Re: What to expect at first visit to Rheum?

[Guest guest]

Take this email and anything else you have journaled about your symtoms to your appointment. For me, it seems like I have been talking faster than he could possibly be absorbing and he continues writing. How much can he really be hearing? Then I wonder if I forgot to mention something. Keep a folder/notebook of all your test results and reports. Ask everyone for a copy. I just started this. I have actually had Dr's tell me it's a good idea with the new privacy laws from this spring. One said sometimes they can't get test results from the hospital on their own patient. I always feel like the process is to move this appt. along quickly and I don't get to ask as many questions as I like. That is courtesy of the insurance companies.

-----Original Message-----From: mdkjev [mailto:mdkjev@...]Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 6:08 PMRheumatoid Arthritis Subject: What to expect at first visit to Rheum?Glad I found this board. Have been browsing and reading all I can lately. I do not have an offical diagnosis yet but after reading this board was hoping you folks could provide some insite. I will try to summarize why I am going.I'm going because on a routine visit to my dr. I (41 yrs) expressed swelling, stiffness in hands, knees, bottoms of feet and ankles and had a rash on chest and upper back. He tried me on celebrex immediately to ease the inflamation but I endend up with horrible hives and a sunburn like rash so put me on Orudis. After the incidence with celebrex he was concerned because in just those 4 days the swelling stiffness was noticably worse. He ran several test to rule out lymes disease, sed rate and Rheum factor. He set me up with this rheum because the R factor was (according to him) extremely elevated, but the sed rate was low. He didn't give me a figure so I don't know what it was. I pick up the blood work and referral Monday. Since then the last 4 weeks have been a guessing game as to what hurts the worse each morning. I definitely am more tired than normal, have more stiffness and swelling in the morning, but evening can be just as tough, probably from overuse on days I feel better, the fronts and back of my knees are stiff, tender and stairs are horrible. Had to have my wedding ring cut off today before that finger blew up like the right hand. I'm not sure what to expect on the first visit. I know there is more to than just a visit to make a diganosis or offer relief, but what is protocal?

[Guest guest]

Your experiences sound a lot like mine before I had a diagnosis.

Morning was the worst. I was wearing ace bandages on my wrists at

night they were so sore to move and the bottoms of my feet were so

sore - I felt like the Little Mermaid (you know in the fairy tale she

felt like she was walking on knives.)I was almost crawling out of bed

in the morning, and after a days work would go home and fall asleep

with no energy to even eat dinner.

All the joint damage to my hands and feet was done in the first year

before the diagnosis was made and the agressive treatment was started

Annette

Since then the last 4 weeks have been a guessing game as to

> what hurts the worse each morning. I definitely am more tired than

> normal, have more stiffness and swelling in the morning, but

evening

> can be just as tough, probably from overuse on days I feel better,

> the fronts and back of my knees are stiff, tender and stairs are

> horrible. Had to have my wedding ring cut off today before that

> finger blew up like the right hand. I'm not sure what to expect on

> the first visit.

[Guest guest]

Here's a link to one version of what to expect at the first visit. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/new/first.html Many people don't get diagnosed for a year or more and even then the diagnosis might change because there are over 170 kinds of arthritis with slight differences Some information on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is at this site: http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/disease/ra/ra.html and some information on medicines for RA is at http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/meds/ The more you know about RA before your visit the more likely you will understand and remember what the doctor says. If possible, have a friend go with you to help you remember and understand. Also take notes and be willing to ask the doctor to repeat or explain anything you don't understand well enough. You should also take a copy of your most recent lab results and always get and keep a file of all lab results. For all sorts of general information about arthritis I like the site http://arthritisinsight.com/ and all of my references above are from that site.

Many people take Prednisone early in their RA treatment because that is a fast-acting anti-inflammatory that often reduces pain, swelling, and stiffness while other medicines for RA often take weeks to months to be effective. Also doses are usually started low and increased gradually while watching for side effects. Prednisone helps the symptoms of RA but does not slow down or stop the permanent joint damage that comes from untreated RA. If you start Prednisone try to reduce the amount as soon as you can with the hope of getting off it. Many people have a love/hate relationship with that drug because it makes them feel good but has many adverse side effects and does no long-term good. You should take the least amount that will permit you to function as needed and not enough to feel really good. Good luck and God bless.

Harold Van Tuyl (Grandpavan1927)

----- Original Message -----

From: mdkjev

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 3:07 PM

Subject: What to expect at first visit to Rheum?

Glad I found this board. Have been browsing and reading all I can lately. I do not have an offical diagnosis yet but after reading this board was hoping you folks could provide some insite. I will try to summarize why I am going.I'm going because on a routine visit to my dr. I (41 yrs) expressed swelling, stiffness in hands, knees, bottoms of feet and ankles and had a rash on chest and upper back. He tried me on celebrex immediately to ease the inflamation but I endend up with horrible hives and a sunburn like rash so put me on Orudis. After the incidence with celebrex he was concerned because in just those 4 days the swelling stiffness was noticably worse. He ran several test to rule out lymes disease, sed rate and Rheum factor. He set me up with this rheum because the R factor was (according to him) extremely elevated, but the sed rate was low. He didn't give me a figure so I don't know what it was. I pick up the blood work and referral Monday. Since then the last 4 weeks have been a guessing game as to what hurts the worse each morning. I definitely am more tired than normal, have more stiffness and swelling in the morning, but evening can be just as tough, probably from overuse on days I feel better, the fronts and back of my knees are stiff, tender and stairs are horrible. Had to have my wedding ring cut off today before that finger blew up like the right hand. I'm not sure what to expect on the first visit. I know there is more to than just a visit to make a diganosis or offer relief, but what is protocal?