I saw my RD today | Arthritis Information

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Okay, so here goes. Based on my past history, past lab work, and physical exam, she determined that I have Fibromyalgia and RA. She put me on Neurontin for the fibro and is planning to put me on Plaquinel next appointment in one month. She wants to wait to get all my labs back to make more of a firm dx of RA. She's thinking I'm palindromic. (Pip, you were right). She also wants to rule out Lupus, because I've had pluerisy before and I have a bit of red on my cheeks.

She feels the fibro is making things a bit worse for me at the moment (I haven't been sleeping well) so she's treating that first.
She also thinks she may have heard a heart murmor, so she's sending me for an echocardiogram as well.
So, I'll start the neuontin tonight and hope for some sleep. Maybe just getting the right amount of sleep will help. I'm so darn tired all the time. Just my appointment today wore me out. Dr office is an hour away and we were there for 2 hours. She was a great doctor and very thorough. Full of information and she talks super fast. I've got a pounding headache now. But I'm glad to know that all my issues were not in my head and it's real, and a doctor actually listened to me.
That's all for now folks.

wow thats great news! I have fibro too, it makes sleeping hard, and it is very painful! When I was first diagnosed my fibro was more of a problem than the JRA.

This is a great relief for you. I am sorry so sorry you have RA and fibro. However i am thrilled that you have a good RD. Best of luck to you getting this under control.I was dx with Palindromic Rheumatism 7 years ago and just now changing to RA. One blessing of it being Palindromic is that there is none or very minimal joint damage at this stage. I am sero-negative and still nothing showing on bone x-rays just Synovitis on MRI Scan. I have been on Plaquenil for 5 months, now. 
It's great that you have a good RD and on the road to getting it under control. Sorry that you are having to deal with this and Fibromyalgia.
Love & hugs
Elaine x
elaine50002008-03-19 13:44:03Deb - glad you had a successful appointment, and now have a plan.  I hope you get a good night's sleep and quick improvement in your health.  I am encouraged by posts like yours.  Thanks.  Bet you are asleep already!  Sweet dreams!!!  So glad to hear you got some answers today and that you like your rd.  That's great news! Deb,glad to hear your good news.  Now you can start feeling better.I am so glad your Dr. listened to you and so sorry you have this.
 
 

WoooHooo!  Another PRA peep!  (OK, that's silly but, you get my drift).

I am really glad she's checking everything out!
 
Hugs,
 
Pip
Your RD sounds fast and efficient...I am so glad!  I am hoping that she will also be proactive with your meds...have you talked to her about AP?

I'm glad I have such a great doctor, and that she is so thorough. What a relief. Yeah, it sucks that I have to deal with both issues, but I'm not totally surprised that it's both fibro and RA. In fact, when we left the dr.s office, I told my husband that it was too bad I couldn't have written my own prescriptions, because I pretty much knew it was either one or the other, or possibly even both.

I took the Nerontin last night. One 400 mg before bed (as directed by dr). I did not sleep well at all. My dog was barking at 6 am this morning to go out. I got up to let him out and I was a bit dizzy. I'm tempted to take two of the nerontin tonight to see if that helps me sleep, but I'm afraid of being even more dizzy in the am. Does anyone have any experience with this drug? And is it one of those drugs that takes a while to work? I can take up to 8 of the nerontin a day, she told me I can work my way up to more, if needed.
 
Pip and Elaine, in your experience with the Palindromic Arthritis, in addition to the jumping around of joint pain, you still get the pain, and discomfort in other joints as well, and morning stiffness, etc... like with regular RA?? Just the flares kinda jump around? Am I making sense here??? I wake up feeling like crap and very stiff. It takes like an hour to really loosen up, and my nights are the same way. As soon as I sit, I'm stiff and my hands start to swell. For example, during the day my elbow may get all red, warm and feel a bit stiff. It may last an hour or a day, or two. Another time it might be my shoulder, or ankle.
Sorry for such a long post, and the terrible spelling.
Now that I have some clue to what is going on with me, I'm probably going to be asking you guys a ton of questions.
Debbie I'm so glad you have a great RD.  It will make everything so much easier.  And yes, having a DX doesn't stop the questions, it's just the beginning!  LOL  Ask away.  There's always someone around here who can help.  Glad to hear you had a great RD visit! Fibro is the pits! Hope the meds she gave you helps you out with the Fibro.
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