I have been having knee problems for just over a month now and went into an urgent care clinic for treatment. Yesterday they did a rheumatoid factor test, because I am now having problems with both knees instead of just one. The results came back today as normal, which is under 20 I guess. I am very happy, because this eliminates the immediate worry of RA, but from the posts I have read I understand that a normal rheumaoid factor does not mean that I don't have it. The nurse practicioner suggested that I now take celebrex and wait to see what happens. I mentioned leaky gut syndrome to her, as a lot of seemingly unrelated things I have going on seem to fit into that category, and she scoffed a bit and said she had never heard of it. Overall, I am not confident with her treatment or lack of diagnosis. Does this happen a lot with doctors? How long do I wait until I see a doctor again? I don't know if anybody has easy answers, but it feels good to vent. Thanks for listening.
Steph
Steph, it happens to ME all the time! LOL
See if you can find an integrative medicine doc or a DO. They tend to take leaky gut much more seriously. Personally, I think that's where this all starts.
Pip
I am in Florida right now working, but will be headed home in a couple weeks. I am going to look further into things when I get home I guess.
I got the idea to check into leaky gut from posts on here, and I was surprised by how the pieces fit together. I imagine it will take some looking to find a doctor who knows a lot about it. My stomach has always had a mind of its own so it would be really interesting if it all came together and started making sense!
Maybe a dumb question, but what does DO stand for?
Welcome Special!!!!!! Glad you found us!!!
I think I would see your reg doc. when you get home. A negative dosen't necessarily mean you dont have it....but I think you need to talk to someone else.
Hope this helps!!!
Thanks Cordelia. When I make an appointment, do I just start with a general physician and get referrals and whatnot from there? Can I go in and demand those tests? I'm a little leary all ready from this last nurse practicioner who looked at me crazy for making suggestions and asking questions. I certainly don't want to have RA, but something is definitely going on, and I would really like to rule it out and find a cause.Special - first of all, welcome aboard and its refreshing that you are so pro-active about your health care, because you are your ultimate doctor and its a good thing to keep that in the forefront, because you will be making many huge decisions in the future.
A DO is a doctor of osteology, or a medical doctor trained in chiropractic manipulations.
First of all, if you have insurance, you need to find out if you need to have referrals from your primary, and if so, make an appt with your primary and ask for referrals to a rheumatologist and perhaps a gastro-intestinal. If you have access to therapy, I highly recommend it, because a good therapist is a lifesafer in situations like yours.
If you DONT have insurance, make your own appointments, and I would lean more towards looking for open medical doctors to alternative healing. Your local health food store is a cache of wonderful tips of finding the professionals in your area who have not bought into the medical/pharma model 100%.
Good luck and keep us informed. Take care ~~ Cathy
I don't have a primary care physician. I move around a lot, and have avoided going to the doctor in the past. Should I just pick one at random? Also, I will call my insurance company today to ask about referrals.
Therapy? As in physical therapy?
Steph
I called my insurance, and I do not need a referral to see a specialist. Where would anyone recommend I start for tests, a rheumatologist, a DO?
Thanks again.
Nope, as in mental. Pain, chronic illness, RA, etc. all have a mental component, plus the depression you can get from being sick for a long period of time. Or the inflammation anemia can bring you to your knees.
I would never pick a doctor at random. Start asking your friends, neighbors, call the local medical board, check the doctor's schooling, start taking control of your health right now. You don't want to waste your time blowing through over 40 doctors like I did in 7 years who were clueless. And these doctors were all referrals from my old primaries and I honestly thought I was being a good patient and following doctor's orders and went nowhere but sicker and finally obtaining the final diagnosis of needing a psychiatrist because I was making up my symptoms for pain drugs.
Once I has properly referred to a rheumy and tested positive for too many diseases to list here, did I finally get some medical help.
You may need physical therapy in the future, but personally, I have had a psychotherapist for years, who helped me get through the sheer rage I had over the incompetence of the morons I kept being sent to. It was recently revealed in here that it takes an average of NINE YEARS for a WOMAN to be diagnosed with RA, and most men its on the first appointment. And RA affects woman to men like 3 out of 4 - its sheer stupidity running this show, and you will have to be a brave lion to face this and be armed with the very best to get better. Good luck. Cathy