RA or lupus dilemma

[Guest guest]

Good Morning, All,

I am learning so much from your posts and I would like to thank each and

everyone

of you for taking the time to share your life and experiences. Please

believe me, you

are helping others.

Beth, this is where I am right now;

> " As I was just diagnosed with RA in November (by the cumulative blood work

>from the past 2 years and the nodule on my elbow) after hovering between

>an RA

>and lupus diagnosis for a couple of years, I am questioning whether the

>diagnosis is really correct (read: not in denial -- just want an accurate

>diagnosis!). I am seronegative too. "

For two years I have gone full circle. My family doc, wonderful guy, was

suspicious

about the continuing pain in both hands and sent me to a rheumy. Saw his

PA instead,

and she started talking about lupus and Plaquenil, etc. before she even

examined me!

She scared me so bad, my palms started sweating, so when she did look at

me, she

pronounced, " Reynaud's. " No, I said, I am scared. My husband has Reynaud's

in a

finger he had hurt years ago. Well, she looked at me like I was stupid, and

I never went

back. Kept taking Celebrex.

This last spring, was back in my docs, dx with GERD, have been taking Protonix

so I don't feel like I'm having a heart attack (I am 45 and not overweight)

and he

also had some blood work ordered. Turns out I'm anemic and he sent me to a

gastroenterologist who checked me stem to stern and found no internal bleeding.

(I had a hysterectomy at 33, kept my ovaries). She suggested after all

this and

repeated blood tests that I go back to the rheumy and see him, not his

assistant.

I am sorry this is sooo long. So this morning my appt is at 10:45 and I am

nervous.

Yes, I am in denial, also.

Nan wrote she had ganglion cysts and carpal tunnel. I just had a ganglion

cyst removed

last year cause it hurt, and I still have a small one on my left wrist. I

also had carpal

tunnel surgery, and two trigger fingers fixed about 7 years ago on my right

hand.

Could someone please tell me what the connection is between these and RA or

lupus?

Well, I'm off to work. Once again, thank you and sorry for the long post.

Joyce in MI