RA & Lupus; Missy, Pam and

[Guest guest]

Thank you for validating my concerns! I really like my primary

because he's usually very kind and thorough, but it seems now like

he's happy they could put a label on my problems so nothing else

matters! I'd been going in since last fall with all of the pain,

weird lumps, swelling and major fatigue and nothing was showing up in

my bloodwork at first. He had admitted to being puzzled. I guess now

he figures I should just be going to the rheumatologist, but

sometimes it takes a few days to get an appointment.

My rheumatologist chose medications for me that address both RA and

Lupus, so that's a bit reassuring. But a few years ago, I wound up in

the hospital with congestive heart failure and major swelling in my

lungs. That's a Lupus type of problem, isn't it? No one at that time

tested for or considered Lupus and I was simply put on Prednisone

diurhetics and nebulizer treatments until the swelling subsided. I've

had similar but much less serious attacks since then.

I guess I just want to know exactly what I'm dealing with so I know

what to look for and how to take care of myself. And, Pam, you're

absolutely right about how people think of RA! With all of those

stupid Tylenol Arthritis and Celebrex commercials on now, folks think

you can just take a pill and RA is easily controlled! I WISH!!!!!!

-Anne