Re: not diagnose yet w ra?

April 24, 2002

Hi (?),

You may just have RA, just because the bloodwork doesn't show it doesn't mean that you don't have it. Many times it takes years for the bloodwork to show positive. I would also ask the dr to test you for fibromyalgia. Its not a blood test, its actually a test where the dr touches a series of pressure points and questions about fatigue & memory retention. Unfortunately some drs only wnt to see the diagnosis in writing, you may have to find a new rheumy. Hope this helps.

Good Luck & God Bless, Barbara

lindav221 <lindav221@...> wrote: In the summer of 2000 I developed parvoirus b19 from one of my students,I am a pre school teacher.The symptoms are like chronic arthritis pain in the joints, fatigue, stiffness and just not feeling well.Recently my blood showed ra count of 166. My MD told me to see a RA dr.which has me on celebrex200mg. ultracet for pain and ambien to sleep.My x-rays are normal, hepatitis,lupus,lyme are normal.Sooooo what do I have?????? I'm in alot of pain can't work,depressed and need a new RA DR.Please I need guidance from the ra support group?

April 24, 2002

:

Get in touch with your specialist; he needs to explain his diagnosis and go

over his plan of treatment. If you are still in great pain (see no

improvement), tell him. He may want to change your meds.

Good luck. Let us know how you are doing.

Beatrice

>From: " lindav221 " <lindav221@...>

>Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis

>Rheumatoid Arthritis

>Subject: not diagnose yet w ra?

>Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 20:14:52 -0000

>

>In the summer of 2000 I developed parvoirus b19 from one of my

>students,I am a pre school teacher.The symptoms are like chronic

>arthritis pain in the joints, fatigue, stiffness and just not feeling

>well.Recently my blood showed ra count of 166. My MD told me to see a

>RA dr.which has me on celebrex200mg. ultracet for pain and ambien to

>sleep.My x-rays are normal, hepatitis,lupus,lyme are normal.Sooooo

>what do I have?????? I'm in alot of pain can't work,depressed and

>need a new RA DR.Please I need guidance from the ra support group?

>

_________________________________________________________________

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April 25, 2002

--- lindav221 <lindav221@...> wrote:

> In the summer of 2000 I developed parvoirus b19 from

> one of my

> students,I am a pre school teacher.The symptoms are

> like chronic

> arthritis pain in the joints, fatigue, stiffness and

> just not feeling

> well.Recently my blood showed ra count of 166. My MD

> told me to see a

> RA dr.which has me on celebrex200mg. ultracet for

> pain and ambien to

> sleep.My x-rays are normal, hepatitis,lupus,lyme are

> normal.Sooooo

> what do I have?????? I'm in alot of pain can't

> work,depressed and

> need a new RA DR.Please I need guidance from the ra

> support group?

>

> ,

Welcome to the pain in the neck Butt Club,It want

always be this bad. Good days are still to come, they

will just be different. You will need to change you

shoes, you will find that this will save you on floor

space. I went form 40 pairs to 4 that I feel safe

walking in. You will need to buy a hat. A BIG ONE, the

meds you " might " have to go on, don't mix well with

the sun. If you start feeling bad,a good thing to do

is, lay all day in the hot tub with a good book.If you

don't have a hot tub, a hot bath well help too. RA is

not the end of life ,it's just a change in plans, and

we all have to find a way to our new road.

I have found that with my RA, I have had a prob with

feeling guilty that I can't do some of the things I

use to. I have been trying to fight against having RA

and not taking it EZ when my body tells my to. I think

we all had a problem learning to take naps again. boy

was I glad my mother saved my blank y!

, just take care of yourself. ask for help if

you need it, and if you don't understand what your

doctors are telling you, have them write it down and

re-explain.Remember, you pay them and their job you

have employed them to do is UNDERSTAND what is going

on with YOUR BODY and YOUR LIFE!

Take care of you,

Pam

__________________________________________________

April 25, 2002

Hi ,

I suggest you ask your rheumatologist to test you for B27 mediated

arthritis and Reiter's Syndrome. That's what I have. Reactive arthritis is

when an infection is a catalyst for arthritis. I had uvitis in September

1999 (a disease of the inner eye). After it cleared up, I developed

arthritis. Tests for lupus, lyme disease, MS, brain tumors all showed

normal, as did X-rays (although a later bone density test showed bone

erosion that is undetectable in a simple X-ray). I saw private

practice/ER/family doctors and neurologists. One doctor said I tested

negative for the RA factor so I didn't have arthritis (I now know he was

wrong). Usually only rheumatologists know about Reactive/ B27 arthritis.

This group has been a great help to me. My best advice to you is to

fight for the best care. If one doctor doesn't listen, find another one.

Listen to your body. Good luck.

Culpeper, VA