Welcome, Jan!

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your welcome.

I have a lot of questions. Has anyone ever been tested negative for RA

and yet carry almost all the symtoms? I just came from my doctor

yesterday after being told again that my tests are negative not only for

RA but lupus. In reading over the first batch of emails form your

group, I find I share many of the symptoms and have for many years.

There are days that I just have to force myself to move and literally

will myself to make the next move. I work a full time job that

fortunately does not involve any heavy lifting or constant movement.

Most people just do not understand when I say I am in constant pain. My

mother who died 3 1/2 years ago at 85 used to say the same thing and she

also never had any relief from her doctors. I am 61. My list of

ailments include: dry eye(sometimes painful), chest pain and rib pain,

fatigue and malaise, fuzzy vision at times, have had surgery on both

wrists for carpal tunnel, knee and ankle pain, joint aches, shortness of

breath at times, fast pulse(low blood pressure), and lately the neck and

shoulders are severely painful. I find it hard to walk any great

distance and carry anything that weighs more than a few ounces. My

doctor is an internist and is with the military hospital system. I

cannot get past him to any other kind of doctor. I would go on the

outside, if I thought there might be help for me, but have no idea who

to see first. I have taken celebrex which helped for a short time but

affected my stomach. Currently, all I take is Tylenol 2 - 3x a day.

The doctor says that I have Osteo and trigger points but I am not clear

on what they are exactly. I also have low bone density. My finger

joints are also affected. I sometimes have swelling in my feet and

redness but of course it is always gone by the time I am able to make an

appointment with the doctor. The flesh on my right thigh has been

extremly painful for about 15 years but since they could not make a

diagnosis, I was put on Elavil for several years. Almost 2 years ago, I

had a blood clot in my lung and was taken off of everything except

Tylenol. The pain has increased since then when new areas that have

been affected. I do not talk about it to most of my friends(there are

only 2 who really understand) or my family. I just keep going and going

and going. I do lead an active life though limited in what I can do.

Does anyone have any suggestions or infomation that would be beneficial?

Thanks for all your help in advance.

Jan in CA. (Lynn-I am a Me-Ma. 7 grandkids.)