Guest guest Posted February 23, 2004 Report Share Posted February 23, 2004 Hi , I want to welcome you to the group. I am sorry the reason why your here though. Just because your lab results come back negative, doesn't mean anything. It takes awhile to get a diagnosis that's for sure. Unfortunatly, you just have to hang in there, because you need to know for sure, so you can stop the progression of RA. I also have some nodules, my doctor could look at them, and right away tell what they were. I am sorry I don't know nothing about a biopsy on nodules. I am sure someone else will get back to you on that. --- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " " <cats2lin@n...> wrote: > Hi, > I just joined this group. I haven't been diagnosed with RA, but > the Rheumatologist thinks I may have it. My lab results and x-rays > came back negative. The Rheumy thinks it may be serum negative RA. > I still have to have more x-rays to confirm. Also I have nodules > distal to both my elbows and she wants me to have a biopsy of the > nodules. Any ideas how this is done? I have to make an appointment > with a surgeon. She said he'll tell me about it. I'm on 500mg > Naproxen twice a day and am feeling much better. Wonder if I should > pursue this. I'm also Type 1 Diabetic and have been for 30 years. > Getting tired of going to the doctor. I would like to hear from > anyone that may have had a similar experience. I also feel > fortunate that I don't have as much pain as most here do. > Thanks for listening and any information. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Tawny, Thanks for writing back. I think she wants the biopsy because it will prove a 4th criteria for RA because my lab was negative. She also wants me to start reading up on meds. Plaquinil is the one she mentioned to start with. Said it is least harsh but can affect the retina. Do you have any experience with that? Once again, thank you for responding. > > Hi, > > I just joined this group. I haven't been diagnosed with RA, but > > the Rheumatologist thinks I may have it. My lab results and x- rays > > came back negative. The Rheumy thinks it may be serum negative > RA. > > I still have to have more x-rays to confirm. Also I have nodules > > distal to both my elbows and she wants me to have a biopsy of the > > nodules. Any ideas how this is done? I have to make an > appointment > > with a surgeon. She said he'll tell me about it. I'm on 500mg > > Naproxen twice a day and am feeling much better. Wonder if I > should > > pursue this. I'm also Type 1 Diabetic and have been for 30 years. > > Getting tired of going to the doctor. I would like to hear from > > anyone that may have had a similar experience. I also feel > > fortunate that I don't have as much pain as most here do. > > Thanks for listening and any information. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 ,....It sounds like your rheumy is taking care of you. As for Plaquinil I don't know much about it, I've never taken it. I have heard that it can effect the retina. I would read up on all the meds.If you have any questions about meds, just ask the group. Good luck, and let me know how your doing, Tawny > > > Hi, > > > I just joined this group. I haven't been diagnosed with RA, > but > > > the Rheumatologist thinks I may have it. My lab results and x- > rays > > > came back negative. The Rheumy thinks it may be serum negative > > RA. > > > I still have to have more x-rays to confirm. Also I have > nodules > > > distal to both my elbows and she wants me to have a biopsy of > the > > > nodules. Any ideas how this is done? I have to make an > > appointment > > > with a surgeon. She said he'll tell me about it. I'm on 500mg > > > Naproxen twice a day and am feeling much better. Wonder if I > > should > > > pursue this. I'm also Type 1 Diabetic and have been for 30 > years. > > > Getting tired of going to the doctor. I would like to hear from > > > anyone that may have had a similar experience. I also feel > > > fortunate that I don't have as much pain as most here do. > > > Thanks for listening and any information. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 It's macular degeneration you have to be checked for on Plaquenil I believe. I took it for a few years along with other drugs but it didn't seem to have any good or bad effects on me. The precaution was I had to see an opthalmologist every 6 months just to check the eyes. I had nodules too but not too large and they went away - near the elbow and at the elbow Annette > > > Hi, > > > I just joined this group. I haven't been diagnosed with RA, > but > > > the Rheumatologist thinks I may have it. My lab results and x- > rays > > > came back negative. The Rheumy thinks it may be serum negative > > RA. > > > I still have to have more x-rays to confirm. Also I have > nodules > > > distal to both my elbows and she wants me to have a biopsy of > the > > > nodules. Any ideas how this is done? I have to make an > > appointment > > > with a surgeon. She said he'll tell me about it. I'm on 500mg > > > Naproxen twice a day and am feeling much better. Wonder if I > > should > > > pursue this. I'm also Type 1 Diabetic and have been for 30 > years. > > > Getting tired of going to the doctor. I would like to hear from > > > anyone that may have had a similar experience. I also feel > > > fortunate that I don't have as much pain as most here do. > > > Thanks for listening and any information. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Annette, I worry about my eyes being affected even if it is a slight chance because I already have diabetic retinopathy and a vision loss in my right eye. Have had laser treatments to both eyes and a vitrectomy in my right eye due to the retina swelling after the laser. Everything seems to have a downside and I'm looking for a balance. Have an appointment with the surgeon on March 15th for an evaluation. I'm still hoping I'll find out the nodules are just fatty tumors. (The Rheumy doesn't think so because they are bilateral.) Maybe they will go away like yours did. Thanks for writing and hope you are doing well. > > > > Hi, > > > > I just joined this group. I haven't been diagnosed with RA, > > but > > > > the Rheumatologist thinks I may have it. My lab results and x- > > rays > > > > came back negative. The Rheumy thinks it may be serum negative > > > RA. > > > > I still have to have more x-rays to confirm. Also I have > > nodules > > > > distal to both my elbows and she wants me to have a biopsy of > > the > > > > nodules. Any ideas how this is done? I have to make an > > > appointment > > > > with a surgeon. She said he'll tell me about it. I'm on 500mg > > > > Naproxen twice a day and am feeling much better. Wonder if I > > > should > > > > pursue this. I'm also Type 1 Diabetic and have been for 30 > > years. > > > > Getting tired of going to the doctor. I would like to hear > from > > > > anyone that may have had a similar experience. I also feel > > > > fortunate that I don't have as much pain as most here do. > > > > Thanks for listening and any information. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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