Re: NEWBIE & Newly Diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the board . This place is a wonderful resource for

RA information and support. Feel free to ask as many questions as

you have, there are sure to be a lot when you are just getting an

understanding of RA.

I have never heard of an RA panel. Unfortunately there is no test to

say you do or don't have RA. There are lots of things that can

indicate it in your blood though. I'm wondering if your doctor found

an elevated RA factor? Does that sound familiar? The other is new,

an anti-CCP test, but I don't know much about that one. Your doctor

must feel that your symptoms are consistent with RA, because the

blood test alone would not lead a doctor to make a diagnosis. Don't

be surprised if your rheumatologist wants to wait a little before

making the diagnosis official. Often the blood work is one indicator

(not always), but the rheumatologist will usually want to observe the

symptoms over a period of time and try some tradtional RA drugs and

see how you react to those.

Let us know how the appt with the rheumatologist goes. If you have

any questions at all in the mean time, there is always someone here

to help try and answer them.

Jennie

--- In , " " <gilpnh@y...>

wrote:

> I have had variable symptoms ever since I got strep/mono 7

years

> ago but nothing anyone or any doctor could put their finger on,

> including cycling fatigue, fevers, infections, and feet pain, after

a

> while I just quit going to the doctor or saying anything because I

> was starting to be treated like a " whiny female " as they are known

in

> the business. This last year the pain in my feet has almost

> incapacitated me, rising to stand and walking is soooo painful. 3

> positive bones scans and dx of " repetitive stress fractures " 2

ortho

> drs later I wind up at a foot surgeon who on a hunch does a RA

panel

> and lowe and behold, its 117. I guess the rest is history now. Am

> awaiting an appt with area rheumatologist whom everyone sings

praises

> about. I live in Columbia MO.

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the board . This place is a wonderful resource for

RA information and support. Feel free to ask as many questions as

you have, there are sure to be a lot when you are just getting an

understanding of RA.

I have never heard of an RA panel. Unfortunately there is no test to

say you do or don't have RA. There are lots of things that can

indicate it in your blood though. I'm wondering if your doctor found

an elevated RA factor? Does that sound familiar? The other is new,

an anti-CCP test, but I don't know much about that one. Your doctor

must feel that your symptoms are consistent with RA, because the

blood test alone would not lead a doctor to make a diagnosis. Don't

be surprised if your rheumatologist wants to wait a little before

making the diagnosis official. Often the blood work is one indicator

(not always), but the rheumatologist will usually want to observe the

symptoms over a period of time and try some tradtional RA drugs and

see how you react to those.

Let us know how the appt with the rheumatologist goes. If you have

any questions at all in the mean time, there is always someone here

to help try and answer them.

Jennie

> I have had variable symptoms ever since I got strep/mono 7

years

> ago but nothing anyone or any doctor could put their finger on,

> including cycling fatigue, fevers, infections, and feet pain, after

a

> while I just quit going to the doctor or saying anything because I

> was starting to be treated like a " whiny female " as they are known

in

> the business. This last year the pain in my feet has almost

> incapacitated me, rising to stand and walking is soooo painful. 3

> positive bones scans and dx of " repetitive stress fractures " 2

ortho

> drs later I wind up at a foot surgeon who on a hunch does a RA

panel

> and lowe and behold, its 117. I guess the rest is history now. Am

> awaiting an appt with area rheumatologist whom everyone sings

praises

> about. I live in Columbia MO.

[Guest guest]

Welcome, ! Sorry about your RA diagnosis and that you've been

suffering mysteriously for so long.

It's natural to be upset, but, with any luck, your rheumatologist will

be as excellent as promised and will work out a treatment strategy with

you that will help immensely. With the therapies available today, the

chances that you can experience significant relief and effective control

of your RA are very good.

Please come to ask questions or simply vent anytime.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] NEWBIE & Newly Diagnosed

> Hey all, been lurking a few days. Diagnosed yesterday morning, and

> quite honestly, never saw it coming. Head is currently spinning and

> just woke up from a 3 hour nap, gotta love that feeling.

> My name is , I am a 36 yo wife of 18years and mother to a 7

> and 2, 2 year old boys. I am a nurse and work part time from home

> auditing hospital charts, a desk job, and part time 1-3 days a week

> at a local drs office, neither is horribly demanding and allows me

> alot of time for my kiddos.

> I have had variable symptoms ever since I got strep/mono 7 years

> ago but nothing anyone or any doctor could put their finger on,

> including cycling fatigue, fevers, infections, and feet pain, after a

> while I just quit going to the doctor or saying anything because I

> was starting to be treated like a " whiny female " as they are known in

> the business. This last year the pain in my feet has almost

> incapacitated me, rising to stand and walking is soooo painful. 3

> positive bones scans and dx of " repetitive stress fractures " 2 ortho

> drs later I wind up at a foot surgeon who on a hunch does a RA panel

> and lowe and behold, its 117. I guess the rest is history now. Am

> awaiting an appt with area rheumatologist whom everyone sings praises

> about. I live in Columbia MO.

> Mostly relieved to have a reason for all the weird stuff, and

> also very angry at what I percieve as my body failing me, I am not a

> grouchy, pessimistic person by nature but I am allowing myself a

> little time to sulk. I didnt wait all those years to adopt my boys

> not to be able to hardly play with them some days.

> Hey guys, thanx for letting me vent, husband dosnt understand

> ramifications yet, his family, I don't think ever will God love em.

> Will probly mostly lurk and ask questions as I think of them, I

> have so much to learn.

[Guest guest]

Welcome, ! Sorry about your RA diagnosis and that you've been

suffering mysteriously for so long.

It's natural to be upset, but, with any luck, your rheumatologist will

be as excellent as promised and will work out a treatment strategy with

you that will help immensely. With the therapies available today, the

chances that you can experience significant relief and effective control

of your RA are very good.

Please come to ask questions or simply vent anytime.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] NEWBIE & Newly Diagnosed

> Hey all, been lurking a few days. Diagnosed yesterday morning, and

> quite honestly, never saw it coming. Head is currently spinning and

> just woke up from a 3 hour nap, gotta love that feeling.

> My name is , I am a 36 yo wife of 18years and mother to a 7

> and 2, 2 year old boys. I am a nurse and work part time from home

> auditing hospital charts, a desk job, and part time 1-3 days a week

> at a local drs office, neither is horribly demanding and allows me

> alot of time for my kiddos.

> I have had variable symptoms ever since I got strep/mono 7 years

> ago but nothing anyone or any doctor could put their finger on,

> including cycling fatigue, fevers, infections, and feet pain, after a

> while I just quit going to the doctor or saying anything because I

> was starting to be treated like a " whiny female " as they are known in

> the business. This last year the pain in my feet has almost

> incapacitated me, rising to stand and walking is soooo painful. 3

> positive bones scans and dx of " repetitive stress fractures " 2 ortho

> drs later I wind up at a foot surgeon who on a hunch does a RA panel

> and lowe and behold, its 117. I guess the rest is history now. Am

> awaiting an appt with area rheumatologist whom everyone sings praises

> about. I live in Columbia MO.

> Mostly relieved to have a reason for all the weird stuff, and

> also very angry at what I percieve as my body failing me, I am not a

> grouchy, pessimistic person by nature but I am allowing myself a

> little time to sulk. I didnt wait all those years to adopt my boys

> not to be able to hardly play with them some days.

> Hey guys, thanx for letting me vent, husband dosnt understand

> ramifications yet, his family, I don't think ever will God love em.

> Will probly mostly lurk and ask questions as I think of them, I

> have so much to learn.

[Guest guest]

Welcome . It's such a shame that it took so long to diagnose, but

that is a common problem in these rheumatic diseases. I hope this wonder

doctor lives up to her reputation and can get your disease under control so

that you can have a normal life with your kids! Sulking is acceptable and

to be expected after getting a diagnosis of RA. Treatment has come a long

way and hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones that responds to treatment

right away. I'm 50 and was diagnosed around 1978. Enbrel has made life

easier for me, slowing down the disease and easing a lot of the pain.

a

> Hey all, been lurking a few days. Diagnosed yesterday morning, and

> quite honestly, never saw it coming. Head is currently spinning and

> just woke up from a 3 hour nap, gotta love that feeling.

> My name is , I am a 36 yo wife of 18years and mother to a 7

> and 2, 2 year old boys. I am a nurse and work part time from home

> auditing hospital charts, a desk job, and part time 1-3 days a week

> at a local drs office, neither is horribly demanding and allows me

> alot of time for my kiddos.

> I have had variable symptoms ever since I got strep/mono 7 years

> ago but nothing anyone or any doctor could put their finger on,

> including cycling fatigue, fevers, infections, and feet pain, after a

> while I just quit going to the doctor or saying anything because I

> was starting to be treated like a " whiny female " as they are known in

> the business. This last year the pain in my feet has almost

> incapacitated me, rising to stand and walking is soooo painful. 3

> positive bones scans and dx of " repetitive stress fractures " 2 ortho

> drs later I wind up at a foot surgeon who on a hunch does a RA panel

> and lowe and behold, its 117. I guess the rest is history now. Am

> awaiting an appt with area rheumatologist whom everyone sings praises

> about. I live in Columbia MO.

> Mostly relieved to have a reason for all the weird stuff, and

> also very angry at what I percieve as my body failing me, I am not a

> grouchy, pessimistic person by nature but I am allowing myself a

> little time to sulk. I didnt wait all those years to adopt my boys

> not to be able to hardly play with them some days.

> Hey guys, thanx for letting me vent, husband dosnt understand

> ramifications yet, his family, I don't think ever will God love em.

> Will probly mostly lurk and ask questions as I think of them, I

> have so much to learn.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome . It's such a shame that it took so long to diagnose, but

that is a common problem in these rheumatic diseases. I hope this wonder

doctor lives up to her reputation and can get your disease under control so

that you can have a normal life with your kids! Sulking is acceptable and

to be expected after getting a diagnosis of RA. Treatment has come a long

way and hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones that responds to treatment

right away. I'm 50 and was diagnosed around 1978. Enbrel has made life

easier for me, slowing down the disease and easing a lot of the pain.

a

> Hey all, been lurking a few days. Diagnosed yesterday morning, and

> quite honestly, never saw it coming. Head is currently spinning and

> just woke up from a 3 hour nap, gotta love that feeling.

> My name is , I am a 36 yo wife of 18years and mother to a 7

> and 2, 2 year old boys. I am a nurse and work part time from home

> auditing hospital charts, a desk job, and part time 1-3 days a week

> at a local drs office, neither is horribly demanding and allows me

> alot of time for my kiddos.

> I have had variable symptoms ever since I got strep/mono 7 years

> ago but nothing anyone or any doctor could put their finger on,

> including cycling fatigue, fevers, infections, and feet pain, after a

> while I just quit going to the doctor or saying anything because I

> was starting to be treated like a " whiny female " as they are known in

> the business. This last year the pain in my feet has almost

> incapacitated me, rising to stand and walking is soooo painful. 3

> positive bones scans and dx of " repetitive stress fractures " 2 ortho

> drs later I wind up at a foot surgeon who on a hunch does a RA panel

> and lowe and behold, its 117. I guess the rest is history now. Am

> awaiting an appt with area rheumatologist whom everyone sings praises

> about. I live in Columbia MO.

> Mostly relieved to have a reason for all the weird stuff, and

> also very angry at what I percieve as my body failing me, I am not a

> grouchy, pessimistic person by nature but I am allowing myself a

> little time to sulk. I didnt wait all those years to adopt my boys

> not to be able to hardly play with them some days.

> Hey guys, thanx for letting me vent, husband dosnt understand

> ramifications yet, his family, I don't think ever will God love em.

> Will probly mostly lurk and ask questions as I think of them, I

> have so much to learn.

>

>

>

>

>

>