I would sure appreciate your input, I just signed on today

[Guest guest]

Let me start by saying that I am not sure I have RA. I saw something

in my chart today at the dr's office (he was gone) that said I

needed more lab work, and the number I saw was 174. I think it said

Rheumatoid Factor. So, first question is, " what does 174 mean? "

More importantly, I would like to share my symptoms with you, and

see if anyone recognizes what I am talking about. It is something I

have had a hard time explaining to my dr, it has been happening for

years, but now is getting worse. My " gut " thinks it is related to my

blood somehow, because when it hits, it seems to hit every nerve, my

skin even hurts.

If you are still with me, here it is:

The first thing I start to feel is my hands and breathing. In my

hands, it feels like it is in my bones, the palm gets it the worse.

My lungs just feel funny. This " sickness " as I call it then travels

up my arms to shoulders, and evidentually, my WHOLE body is aching

SO BAD! At this point, I feel like I have very strong flu symptoms.

At the same time as all this is progressing, I start freezing, and

huddle up in a ball, which hurts too. At this point, I am just

moaning, and rocking back in forth (this usually happens at night).

My sensation is that I CANNOT get out of bed, I truly feel like my

legs will not hold me.

Whenever I have a flu type thing, I always strongly crave a hot bath

(I take hot showers too). Well, we are getting to the point that

finally made me call my doctor. During this one episode, I was in

the shower letting very hot water just run on my back. I went to

open a bottle of soap - and that is what scared me! The movement of

twisting the soap lid was almost too much to do. It hurt my fingers

so much! Finally, another odd thing (which made me start thinking

blood or nerves vs bones) is while in the shower, when I would rub a

regular wash cloth over my arms, the little loops hurt my skin.

I haven't had this last more than one whole night at a time, but

another funny thing (which I am feeling now as I write, late

afternoon), is I get these incredible urges to stretch all over -

like when you wake up in the morning. But I do it more, it's like my

body craves it or something.

Boy, I hope some of you are still with me, I know this is long. This

appears to be my best resource for input. I have the type doctor

that may blow me off. Like I said this started many years ago (10 or

so). Then, they were short episodes, always started with freezing,

chattering teeth, then the acky flu feeling.

By the way, I am a 42 year old female, am also sedentary (shame on

me). I get winded disgustingly easy.

I must say, it feels great to explain this to someone. I guess I

will end with this final " long shot. "

19 years ago, I had Adult Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a blood disease

that shut down my kidneys 100%. I was on Plasma F treatments,

infusions, and dialysis for a month. Miraculously, I had 100%

recovery (apparently pretty rare with my disease). All my blood

tests throughout the years have been perfect except anemia a little

bit, and now my colestorol (sp?) is borderline.

Well, thank you, thank you, thank you for reading this. Naturally,

once I send it, I will think of new things But I won't throw in

each new rememberance.

Thanks again,

Dorri