Re: Saw the rheumatologist today

[Guest guest]

,

Your factor is probably your RA factor, and it is negative for a lot

of RA patients. And it sounds like she thinks you may have another

form of arthritis? The rate is probably the sed rate, or sedimentary

rate I think. I am pretty sure this is something that measures

inflamation in your blood.

I know it is hard to accept a diagnosis or possible diagnosis of

something like this. But the good news is that you have good

treatments available to you. Some are not so lucky, and the

consequences can be devastating.

It might help to take something to write with when you see your

rheumy. When she says what your blood work shows, asks for specifics

and write it down. Then you are more able to find out about those

things on your own. Of course, I would also encourage you to ask the

rheumy. When she says your rate is 4, just ask her what rate and

what in the heck does that mean. Some doctors don't go into the

detail if they are used to patients who don't want to know. But if

you ask enough questions, you find yourself being a partner in your

care not just a recipient of it. It takes time to get there, but it

does make you feel more in control.

I have not taken plaquinil, but there are lots here that have and I'm

sure some of them can tell you what to expect. I do know it can take

months for plaquinil to start working. How are your symptoms doing

right now?

Jennie

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

wrote:

> I posted my first message last week asking for your thougths....

>

> Today I had the follow up with my rheumatologist. The bone scan was

> clean. She ordered x-rays of my hands and feet to get a baseline.

My

> factor is neg, and a rate of 4. Whatever that means!!

>

> She has started me on Plaquenil thinking that I am in the very

early

> stages of an inflammatory type arthritis. Of course I don't want to

> hear this. Can someone tell me what to expect here.

>

> Thanks for your input I will really appreciate it.

>

> I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Hope yours is too.

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Your factor is probably your RA factor, and it is negative for a lot

of RA patients. And it sounds like she thinks you may have another

form of arthritis? The rate is probably the sed rate, or sedimentary

rate I think. I am pretty sure this is something that measures

inflamation in your blood.

I know it is hard to accept a diagnosis or possible diagnosis of

something like this. But the good news is that you have good

treatments available to you. Some are not so lucky, and the

consequences can be devastating.

It might help to take something to write with when you see your

rheumy. When she says what your blood work shows, asks for specifics

and write it down. Then you are more able to find out about those

things on your own. Of course, I would also encourage you to ask the

rheumy. When she says your rate is 4, just ask her what rate and

what in the heck does that mean. Some doctors don't go into the

detail if they are used to patients who don't want to know. But if

you ask enough questions, you find yourself being a partner in your

care not just a recipient of it. It takes time to get there, but it

does make you feel more in control.

I have not taken plaquinil, but there are lots here that have and I'm

sure some of them can tell you what to expect. I do know it can take

months for plaquinil to start working. How are your symptoms doing

right now?

Jennie

> I posted my first message last week asking for your thougths....

>

> Today I had the follow up with my rheumatologist. The bone scan was

> clean. She ordered x-rays of my hands and feet to get a baseline.

My

> factor is neg, and a rate of 4. Whatever that means!!

>

> She has started me on Plaquenil thinking that I am in the very

early

> stages of an inflammatory type arthritis. Of course I don't want to

> hear this. Can someone tell me what to expect here.

>

> Thanks for your input I will really appreciate it.

>

> I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Hope yours is too.

>

>

[Guest guest]

,....I'm glad that you made it to the rheumy. I'm sure you will

get some info from a or , I'm not sure about medical terms.

I'm glad that you started on Plaquenil, and hope that it works well.

It sounds like your rheumy is taking good care of you. Try not to

worry, I know it's easier said, then done. You have a good weekend,

Tawny

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

wrote:

> I posted my first message last week asking for your thougths....

>

> Today I had the follow up with my rheumatologist. The bone scan was

> clean. She ordered x-rays of my hands and feet to get a baseline.

My

> factor is neg, and a rate of 4. Whatever that means!!

>

> She has started me on Plaquenil thinking that I am in the very

early

> stages of an inflammatory type arthritis. Of course I don't want to

> hear this. Can someone tell me what to expect here.

>

> Thanks for your input I will really appreciate it.

>

> I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Hope yours is too.

>

>

[Guest guest]

,....I'm glad that you made it to the rheumy. I'm sure you will

get some info from a or , I'm not sure about medical terms.

I'm glad that you started on Plaquenil, and hope that it works well.

It sounds like your rheumy is taking good care of you. Try not to

worry, I know it's easier said, then done. You have a good weekend,

Tawny

> I posted my first message last week asking for your thougths....

>

> Today I had the follow up with my rheumatologist. The bone scan was

> clean. She ordered x-rays of my hands and feet to get a baseline.

My

> factor is neg, and a rate of 4. Whatever that means!!

>

> She has started me on Plaquenil thinking that I am in the very

early

> stages of an inflammatory type arthritis. Of course I don't want to

> hear this. Can someone tell me what to expect here.

>

> Thanks for your input I will really appreciate it.

>

> I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Hope yours is too.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It's probably good that you're starting Plaquenil even without a

definite RA diagnosis. I take Plaquenil, and I know it's often

prescribed for people who have undetermined types of arthritis or

other autoimmune disease, like Lupus. It does take a long time to

start working, though -- like anywhere from two to six months. My

primary doctor considered prescribing it for me early on, but

didn't. By the time I started taking it, I was having quite a bit of

pain and had to take prednisone and later MTX in addition to the

Plaquenil to get it all under control. It seems to be working great

now...I still take MTX, but not the pred, so it's hard to know what

med is doing what sometimes. I know some people get nauseated from

Plaquenil, but I've never had any side effects at all. You do have

to get your retinas checked, but I've been told by all my doctors

that eye problems are really pretty rare.

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

wrote:

> I posted my first message last week asking for your thougths....

>

> Today I had the follow up with my rheumatologist. The bone scan was

> clean. She ordered x-rays of my hands and feet to get a baseline.

My

> factor is neg, and a rate of 4. Whatever that means!!

>

> She has started me on Plaquenil thinking that I am in the very

early

> stages of an inflammatory type arthritis. Of course I don't want to

> hear this. Can someone tell me what to expect here.

>

> Thanks for your input I will really appreciate it.

>

> I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Hope yours is too.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

It's probably good that you're starting Plaquenil even without a

definite RA diagnosis. I take Plaquenil, and I know it's often

prescribed for people who have undetermined types of arthritis or

other autoimmune disease, like Lupus. It does take a long time to

start working, though -- like anywhere from two to six months. My

primary doctor considered prescribing it for me early on, but

didn't. By the time I started taking it, I was having quite a bit of

pain and had to take prednisone and later MTX in addition to the

Plaquenil to get it all under control. It seems to be working great

now...I still take MTX, but not the pred, so it's hard to know what

med is doing what sometimes. I know some people get nauseated from

Plaquenil, but I've never had any side effects at all. You do have

to get your retinas checked, but I've been told by all my doctors

that eye problems are really pretty rare.

> I posted my first message last week asking for your thougths....

>

> Today I had the follow up with my rheumatologist. The bone scan was

> clean. She ordered x-rays of my hands and feet to get a baseline.

My

> factor is neg, and a rate of 4. Whatever that means!!

>

> She has started me on Plaquenil thinking that I am in the very

early

> stages of an inflammatory type arthritis. Of course I don't want to

> hear this. Can someone tell me what to expect here.

>

> Thanks for your input I will really appreciate it.

>

> I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Hope yours is too.

>

>

[Guest guest]

, even though your lab and test results weren't particularly

helpful, your rheumatologist is concerned about your symptoms and

history enough to try to stop or slow any inflammatory process that may

be building.

Plaquenil is a good choice because it is effective for several

conditions and not likely to cause serious toxicity.

Unfortunately, you will just have to wait and see what, if anything,

develops. Making a diagnosis is not always easy and can take some time.

In the meanwhile, I hope the Plaquenil helps you feel better!

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Saw the rheumatologist today

> I posted my first message last week asking for your thougths....

>

> Today I had the follow up with my rheumatologist. The bone scan was

> clean. She ordered x-rays of my hands and feet to get a baseline. My

> factor is neg, and a rate of 4. Whatever that means!!

>

> She has started me on Plaquenil thinking that I am in the very early

> stages of an inflammatory type arthritis. Of course I don't want to

> hear this. Can someone tell me what to expect here.

>

> Thanks for your input I will really appreciate it.

>

> I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Hope yours is too.

>

>

[Guest guest]

, even though your lab and test results weren't particularly

helpful, your rheumatologist is concerned about your symptoms and

history enough to try to stop or slow any inflammatory process that may

be building.

Plaquenil is a good choice because it is effective for several

conditions and not likely to cause serious toxicity.

Unfortunately, you will just have to wait and see what, if anything,

develops. Making a diagnosis is not always easy and can take some time.

In the meanwhile, I hope the Plaquenil helps you feel better!

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Saw the rheumatologist today

> I posted my first message last week asking for your thougths....

>

> Today I had the follow up with my rheumatologist. The bone scan was

> clean. She ordered x-rays of my hands and feet to get a baseline. My

> factor is neg, and a rate of 4. Whatever that means!!

>

> She has started me on Plaquenil thinking that I am in the very early

> stages of an inflammatory type arthritis. Of course I don't want to

> hear this. Can someone tell me what to expect here.

>

> Thanks for your input I will really appreciate it.

>

> I'm looking forward to a good weekend. Hope yours is too.

>

>