newbie

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I have been reading all your posts and have been afraid

to jump in. My doctor doesn't know if I have Lupua or RA

and I have been avoiding reality for a couple years now.

I had surgery on my right hand years ago after it was

injured at work, for trigger fingers (2 middle ones) and

subsequent carpal tunnel - so it has ached for years.

A couple years ago, my left one hurt so bad I told my

doctor. He had given me Celebrex for a shoulder injury -

imagine my surprise when my hands didn't hurt! Nice side

effect - but then I realized how much they had been hurting.

He was concerned and sent me to a rheumy. I saw the nurse

practitioner, rheumy was booked, and within a few minutes she

was handing me pamphlets on quinine stuff, lupus and RA.

Scared me to death. Then she examined me and my hands were cold

from fear but she said " Reynauds. " No, my husband has that in one

finger from an injury, my hands are cold 'cause you are scaring

me. I left and never went back. Been on Celebrex 1x day since.

This summer, went back to my doctor cause my hands hurt worse and

I was sooo tired. He had blood work done and I'm anemic. Had

a hyterectomy 11 years ago, so he sent me to an internist - had

endoscopy, colonoscopy and swallowed a camera...no internal bleeding.

Still anemic (I'm trying to keep this short :- )

She (internist) said, well, I think you have RA, possibly lupus.

I said I didn't want to hear it. I knew a lady who had lupus

20 years ago and she was in bad shape, and all I could think

of was the actor Carridene (?) and his gnarled hands.

She said it wasn't like that anymore but told me to take iron

supplements and come talk to her in 2 months, but urged me to go back

to the rheumy. That was last week.

Yesterday I went back to my family doctor, and was told, yes,

go to the rheumy, you need to face this. Let me tell you up front,

my reaction to this for 2 years has surprised even me, I'm normally

a head-on person...hmmm

Well, I go Dec. 9th. Not to his nurse, but to him (Fiechtner).

I am on 2x Celebrex now and I am tired. No rash, no swelling,

not really sure between the 2 what I have yet...

Sorry this is so long. I am leaving for Florida tomorrow, so my

posts will be limited, but I will have my computer with me.

Any information will be welcome, especially good news ; )

and God bless.

Joyce in MI