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Hello to everyone! My name is Heidi, and I am 33. I am awaiting

diagnosis. My symptoms started the last week of June - my hands

felt swollen and stiff when I woke up in the mornings, but it would

pass, so I didn't think a whole lot of it. Right after the 4th of

July, the stiffness didn't go away, and went to my elbows. It got

uncomfortable, and then I got concerned. I went to the local ER,

thinking I was experiencing some sort of allergy or something. My

sed rate was 28, ANA negative, and I was sent home with directions

to take ibuprofen 3x/day and tylenol 3x/day. After several visits

to my local doc, and more blood tests, which all came back

essentially normal, I was referred to a rheumatologist at Mayo

Clinic in Rochester, MN (I live in a town nearby). They did some

more tests; the sed rate increased to 30, and x-rays of my hands and

wrists showed some osteopenia. Still no definitive diagnosis; the

rheumatologist said that although I haven't had it long enough to

make an official diagnosis, signs point to RA. I go again to see

him on the 11th of Sept. I have been taking Celebrex twice a day,

and tylenol 3x/day. I think things are the same, if not even

worse. My hand joints don't like pressure applied to them, and when

I move them at any sort of an angle, they scream! My elbows,

wrists, hands, and knees are the worst, but I have pain in my ankles

and feet as well.

I was supposed to call the rheumy a couple of weeks before my

appointment to report how things are going, so that if there was no

change, they could order more tests and possible joint scans for my

visit. I left a message for him yesterday, so I hope that I can get

some answers and a diagnosis. It seems strange to complain about

the length of time I've been dealing with this when I read how some

of you went undiagnosed for such long periods of time! I just hate

not having any answers. It's frustrating when I'm so miserable, but

yet the tests don't reflect the pain I feel. At least the rheumy

didn't look at me like I was crazy or tell me it is all in my head!

The rheumy told me that if I was still dealing with the pain on my

next visit, they'd be adding another med, bridging it with the

Celebrex. I have done quite a bit of research on the meds, and it

seems that methotrexate seems to be the front-runner as far as usage

is concerned. Is that usually the first med tried? Since it takes

awhile to take effect, is prednisone usually prescribed to bridge

it? I know everyone's circumstance is different, but I am nervous

and wonder what to expect.

Exercise is another thing I'm wondering about. Before all this

started, I gave up my gym membership and bought a Bowflex and a

Gazelle Edge (elliptical trainer). The Gazelle is pretty low-

impact, but does anybody know about Bowflex's usage in RA? Is it

safe? When can I exercise? I have read that if you're in a flare,

you shouldn't exercise, but rather wait until the flare passes. But

how would I know if I'm in a flare vs. just the garden variety

pain?

Sorry if these are stupid questions, and sorry about the length of

the post.

Take care everybody! Thanks in advance for any advice.

Heidi