Hi everyone,
I am new here...unfortunately. I have had a horrible time of it since October. DX with uterine cancer, Total Abdominal Hysterectomy including ovaries, surgical menopause (ugh), now my hands are getting gnarly and after having an xray of my hands I am being referred to a rheumatologist for RA. My blood work came back negative for RA factor however. I had 17 vials of blood drawn and all the bloodwork came back negative (ANA, etc.)
My hands feel like they are on fire, every other joint in my body hurts too - but it is a different type of pain. The most noticeable deformity is only on 2 fingers (top joint) and my middle joints are red, swollen and itchy. Anyone else start out this way?
I am exhausted, I have been exhausted for years, but that could be because I am 9 weeks post-op from my hysterectomy, or maybe because I am in menopause suddenly, or it could be because I have a 5 and 7 year old...arghhhhh.
My rheumatologist appt. is in March and the guy uses plaquenil most often.
I am also working out in the gym with a trainer despite the agonizing pain - is this ok? I am going easy on my joints, we are doing core strengthening exercises, etc.
Any advice, etc. is welcomed. OBTW, I am 41.
Hello! I just wanted to welcome you to the board. I don't have any advice, but I'm sure others will chime in.
Phats
hi Irhone, sounds like me. My started in the same joints of my hands and were all red, swollen and hurt. I also was/am suffering from severe fatique. I sleep for 10-12 hours a night and still am tired. I am also 41 but I had an ra positive factor whne I was 39. Some people have all the symptoms (which sounds like you do, but I'm not a dr) and are ra negative. If you are having such a hard time, maybe call the rd or your pcp and tell them, maybe they can give you some meds to help relieve some of your pain and stiffness.
One thing: you came to the right website, lots of people here with ra can relate and are going through the same things as you are.
Hang in there
Hi Irhone.......nothing to add except welcome. Glad you found usHi Irhone, and welcome to the board. Sure sounds like RA, but again, I am no doc. Hang in there. Water aerobics are great for arthritis.Hi Lauren, welcome to the board. My RA started off with hot, red and itchy. I dont have gnarly hands and like a lot of people on the board a lot of the bloods came back negative, apart from my RF factor which was off the scale and despite drugs still continues to be high. Dont be disappointed if DX takes ages because that seems to be the way it goes.
Being post op (9 weeks) from a full hysterectomy and now possibly RA you should expect to be very tired. Your body is trying to heal itself from the inside and at the same time fight a possible infection in the joints. I had an hysterectomy 5 years ago and they told me it takes at least 12 months before you are fully up and running, plus you had to have yours done due to cancer. Your whole system will be very, very tired. You should take whatever time you can to rest and relax as often as possible. As an aside, I feel that the trauma to my system of the hysterectomy and major back surgery 12 weeks later was was started my RA.
Exercise, if you are able is still very important and its best to do as much as you can without it being detrimental to your well being. If you feel better having exercised continue to do it, if you need to take it easy then do so. You just have to listen to what your body is telling you. I go to yoga classes once a week and walk every day this keeps me mentally happy which is a big help.
There is a lot of information and comfort to be found on this board so feel free to ask questions you may feel are 'stooopid' because there's always someone who has gone through exactly what you are going through.
Thank you so much for all the kind words of encouragement, I am pleased to have found this board and the wealth of knowledge here. I was really stunned and upset about my latest dx of RA however your posts were really uplifting.
I need to spend some time going through this website and reading your collective wisdom and experiences.
Fondly..
Welcome.