First I'd like to thank everyone again for all the wonderful responses to my post of yesterday. It was great to feel so welcome and cared about. I'm really glad I found this board.
Just as you predicted, I had a thorough exam, and I needed a nap afterwards! The doc's personality wasn't exactly warm and friendly but I guess he knows his stuff. He was a bit on the dry side, not rude but he'll never win the congeniality award. But it wasn't a social call, so that's not a big deal. Anyway, he talked to me for a while, asked a bunch of questions, took notes, etc. and then examined my hands and feet, listened to my heart and lungs, checked reflexes, the usual stuff. He ordered a boatload of blood work, which I had drawn the same day, and also took X-rays of my hands and feet. He would only say that it is definitely some sort of inflammatory arthritis; he seemed to think the fact that I have Raynaud's symptoms in the winter is significant, but he wants to wait till he sees the test results before prescribing anything. He did mention that he would probably start me out on Plaquenil at my next visit in 2 weeks, and gave me a little brochure about it. He said to keep taking the Advil for pain. I forgot to tell him how tired I get in the early afternoon, but from what I gather there's not a lot they can do about that anyway. Oh and he chuckled at my new car theory.
I have a gut feeling that this is somehow related to my endometriosis and HRT. In doing research on estrogen and autoimmunity I came across the name of Dr. Robert Lahita. He has a website, http://www.drboblahita.com. He seems to specialize in SLE, but he also wrote a book about RA. Has anyone read any of his books?
Anyway, thanks for reading this far and I'm open to any suggestions for dealing with the pain: it seems to get a little worse every day and I'm getting tired of hearing myself whine to my DH.
Warm wishes,
Andrea
Well, it sounds like you got a good thourough examination, please keep us updated on your test results. Hopefully you will get some relief from your medication.
Boy, this Dr Lahita has alot of credentials, I haven't heard of him before this though.
Thanks for the update Andrea Hi Andrea, sounds like a very thorough DR, that is a good sign. Hope you get sorted out soon, I have read somewhere of a link between endometriosis and RA as my sister suffers from the former, I just hope she doesn't get the RA. Hopefully soon you will have a firm diagnosis and some treatment to help, hugs Janie.
Sounds like you had a good app't, Andrea. Yeah the raynauds really ties in with all this, that's for sure (I have that as well).
If the pain gets really bad before your next app't...why not ask your family doctor for some suggestions...he/she may be able to help you.
Good Luck!
Kelly
Hi Andrea:
I don't think I've welcome you to the forum yet - so a very warm welcome. I've found this site to be indispensable due to the wonderful, warm, intelligent and caring people here!
I'm glad your appt went okay. It would be nice if some specialists would be a bit warmer. I've not found one yet that would win a personality contest. Oh well - what to do?
I hope that he finds some answers for you and you can get some effective treatment going. I also suffer a great deal of fatigue and started taking Provigil this week. I really think it is helping. Perhaps as you progress and you work with your doc - keep this in mind just in case it's an option for you. You never know.
Well - I hope you can get some rest tonight and feel okay. Keep your chin up and let us know how it's going!
Hugs,
Jen
endometriosis and RA are both inflammatory in nature so there is a bit of a linkAndrea, Welcome. I just wrote a nice, long post, welcoming you and it disappeared!
I don't have it in me right now to try again, but just wanted to let you know that I'm wishing you well. Please let us know the outcome of all your tests. I will write more tomorrow.
Have a good evening,
Nini
Hi, welcome Andrea. Now, you'll experience the 'waiting game', that's what we all go through with the medication. Plaquenil is one of the first drugs I took, but had awful headaches with it, then I went to a new doctor and he prescribed Methotrexate (which I took for 10 years) until this super flare. I hope Plaquenil gives you relief from your pain, it may take a while for you to know. Good luck with the pain management in the mean time. LyndaSounds like you had a good first appointment Andrea and what your doctor did seems to be in line with what the majority of us faced on our first RD experience. Plaquinel was the second DMARD I took years ago and I had good success with it for a couple of years.
Glad you're here. I've found this type of theropy to be the best of all. Talking to folks on a regular basis that know exactly what I'm facing everyday makes a huge difference in my life. My family is fantastic but they have no idea exactly what I'm feeling. Physically and emotionally. My friends here do. It's easy for my family to forget at times that I have RA. As we all know here there's not a day that passes that I forget I have RA. Even if I don't mention a word of it to my family it's always with me. Everyone here understands that.
Stick around. We need ya here.
Well, you are educating me. I suffered from endrometrosis. But I had Ra back then also.Oh, I forgot a big welcome to the board, Welcome to the board.I also suffered from endometriosis until a hysterectomy almost 5 years ago.
Welcome Andrea! the most valuable advice I was given was to keep a journal and take it to all your appts. I use it to show my rheumy what is working and not working. I also write a list of ??? i want to ask him.Hi Andrea and welcome to this Board,
I was sent to a rheumatologist by an orthopedic doctor seeing me for a swollen and inflamed knee joint. I told him that my hands and feet also hurt quite a bit. He didn't suggest any disease at all, but felt strongly that I needed to be seen by a RD. The first med was Relafen...an NSAID...and the next one was Plaquenil. Over time symptoms worsened and different meds were tried. Some with temporary success and others that did nothing.
You will get a lot of support here because many of us have walked in your shoes. You said your RD won't win any congeniality contest...mine is quite personable, but also very good at what he does. We don't chit-chat very much because he is also very busy. I will always be grateful for the time he has taken for me and what a great job he did when he had to inject my painful swollen wrist with steroids. A true compassionate man with great talent.
Glad you are here.
Molly Bee
Try over the counter naproxen sodium or ibrupron, everyday take a full dose, according to the label. If you can tolerate them, you should start to feel some real relief in 7 days, maybe sooner.
Hot baths help me a lot. Sometimes ice on a really badly swollen joint helps.
Good Luck and Welcome.