Re: Certainty of Diagnosis?

[Guest guest]

It does make sense to me... A proclivity simply means that you

need to be very careful. And for heavens sake don't feel guilty for

having a mild form of the disease! Someone has to be so lucky, why

not you?!

My mother has a very mild form of the disease as well. She doesn't

take anything for it, nothing! <I could just smack her.> My sister

has occasional joint pain, with a positive RF as well. My mother's

is negative and my sister's is only just positive. They are both

monitored closely but nothing else.

So, yes it does happen, I imagine an awful lot of people have the

tendancy...

Hope this answers your question.

--- In , " witchyzing " <delphina@p...>

wrote:

> hello all,

> I am once again in a place, where I am wondering, wether or not

> the Dr, made the right diagnosis.

>

> Recently, I got to talk to m y sister in Germany and she

> mentioned that her symproms were similar to mine. I asked her

> to go to the Dr. and have herself checked out. Her results came

> back with the following wording: She certainly has a proclivity

> towards RA, but that she could treat it with OTC and most likely

> be fine.

> When I was diagnosed 6 years ago, my rheumatologist told me

> that I have a mild form of the illness. And, so far that has held

> true. The only thing that has gotten worse are the flare-ups.

> They are more painful, but not more frequent.

>

> When I read all of your postings I start to feel guilty, because I

> certainly do not suffer like any of you. My flare ups are usually

> short , and the rest of the time, my pain is managable. Have any

> of you ever heard anybody else discribed as having a

> predisposition towards RA?

>

> i hope this makes sense. We have the grandson over for the

> weekend, I am pooped and ready for a break. So, I give myself

> time to think and figure things out a bit.

>

> Thanks!

> Jutta

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

thank you. And yes, your information does help. One of my

clients uses her illnesses as a way to connect with the people

around her. And my mother, while she does have RA, has also

always used any ailment to get all of the attention. Not that she

shouldn't get attention, but I only wish that there was another way

of connecting. So, when I even get a hint at that possibility

existing in my character, it frightens me quite a bit. I don't want to

be anything like that . So, hearing that a mild form exists makes

me feel as though I haven't conjured it all up. It's as if the Dr.'s

statement almost need validation. My client has gotten every

doctor to move her on down the line, spends thousands of

dollars, just to find out that there isn't a thing wrong with her.

And, being lazy is a big no no, where i come from. So, when I

feel tired and fatiqued, I wonder if I am being lazy or if there is

justification for sitting and resting.

I hope I don't sound like whining. I just have to put it out

somewhere. And I may not do a perfect job of it, but then little in

my life comes out perfect (but often I have fun).

Cheers!

Jutta

[Guest guest]

Jutta,

This kind of question about one's diagnosis comes up a lot. There are no

easy answers.

Many rheumatic diseases have similar symptoms, especially in the early

stages. Often, a given individual may have only a few symptoms that

don't point to a specific disease, it could be one of several. It's a

big problem since it is desirable to get the correct diagnosis as soon

as possible and to begin the appropriate treatment immediately. But

treatment and monitoring are often very different for different

diseases.

I'd say that, in general, US rheumatologists are supposed to try to stay

away from guessing or saying that you have a " proclivity " or

" predisposition " toward a certain rheumatic disease. If there is much

uncertainty, I believe " I don't know, but I'd like to keep an eye on

you " is a better answer. Or perhaps " I don't know, but it is possible

that it is some type of rheumatic disease (or connective tissue

disease). "

There are several problems with making a diagnosis on a hunch rather

than with strong evidence of disease, probably not the least of which is

that it may induce needless worry.

If your rheumatologist says, " I think you have a proclivity for RA, "

what exactly does that mean? How did the physician arrive at that

conclusion? Why does the guess that it's RA make more sense than a guess

that you have Sjogren's syndrome or lupus? How does such a

characterization serve the patient? What about insurance issues? How do

you treat it? Might an inappropriate therapy be harmful? If you focus on

one disease too early, might you miss the true diagnosis down the line?

In your own case, you should know how your rheumatologist made the

diagnosis. What criteria did he use? Is there enough proof that the RA

diagnosis is correct?

A second opinion in vague or difficult cases is recommended. And so is a

measure of patience.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

From: " witchyzing " <delphina@...>

Date: Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:44 pm

Subject: Certainty of Diagnosis?

hello all,

I am once again in a place, where I am wondering, wether or not

the Dr, made the right diagnosis.

Recently, I got to talk to m y sister in Germany and she

mentioned that her symproms were similar to mine. I asked her

to go to the Dr. and have herself checked out. Her results came

back with the following wording: She certainly has a proclivity

towards RA, but that she could treat it with OTC and most likely

be fine.

When I was diagnosed 6 years ago, my rheumatologist told me

that I have a mild form of the illness. And, so far that has held

true. The only thing that has gotten worse are the flare-ups.

They are more painful, but not more frequent.

When I read all of your postings I start to feel guilty, because I

certainly do not suffer like any of you. My flare ups are usually

short , and the rest of the time, my pain is managable. Have any

of you ever heard anybody else discribed as having a

predisposition towards RA?

i hope this makes sense. We have the grandson over for the

weekend, I am pooped and ready for a break. So, I give myself

time to think and figure things out a bit.

Thanks!

Jutta