Re: Looking for a similar story...

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanne...have you read about psoriatic arthritis? It has many

siilarities to rheumatoid, and some differences. I have Psoriatic

Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

Sometimes it is really hard to distinguish what's happening and if

symptoms are overlapping.

My symptoms started when I was in my late 20's after a bout of mono

(don't know if that's related or not.) I had 4 little kids at he time

and thought my exhaustion was from that, too. But it was a kind of

tiredness that never went away - even with sleep or rest. I'd get a

rash on my face and irritable bowell symdrome, especially in sunny

weather, and I ached all the time. I did not have any joint swelling or

redness until about 15 years later.

I know this can be an exhausting and frustrating process. I was given

many, many diagnoses over the years. Finally in 1998 they settled in

the ones I wrote of above.

Keep writing about your feelings and questions. People here will life

you up, hold your hand, let you cry on their shoulder...whatever you

need. God bless you on this journey.

Hugs of Hope...

Tess

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanne,

I had a similar problem with dermatitis a couple of years ago. It was on my

hands and fingers. It would start with a small fluid filled bump. Then more

came. They would either burst or would dry up and crack. My hands were a

scaly bloody mess for the longest time. I went to a dermatologist who said

that I may have psoritic arthritis. We tried many steroid creams and

ointments, but none really helped. I ended up putting Vaseline pet jelly on

my hands and wrapping them overnight. This helped and soon it was under

control. I still get it once in a while,(usually in times of extreme

stress)but not as bad. I also use a deep moisturizing cream every night to

keep it from getting dry and flaring up. I never did go back to the derm. I

just try to keep moisturized and this has helped. Hope this helps.

Stacey in PA

[Guest guest]

Thanks Stacey!

I've been using Aquaphor cream (a lot like a vaseline) at bedtime,

and it seems to keep it under contol from cracking too much. It's

really just my right index finger that gets dry and scaly...too weird!

Waiting to see the Rheumy in June and maybe get a DX.

Jeanne

> Hi Jeanne,

> I had a similar problem with dermatitis a couple of years ago. It

was on my

> hands and fingers. It would start with a small fluid filled bump.

Then more

> came. They would either burst or would dry up and crack. My hands

were a

> scaly bloody mess for the longest time. I went to a dermatologist

who said

> that I may have psoritic arthritis. We tried many steroid creams

and

> ointments, but none really helped. I ended up putting Vaseline pet

jelly on

> my hands and wrapping them overnight. This helped and soon it was

under

> control. I still get it once in a while,(usually in times of

extreme

> stress)but not as bad. I also use a deep moisturizing cream every

night to

> keep it from getting dry and flaring up. I never did go back to

the derm. I

> just try to keep moisturized and this has helped. Hope this helps.

> Stacey in PA