Re: new to RA and kinda scared (long)

[Guest guest]

 Charlotte,

 

I would suggest that you not stop the meds because you are feeling better. The

meds are what are making you feel better and you may begin to feel the pain

again when the meds are out of your system.  

 

 

From: Charlotte <charlliesweb@...>

Subject: [ ] new to RA and kinda scared (long)

Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010, 11:37 AM

 

Hi, I'm totally new to all of this, any experience, advice, etc would really be

appreciated. (sorry this is long, I couldn't figure out a short version to

explain) the more I read about things, the more scary it sounds

I've always had occassional strange pains in my feet and ankles (hurts when I

get up and start to walk, feels like I'm going to fall, feet burn and feel

bruised after wearing shoes) for years, it will flair up for weeks or months and

then fade away (my calfs, ankles and feet are constanly swollen, hurts to wear

socks). Had carpal tunnel found in 99 and had surgery. Slight back pain and hip

pain every now and then. My knees started acting really bad a year ago, started

leaning myself on the wall to feel safe on stairs so I wouldn't fall if they

gave out.

I checked with friends on a group I'm on, many told me to go to doc, could be

RA, fibro, etc (I swear I've been 'tired' all my life, I must complain about it

every day of my life). I decided I must be making a big deal out of nothing, I

couldn't have anything like that and decided to ignore it all until the last

couple of weeks.

My elbow starting hurting all the time, tender to touch, one night I was in pain

everywhere, no over the counter meds were touching it and I couldn't concentrate

on anything because of the pain. Next morning I couldn't close my hands to make

a fist, had to have help to get down stairs etc. I could hardly walk when I

first got up. Went to doc, they sent me for blanket blood tests, talked of

possible fibro. Called me back next day saying nothing wrong, just liver

function off (probably due to regular meds), said my sediment test (?) was

normal. I still couldn't tighten hands (and other problem areas still hurting)

and now my middle fingers on both hands wouldn't straighten all the way. I had

to push them to look further into it. They gave me prescription anti-inflamatory

and sent me for RA test. Called me back again, my RA result was extremely

positive (in their words) and because of 3 family members with RA and my

symptoms, they feel I have RA.

A week of anti-inflamatory and I'm basically back to normal now. Stopped taking

them Friday night (didn't know if I needed to keep taking them when I wasn't

hurting anymore)

Because I'm in Canada, I will have to wait weeks for my referral to a

rheumatologist.

What kinds of things should I expect visiting a rheumatologist? Do you think RA

is the diagnois they'll stay with or will they be testing me for other possible

causes??

Thanks so much for reading my novel, really nervous, don't know what I'm really

facing, Charlotte in Canada