanks for taking over Mystic.

Looking fprward to herb news.

Cheers

Bea

deilfangel <deifspiritmsn (DOT) com> wrote:

MM-Hi i just joined. i am a member in the circle 2012 dreams2 grp!i am a nurse practitioner who uses complementary alternative medicine in my practice. I look forward to reading your posts.peace and love,nancie

Shape in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

Finding fabulous fares is fun.Let FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains.

[Guest guest]

Just dug a bunch of mine out of the bulk folder...Nancie Barnett <deifspirit@...> wrote: is having major problems- a lot of my posts aren't showing up in other grps as well. nancie ----- Original Message ----- From: Bea Bernhausen Herbal_Connection Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 8:09 PM Subject: Re: [Herbal_Connection] newbie too Hi I just joined too--and posted a message but it hasn't shown up--am wondering if I need to adjust my settings? This is a test. I'm a member of circle 2012 dreams as well. Thanks for taking over Mystic. Looking fprward to herb news. Cheers Bea deilfangel <deifspiritmsn> wrote: MM-Hi i just joined. i am a member in the circle 2012 dreams2 grp!i am a nurse practitioner who uses complementary alternative medicine in my practice. I look forward to reading your posts.peace and love,nancie Shape in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today!

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