from Western Australia

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone

I have been reading your messages for the past few months and havent had much

time

to contribute until now. I was just reading from Queenslands letter which

really hit home for me. I too have seen many doctors in the past 18 months with

little result. I finally found a helpful doctor a few weeks ago who has referred

me

to a rheumatologist. I had my blood tests done and my Rh factor is positive

1:43, I

know I have PA by the symptoms and the fingernail problems I have had for many

years. I also have an abnormal haemaglobin count (anyone here have that?) My

scalp

psoriasis is also flaring a lot lately too. Much all the Christmas cheer (and

Beer!)

I am 26 and have had this awful pain shifting around my body since I was 24. I

cant

wait to see what this Rheumy can do for me as all I am taking is Piroxicam

(NSAID)

at the moment. I often wonder what has triggered this arthritis, if there is a

trigger at all. I had just moved to Perth when it hit me really hard. One day I

was

fine, the next I was off to the chiropractor with chronic back pain. And might I

add

that the 3 visits I had to the chiropracter made me feel a lot worse.

Well, Hope you are all having a pain free, cheery day today

Look forward to reading more of your experiences.

Cheeers

jjmone wrote:

> From: " jjmone " <jjmone@...>

>

> Hello Everybody

>

> I'm from Queensland, Australia, and new to your group, I'm 55 and I've

had

> PA for 5 years, although i had no idea what it was, also Psoriasis (skin) for

> about 20 years, Just this week on one of my periodic attempts to discover what

> i'm suffering

> from, I've been told that I almost certainly have PA, I'm waiting to see a

> specialist to confirm this, which could take a couple of months, or more. I've

> been diagnosed with having Gout, Arthritis and suspected of Lupus, and

generally

> suspected of having absolutely nothing wrong with me at all, except for the

> swellings in ankles, knee and fingers, I've also spent a small fortune on

> alternative medicine. I've had stiff shoulders for three

> years, at one time couldn't lift my arms past my shoulders, also lots of pain.

>

> I have been taking Anaprox (Naproxen Sodium) but now am on Celebrex

(Celecoxib)

> which, I'm told doesn't affect the stomache, and so far appears to relieve the

> stiffness and pain. As it isn't on our Government prescription list I have to

> pay full price, which at the moment is A$40.00 a months supply, I also take

> Glucosamine Sulphate tablets, which is sold in a pill form and sold in Health

> food

> shops here at about A$20

> for a months supply, which I believe helps, I also swim twice a week, nothing

> strenuous, which I find is very good.

>

> Before the PA started I had been a heavy drinker, and very active person and

had

> been medically advised to stop drinking completely, as it was seriously

damaging

> my health, So i

> stopped and haven't had any alcohol since. Until recently I had secretly

blamed

> my aches and

> pains on my previous drinking, and now that I realise that isn't so, I feel

very

> angry

> right now with the medical profession both medical and alternative for not

even

> bothering to find

> out what really was wrong with me. When I read of the symptoms in your letters

I

> realise it couldn't be anything else but PA

>

> I've read recently the the Chinese exercise Tai-Chi is very good for

Arthritis,

> as it is a no impact and a slow excercise,

> it's something I learnt many years, ago, and I should start it again.

>

> Sausage fingers or toes, I prefer fingers as I enjoy walking when I can,

> although recently I've found I can't wear rings any more as my fingers are

> swollen.

>

> All the best everyone

> I'll be reading your letters and hope I can contribute to your group.

>

> jjmone@... <mailto:jjmone@...>

>

> ps, some of you mention exhaustion, is this part of pa, as i get terribly

> exhausted sometimes. Can anyone recommend any books or websites?

>

> > Please visit our new web page at:

> http://www.wpunj.edu/icip/pa