follow up doctor appointment today.

[Guest guest]

Had my follow up with my doctor today. He confirmed my tests for RH and ANA

were in the normal range, but he feels with my symptoms it's RA. I told him

the Naproxen did help some with the pain, but I haven't noticed any

difference in my swelling. My knees and hips feel lots better tho. I asked

him if the Neurontin and the two antidepressants are helping with the pain,

and he said probably. I ran out of one of the antidepressants that's

supposed to work with the Neurontin to block pain, and it was awful. If

felt so bad, no energy, and hurt all over. It took a week to feel almost

normal again, and that was only after being without one of the low dosed

meds for 3 days. He wants me to keep taking the Naproxen and watch my

stomach. Stop taking it if I have problems, and in fact don't take it for a

few days and see how I feel. He also wants to watch my kidney function and

test every 3 months. He said if the pain and swelling doesn't improve or

gets worse, he will refer me to a rheumatologist.

Is a pain blocker like Neurontin often used with RA? I was started on it

last year to control migraines from rebound of Advil and also face pain that

they feel is referred from my jaws. I take 800 mg at nite and was taking

400 in the morning and afternoon until I started on nortriptaline. I have

been able to not take the Neurontin during the day, but if my pain is bad, I

can take a full 800 mg of Neurontin and feel better.

Debbie Mc