Re: sorta new and need help

March 27, 2006

Is your ANA positive, ? How high is your rheumatoid (RF)? What are your

other symptoms besides fatigue and arthritis? Did you ever have x-rays (or

other imaging) or your hands and/or feet?

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] sorta new and need help

>I joined a while back but haven't been on here due to moving and a lot

> of things going on. I was since told that I have Lupus. Now I moved

> and my new rhuemy said he isn't 100% convinced that I have lupus but

> thinks maybe RA. He said people with lupus don't usually have a high

> RA factor. Does anyone know anything about this? I am so confused.

> He did a lot of tests and will get them back on the 14th. He raised my

> mtx to 20 mg once a week. Is this a common dose? I don't know what to

> think at this point and depression and anxiety is getting to me

> terribly since this has all just started 5 months ago. I went from

> being a normal person with no symptoms to arthritis symptoms and

> terrible fatigue. I am 37 and have little ones. I am going to my

> doctor on the 4th to get something for depression and anxiety. Any

> help would be great.

>

March 27, 2006

No x-rays as of yet. Yes my ANA was positive and my RF has been 100

the first time 337 the second and then 164. They just did more test

so we will see what it is this time. The only other symptoms I have

is somewhat of a butterfly rash but not the common one you see on

pics. Mine just gets slightly pink and comes and goes. It doesn't

stay around very long. I have always had sensitive skin so it could

be just that. I dont' know. Depression and anxiety is getting the

best of me and my husband doesn't understand.

--- In , " " <Matsumura_Clan@...>

wrote:

>

> Is your ANA positive, ? How high is your rheumatoid (RF)? What

are your

> other symptoms besides fatigue and arthritis? Did you ever have x-

rays (or

> other imaging) or your hands and/or feet?

>

> Not an MD

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

> [ ] sorta new and need help

>

> >I joined a while back but haven't been on here due to moving and a

lot

> > of things going on. I was since told that I have Lupus. Now I

moved

> > and my new rhuemy said he isn't 100% convinced that I have lupus

but

> > thinks maybe RA. He said people with lupus don't usually have a

high

> > RA factor. Does anyone know anything about this? I am so

confused.

> > He did a lot of tests and will get them back on the 14th. He

raised my

> > mtx to 20 mg once a week. Is this a common dose? I don't know

what to

> > think at this point and depression and anxiety is getting to me

> > terribly since this has all just started 5 months ago. I went

from

> > being a normal person with no symptoms to arthritis symptoms and

> > terrible fatigue. I am 37 and have little ones. I am going to my

> > doctor on the 4th to get something for depression and anxiety.

Any

> > help would be great.

> >

>

March 27, 2006

Hi :

I can understand how frustrated and depressed you can

get when you have no definate diagnosis, but are in

pain. It sometimes takes a while to diagnosis

autoimmune disease as they often mimic each other in

symptoms. Doctor's sometimes don't like to jump to a

diagnosis when there are some conflicting symptoms. I

also have the rash over my cheeks off and on, but my

doctors have never dx me with Lupus, but have dx me

with RA by blood work and physical findings, as well

as Fibro, OA and Raynaud's, by different means. It

can get quite confusing.

Maybe if you take your husband to your doctor

appointments, and have your doctor discuss with him

what is going on, it might help? When I was first dx,

I used to email my hubby because he is better at

reading information than sitting and listening to me

give a lecture lol. I hope that with time, your

husband becomes more supportive of you, and begins to

understand what you are going through.

Hang in there - Kathe in CA

--- ktandtm <ktandtm@...> wrote:

> No x-rays as of yet. Yes my ANA was positive and my

> RF has been 100

> the first time 337 the second and then 164. They

> just did more test

> so we will see what it is this time. The only other

> symptoms I have

> is somewhat of a butterfly rash but not the common

> one you see on

> pics. Mine just gets slightly pink and comes and

> goes. It doesn't

> stay around very long. I have always had sensitive

> skin so it could

> be just that. I dont' know. Depression and anxiety

> is getting the

> best of me and my husband doesn't understand.

>

> >

> > Is your ANA positive, ? How high is your

> rheumatoid (RF)? What

> are your

> > other symptoms besides fatigue and arthritis? Did

> you ever have x-

> rays (or

> > other imaging) or your hands and/or feet?

> >

> > Not an MD

> >

> > I'll tell you where to go!

> >

> > Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

> >

> > s Hopkins Medicine

> > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

> >

> > [ ] sorta new and need help

> >

> > >I joined a while back but haven't been on here

> due to moving and a

> lot

> > > of things going on. I was since told that I

> have Lupus. Now I

> moved

> > > and my new rhuemy said he isn't 100% convinced

> that I have lupus

> but

> > > thinks maybe RA. He said people with lupus

> don't usually have a

> high

> > > RA factor. Does anyone know anything about

> this? I am so

> confused.

> > > He did a lot of tests and will get them back on

> the 14th. He

> raised my

> > > mtx to 20 mg once a week. Is this a common

> dose? I don't know

> what to

> > > think at this point and depression and anxiety

> is getting to me

> > > terribly since this has all just started 5

> months ago. I went

> from

> > > being a normal person with no symptoms to

> arthritis symptoms and

> > > terrible fatigue. I am 37 and have little ones.

> I am going to my

> > > doctor on the 4th to get something for

> depression and anxiety.

> Any

> > > help would be great.

> > >

> >

>

Kathe

" To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

__________________________________________________

March 27, 2006

> > >

> > > Is your ANA positive, ? How high is your

> > rheumatoid (RF)? What

> > are your

> > > other symptoms besides fatigue and arthritis? Did

> > you ever have x-

> > rays (or

> > > other imaging) or your hands and/or feet?

> > >

> > > Not an MD

> > >

> > > I'll tell you where to go!

> > >

> > > Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> > > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

> > >

> > > s Hopkins Medicine

> > > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

> > >

> > > [ ] sorta new and need help

> > >

> > > >I joined a while back but haven't been on here

> > due to moving and a

> > lot

> > > > of things going on. I was since told that I

> > have Lupus. Now I

> > moved

> > > > and my new rhuemy said he isn't 100% convinced

> > that I have lupus

> > but

> > > > thinks maybe RA. He said people with lupus

> > don't usually have a

> > high

> > > > RA factor. Does anyone know anything about

> > this? I am so

> > confused.

> > > > He did a lot of tests and will get them back on

> > the 14th. He

> > raised my

> > > > mtx to 20 mg once a week. Is this a common

> > dose? I don't know

> > what to

> > > > think at this point and depression and anxiety

> > is getting to me

> > > > terribly since this has all just started 5

> > months ago. I went

> > from

> > > > being a normal person with no symptoms to

> > arthritis symptoms and

> > > > terrible fatigue. I am 37 and have little ones.

> > I am going to my

> > > > doctor on the 4th to get something for

> > depression and anxiety.

> > Any

> > > > help would be great.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

> Kathe

>

> " To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

Hiya ,Its as though you have been thrown into a black hole with

know where to go,at the beginning this was me,the black hole is

still there but i have now learned how to climbed out of it,you will

too hun,its such a scary time for you and your family,made worst by

is is isn't it,it gets so depressing for us.In time when you are

properly diagnosed you will start to grow with your RA,knowing your

limits and by respecting it,as we need to get this cross roads of

our illness.Please make sure you get some help for your depression

as it may get worst before it gets better.Its ok to feel the way you

feel,its about the only normal part of RA.If i can be of any help to

you i am a good listener.I hope thing get better for you soon

hugs

>

> __________________________________________________

>

March 27, 2006

, in regards to your rash that comes and goes... I have systemic lupus as

well as RA and the butterfly rash that I get is just slight blushing. The

pictures usually only show worse cases, but my isn't as bad. Hope this helps.

Don't give up and best wishes Holly

bty39184379 <sburgher@...> wrote: