New with lots of questions | Arthritis Information

I've been lurking and reading for a few weeks, trying to make heads or tails of what my body's doing to me... I wanted to say that you all have provided a lot of insight into life with RA and other disorders, and have given me a lot more peace of mind!

My story started about three months ago. A little about me... I'm 27, married (no kids... an 8 year old labrador "fur-baby"), work as a paramedic, and a full time nursing student. I started having pain and stiffness in my hands and wrists, and fatigue (I had been a pretty active runner up to that point, and just felt too bone-weary to move when I would get home). I dismissed it as stress (too much work and school!) and went on my merry way.

Then I started waking up with my hands so swollen that I couldn't make a fist. I knew something was wrong, so I went to see my family doctor. RF, sed rate, and CRP all were normal, but he's still concerned about RA, so he's referred to an rheumy.

I go for my follow-up with the rheumy next Friday, to find out the results of all my additional blood work and xrays that he did. The rheumy thinks it's either early RA or OA, but he's not sure. The wait is killing me.

My primary started me on Celebrex and Nexium (I have a history of ulcers)... I had been taking as much OTC Aleve and Tylenol as I safely could before that, and it wasn't helping. The Celebrex worked a little better, but the aching (while more manageable most days) was still there. The rheumy increased it to 200 mg twice a day... but this cold snap is killing me today.

Is it normal for the Celebrex to not take away all the aching? Does it just "take the edge off?"

My mom has OA which started in her hands and wrists right after the birth of my youngest brother (she was 41), and her doctor put her on Feldene (all her labs for RA had been negative too). She said it took her pain completely away (she never had swelling). After reading so many accounts of women having onset of RA shortly after childbirth, I'm beginning to think she may have mild seronegative RA. She also has chronic dry eye and mouth... which made me wonder even more.

Sorry this is so long... I feel like I'm having a pity party. I'm just looking for some insight... thanks for your help!

Courtney

hey Courtney! Welcome, im a JRAer since age 8. waiting is one of the hardest parts....no worries though pity parties are always welcome we all need to vent so dont feel bad :) how long have you been a paramedic? im an EMT and I love it, would love to be a paramedic but i dont have the time for the training im a full time undergrad....emt training was enough of a commitment! hope you get some answers soon!

Medic for eight years this August, EMT for 2 years before that. :) I thought it was all I would ever want to do... but nursing seems like a natural career progression! Better money, anyway! Ha!

What are you studying for your undergrad?

hello courtney!

Celebrex is a good med for mild to moderate RA. Some people get total relief from it, others don't. I'd wait till the doc gets all the test results, and then decides from there. If he's a good doc and you do have RA (which it really does sound like) he should treat it fast and agressive. People have a much better time when it's treated fast. :)

Let us know how it goes!!!

im a bio and psych double major planning on going to PT school. yea nursing is a nice step up from paramedic! Hi Courtney, welcome!Hi Courtney, welcome :) Whatever the outcome, you seem to have doctors that are on top of things. That can make all the difference. Keep us posted.Welcome sorry for all of the waiting on the test. May want to have your mom retested they have some newer test now than what they used to have. Probably the ones you are waiting on. Get well soon.Welcome Courtney. Agree with Katie about celebrex, it just gives me heart palpitations. Hear soon with an update.Welcome Courtney! I know, the waiting is horrible. That not know is just the pits. Hang in there just a while longer.

BTW, are you a North or South Carolina girl?

Thanks for all your replies. It's wonderful to know that there are so many supportive people out there.

Jesse88, North Carolina girl... tried & true Tarheel.

Check out the other newbie thread - info on ulcers there.

Hugs and welcome,

Pip

Courtney - welcome. It's always a love/hate first post, as we are glad to see you, but sorry you had to make it here. It does get easier, just takes awhile to wrap your head around it and what is going on/not going on. Take care CathyWelcome to another Caroline Girl!! Glad you're here.

The worst of my problems happened in my early 20ties after the birth of my second child. 14 years later I'm still chuggin on. Managing fairly well. Your story as well as your Mother's sounds so, so simular to so many here.

My offical dx is seronegative RA; but I was lucky to see an RD early on that didn't only go on the blood test to make a dx. I started on a fairly mild DMARD treatment and have slowly but surely worked myself up to stronger things over the years. I've suffered little but some joint damage but have slowed the disease down. They say you can't really stop it.....but you can control it. Being in the medical field I'm sure through your own research you'll learn a lot quick. Knowledge is power! Study up.

Hope to see you here often.

Courtney, My daughter and I are going to be in NC at the end of the month visiting my DIL. Very excited.Linncn, I hope you have a great trip!

Again, thank you all for the words of encouragement. It's always kinda scary not knowing what you're getting into. I've always been one of those hope-for-the-best and prepare-for-the-worst kinda people. It's funny that you mention research, 'cuz it's probably a miracle I don't have carpal tunnel after all the internet surfing I've been doing lately!

It's frightening when you read statistics about disability rates at 10 years post-diagnosis and you think about all the things you want to do with your life. I realize after reading a lot of the posts on this forum that life does go on, and that most of those statistics are very dated, and you can't be afraid of what lies ahead. I know there'll be good days and bad days, but hopefully more good than bad.

hi Carolina.....welcome. Good luck with your tests and appts. Keep on keeping on!! You are so right, you will have good days and some not so good days but that just makes you cherish your good days more.

take care

Yay Tarheels! I've only lived in North Carolina three years, but I absolutely love it. This is where I belong.

Hi Courtney.. Newbie here too.

I am also RF negative.. and always have been.. made diagnosis very difficult until recently when I had a bad flare. Finally diagnosed and on my way

My mom had an autoimmune but not the same as me. She had Raynaud's and some other things though not ever diagnosed with CREST before she passed (from unrelated issues)

Good luck w/ your appointment and diagnosis... keep us informed of how you're doing.

Babs, so sorry to hear about your mom. I'm hoping to know a little more by the end of the week (and it's looking like a doozy, so it'll probably go by quickly!).

I'll be sure to keep everyone posted.

Thanks, carolina... I hope your dr meeting goes well.
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