RE: My first visit to the rheumatologist

July 9, 2002

Hi Geri,

I'm glad your visit with the Rheumatologist went well. A lot of people are

subclinical at first, then are diagnosed later. Hopefully your test results

will come back fine and your symptoms will resolve on their own. If not, at

least you're in with a rheumatologist who can watch your progression and

address your pain if your symptoms get worse.

Hugs,

Carol

[ ] My first visit to the rheumatologist

Hi,

I joined the list a couple of weeks ago with complaints of hand swelling

& pain. I had my first visit to the rheumatologist yesterday, after a month

wait for an appointment. Basically they took

blood for all sorts of tests - Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Thyroid Problems

& Liver problems to name a few. The dr. feels there is a slight possibility

( but not a probability) it may be a rheumatoid problem. Or maybe it's

" sub-clinical " (too early to tell that it exists yet). So I get the results

in a week or 2. If everything is negative (which he suspects), then I am

tofollow up with him in 4 months. So for now - take whatever I need for

pain (if it gets bad I just take Tylenol, anti-inflammatories wreak havoc

with my stomach) & that's about it. I'll let you know if anything comes

back positive in the blood work.

Geri

July 9, 2002

Thanks Carol. The pain is better now than it was a couple of weeks ago, but the

fingers are still too fat to put rings on. I wonder if that will ever change .

.. .