Hi-my name is Jenn. I am 33 years old, stay at home mom with 2 boys, ages 6 and 3. I have been reading your posts for several weeks now-you are an amazing group-I knew I could come here with questions-nobody else seems to understand. I am having joint pain in my hands, elbows, knees and feet. The knees were first and they (Drs) thought it was an athletic injury, due to teaching aerobics (obviously not teaching anymore
So, my gp's office called and my appt. with the rheumy is not until Sept. 27th!! That is such a long time. I know from reading posts that it is hard to get in, but is this a reasonable amount of time? Does it help to get on a cancellation list? I don't imagine many people cancel! And I have no idea what to expect. I am feeling a little intimidated from reading the posts too. Do they have labs to do your bloodwork immediately or is that more waiting? My gp just told me to take double dose of Aleve for the pain and that would be prescription strength.
I already have an understanding about what you all say that no one understands. My husband asked me early on if I could have slept funny! I don't know if I have RA, but something is going on with my body.
Thanks for listening!!
Jenn
Hi Jenn, I too taught aerobics in my day. I had my own studio and employed about 5 or 6 teachers. I loved it, we use to have so much fun. My husband and I also owned a sporting goods in the front of the building and my studio was in the back and downstairs. So I know how teaching will eat up your legs. I also had a full time job on top of teaching. So I was on concrete for long periods of time day in and day out. That was back a few years ago, though. Like maybe 20.0
My gp just made me appt. with a Rheumy and it is taking about the same amount of time as your is. It is hard to be patient, but what else are you going to do.
When I had my studio I use to get shin splints so bad I would have to wrap my legs and put deep heat on them at night just to be able to get up and walk the next day. That was back in the day were you could wear leg warmers. It did help my legs though.
Well good luck on your appt. Maybe you should call them and see if you can get on the waiting list for a canceled appt if you don't think you can wait that long. Never hurts to try.
Hi, welcome!
Welcome Jenn.
You've come to the right place. You could be describing any one of us. Your symptoms sound so simular to all of ours in the beginning. It can be very frustrating...and scary as well.
Yes; a long wait for your first visit is fairly normal, and it couldn't hurt to ask to get on their stand by list. They do labs that first visit and you should get some pretty good answers pretty quickly...even with negative blood work. Lots of us here have negative blood work; but no doubt have RA. On the first page of the message boards there's a section that we've all put together on useful links for our Newbies. There's one of the early post about the criteria for a RA dx. Check that out.
As for the Aleve; I'm scared of that stuff personally. After if first came on the market my father knew a man that was rushed to the hospital with a bleeding stomach and almost died!! ALWAYS eat first; never, never on an empty stomach. Before I was dx I used Motrin or Advil. You can take up to four of those at a time...and it will help some.
You hang in there. This is the hardest part. Once your being treated properly it will get easier.
Again; Welcome.
Lovie
Jenn,
Welcome!!
I'm so glad you found us here. Your symptoms are soooo familiar to us, and the frusration of a long wait to see the RD is no surprise. I had a long wait too, but my MD did some bloodwork which in my case told the story and she was able to start an anti inflamatory before I got to the RD. The RD did xrays in the office and I had a DX that day. It can be tricky though, as Lovey said many have the disease and bloodwork is normal. There are many types of inflamatory arthritis and it can take time to sort it all out. I know it's hard to wait, come here often and visit:0) We'll help you get through the waiting period. Everyone here is kind and knowledgable. We have alot of fun here too! Again Welcome
Mike Hi Jenn, Jenni here... hee hee Usually the Doc will give you a script for blood work or lab work, then you can go to a lab (ask which one to go to) and you get right in to get the stuff done.. I have a standing order at the lab i use.. i dont need a script each time, they have it on file. speaking of that.. i *UUUGGGG* i need to go inthis week before work starts up again. Yes cancellation list helps.. i tried to tell my friend that for her foot doc and she refused... (shes OCD and cant handle some things) saying that she would just wait... whatever.. Good luck and feel better... i sware by aleve, but its a personal thing... Hi Jenn, You have come to the right place. I went thru almost exactly the same thing. It took me a long time to get dx. the people here can help you so much. It's hard for someone to understand it if they haven't experienced it. things will get better for you. Hang in there Linda Hi Jenn, Welcome to our group. Glad u found us.
Shawnie Welcome. Actually a month and a half to get in to see and RD isn't too bad. I had to wait from Jan 3rd, to earlt March to get in for my first appointment. It took me all evening just to fill out a new patient form, and a good doctor will go over all of that with you! RA dx is made from bloodwork, x-rays, patient history, and the doctors clinical exam of you. Take heart - they do not have to know exactly what your trouble is to treat you! Take the Alieve or Motrin - if it relieves pain and swelling you will have a clue to present to the rhuematologist. (It doesn't do much for people who do not have inflamation.) Best of Luck to you! Hi ,A first visit to RD is usually a little wait to get it,due to like they said doctor needs extra time to go over everything,after that you'll have regular appts.due to they require less time.My primary doctor wouldn't prescribe me anything,he said he didn't wait to mask the problem,he wanted me to see doctor the way i was so he could see symptoms(primary new it was RA)I got in in 3 weeks primary doctor told them I was in severe pain.I got lucky.Hope your RD doctor is a nice one that makes a world of difference,Mine is terrific(he calls me back himself)never has a nurse do it.Good luck Sherry
The fact that your GP referred you to a rheumy at all tells me he suspects inflammatory involvement. Therefore, keep the prednisone idea in your back pocket. If the pain gets too bad, call him up and ask for it--he may give you a six-day medrol pack of pred, or prescribe prednisone directly in some steady dosage until you see the rheumy. You may have to make some noise, but being out of pain and functional is worth it. Regarding the wait to see the rheumy--in my case, my GP recommended one by name--a well known and respected one in the community. His office couldn't get me an appointment with him for months. However, they offered a much sooner appointment with his partner. I took it, and his partner is fine. Not so well known, but who cares, if he knows his stuff? My point is that the recommended rheumy may not be the only one in town. Ask around. Get recommendations from friends or other doctors. I actually got my best recommendation from a podiatrist I happened to be seeing. (This podiatrist was the first doctor who nailed the dx simply from my symptoms, and told me to run, don't walk to a rheumy. She later called me and asked what my RH factor and sed rate ended up being. Wow.) And if you don't like the one you get, that's OK, too. Get another one. Good luck!
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