FMS patient just diagnosed with RA

[Guest guest]

Greetings:

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Raynauds over three years ago and it sure

has been

a stuggle with my health since that initial diagnosis. I've been through it

all, from a pain

management doctor who told me that FMS is a " waste basket diagnosis " to EMG

which

showed bilateral carpal tunnel, ulnar tunnel and neuropathy this past year which

landed

me out of work for five months. Fortunately, I have a wonderful, supportive

husband as

well as a very kind and understanding rheumatologist.

Yesterday, she diagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthritis. About two weeks ago, I

started

having pain in both wrists which I thought was a flare-up of carpal tunnel.

However, it

involved my thumbs at the joints and did not have the typical numbing sensation.

The

knuckles on both hands swelled to the point that I couldn't wear my wedding

ring. That

had never happened before. Within days, the morning stiffness was hours long

and my

knees could barely get me up the stairs to my office. Every night I would come

home and

sleep out of pain and exhaustion. One day, my husband was startled by the heat

emanating from my wrists. It was like they were on fire.

My doctor ordered all the standard bloodwork, but was of the opinion that my

symptoms

and her exam were sufficient enough for a diagnosis. She is also of the opinion

that

bloodwork doesn't make or break a case for RA. She put me on Prednisone for two

weeks

and then I'll return for follow-up discussion as to alternatives. I am

Vicoprofen for pain,

which is severe at this point.

I'm not shocked by the diagnosis because my father has RA rather badly and just

finished

a very successful course with Remicade. I'm still reading, reading, reading

just about

everything I can find about RA and am happy to have found this group.

If you could share just one piece of advice about someone just diagnosed with

this

disease, what would it be?

Many thanks,

Paige