VERDANA
Hello friends ...
I am a newbie and posted a few times on the RA Board. However, just found out yesterday that I ONLY have OA.
When I first went to her (yesterday was my second visit)
she was really cold and uncaring! Simply spoke a few words to me and said that she needed a lot of blood work and xrays. THAT was two weeks ago and when I went back yesterday, she was a completely different doctor! She was sooo caring and nice and even took up a little more time with me.
As she begin going over my test results she said to me ... "I have good and bad news for you today -
The GOOD news is, you DO NOT have RA.-
The BAD news is, you have OA all through your body! Especially in your neck!"
She also treats Fibromyalgia and said that she agrees with the doctor that DX me 15 years ago, with having it. She said to me that I DO have it and a BAD case of it!
She told me that there is no wonder that I am in TERRIBLE pain!
She just started me on Celebrex and gave me a few samples. Now, I have found that even WITH our Insurance co-pay, it is STILL high cost!
I am also on Neurontin and Darvocet (any helpful comments on these drugs because after 5 hours, I am DYING with pain once more!)
She nows says that she is STILL going to be treating me BUT, wants to send me to a "Pain Clinic" in Atlanta.
She says that HE will probably put me on other helpful meds that will help. HOW does someone that is NOT rich, survive the pain because they may NOT be able to afford the cost of meds!
We are NOT rich folks and it really bothers me *mentally* that the burden is on my husband.
He so wants to change jobs but now he will have to stay where he is, because of my meds.
I have NO DOUBT that one's FAITH is the ONLY thing that will get them through, when they become sick!
My heart goes out to all of you that are in the same boat with ME! It's a good thing for *support* from one another and as I have said on the other board ...
I am GLAD to be here, with you all!
{{{hugs to all!}}} BarbWow! One can SEE, I am new to the board!
PLEASE disregard the word "VERDANA" - I guess I put it up there by mistake.
Barb
Welcome to the site. Sorry to hear about all your pain. I certainly understand where you are coming from. I was diagnosed with OA and fibro this summer. And truthfully having a hard time with the pain. Don't know if its the OA or the fibro or a combo of both. I am 45 years old. I often feel like I am ninety and also wonder if I have a correct diagnosis. Also went through all the blood tests and had RA ruled out, but seems like I have more RA symptoms than OA. I recently started thinking maybe Lyme Disease, because of the quick onset of my arthritis.
I was on Bextra which helped a lot, but then was removed from the market. Now I take prescription strength Advil,which really doesn't help much and Vicodin for the pain, which sometimes helps. I also take Welbutrin. I tried Cymbalta which is supposed to be great for fibro, but really didn't work on me. I have terrible insomnia.
I understand the financial part too. We do not have any health insurance, but my doctor is really good and tries to give me samples, but some things I do have to pay for and I try to shop around for the best prices. Prices vary from drugstore to drugstore.
Welcome to this site, hope to hear from you often. The fibro board on here does not do much. Myself and a few other have tried to get it going without much success. Take care.
MindyHi Mindy ...
Thanks for the welcome. it is a good thing, finding this board.
With the fibromyalgia ...
From what I have read and heard, NO TWO people are suffering exactly the same way. MY pain with it is mostly in the muscles of my legs. I do a gentle work at least 4 times a week and with THAT, comes the tears.
I TRY and drink plenty of water everyday and WORK on eating right. ( I DO love chocolate though!)
I have found long ago-if I am not active, I would never be able to get up again!
Mindy, SLEEP is sooo important with fibro.
You might want to look *Neurontin* up and read about it. If it sounds like it can help you, ask your doctor about it. It has works wonders for my sleep.
Maybe soon there will be others to come here and share!
I believe we can learn a lot from one another.
On the arthritis ...
The doctor told me that she needs to run a lot more test to determine just what else might be going on with me.
She said that arthritis covers a large territory of symptoms and not just RA and OA. (over a hundred different kinds)
It really takes a lot of test to determine just what all might be going on with us-that's for sure.
I don't even think that the doctors can always know.
I've seen the Welbutrin advertised. It works on depression as well as the pain, right?
I have just started on the Celebrex and I PRAY it will help with the pain and stiffness. I get up every morning at 6:00 and that's when my day begins. (Ooooh it is hard to do!) I fight the pain and try to move around as fast as I can to get limbered up. The Rheumy says that this may help me with that part.
I was so able to handle the fibro all these years-even with all the pain of it but now that I have recently been diagnosed with the arthritis, it looks like the struggle will be greater now. However ...
I have made up my mind that even at 60 years of age, I am not going to give up! I am going to fight it-every (painful) step of the way!
Mindy these things can cause so much depression and if we give in and give up, it will win!
It is sooo good to have a place to come to such as these boards-even if it is just to vent!
I believe we all struggle to make it, but with folks that can relate, it makes the bumpy road a little smoother.
"Being there" for one another makes a huge difference!
Again, it's good to be here! Thank you!
{{{{hugs}}}} Barb
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com