Re: Digest Number 8410

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group ,

I'm a nurse too although am much older than you and not working at the

present time. I do understand how tiring it would be working a 16 hr shift in a

hospital even when you are feeling well let alone having the symptoms you

describe. I also understand why it would be very distressing to do certain

medical procedures if your fingers hurt , are stiff or triggering.

I think I had my RA for quite some time. I know I had mild discomfort in

some joints and was tested several times but always things were negative. In

2006 I went to see a Rheumatologist when I had a couple of fingers that were

triggering but once again my RH factor was negative. A year before that I was

dropping things. In May I had a physical done by my internist and mentioned

some difficulty and pain I was having in my hands. He didn't seem to concerned

but said maybe your developing some early arthritis. However in June when I

walked in with pitting edema in both legs he picked up the phone right then and

dialed a good Rheumatologist and asked him to see me right away. He then

sent me to vascular study to have an ultrasound on my legs to make sure I

didn't

have any blood clots in them. I was seen soon by this Rheumy and this time

blood work done was very extensive . It showed inflammation and other

factors. That along the exam he did on me and manipulating my joints made the

diagnosis of RA. I 'd get another opinion. I would want to know why at least I

had

pitting edema in my legs even if the cause wasn't RA, there must be some

reason you have it. As you know being a nurse sometimes you have to take a

strong

role as your patients advocate with the doc or the hospital setting. Well

sometimes we need to take that same role for ourselves when we are the patient.

I think it especially warrants getting another opinion not only if we might

have a medical problem outside that doctors specialty but also at times when

our instincts and our body is telling us something is not right. I do

understand that sometimes people hesitate getting another opinion if they have

an

HMO primary or need to go out of the network to do that but I would if it were

me still ask around the hospital for a Rheumatologist and see one . I 'm

glad you found the group. I have been here over a month and everyone is very

supportive and I've learned a lot......

In a message dated 10/20/2008 10:58:41 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

writes:

In _ @groRA-SUPP_ (mailto: ) ,

" " <angel2woods@ang> wrote:

>

> Thank you all for your warm welcome. No, I haven't seen a

> Rheumatologist yet because my doctor does not want me to go to one

> until I test positive for RA. You know, just today a coworker was

> laughing at me because I didn't want to volunteer to work a 16 hour

> shift. I told them if I did they would have to wheel me out of

> there in a wheelchair. She said, " yeah, I think we all feel that

> way " . I wanted to strangle her just a little bit. As I said, I am

> a nurse. It is a hardworking job. I feel I can barely make it

> through my eight hour shift. It does make me feel like a whimp. I

> had to remind her that I have RA. She said, " oh yeah " . She is a

> very nice woman and I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it. But

> others just don't understand. Do you all find that to be true?

> Also, has anyone tried Humira and what do you think about it?

>

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