my first visit with the rheumatologist | Arthritis Information
I'm so glad I found this forum! I have much to learn.
It looks like I may have RA. My mother has it, as well as Crohn's disease. Here's my story.
I am 40 years old. about 6 weeks ago, I experienced a case of poison ivy and took a 12 day course of prednisone to treat it. when I went off of the prednisone, I broke out in a rip roarin' case of hives, so I found myself at the immediate care center. (I should note that I also have, what I've always thought to be, rosacea, which was flared up as well). So, the doctor took one look at my hives and my face and said, "you need to be checked for lupus". This threw me. I wasn't expecting to hear that.
I followed up with my family doctor, had some labs done. The results showed an elevated rheumatoid factor, elevated CRP and elevated sedRate. My ANA, and thyroid stimulating hormone were fine.
So, as a result of all this, I have my first appointment with the rheumatologist next week. I have aches and pains, sometimes some stiffness, and sometimes some swelling. But I've always just blown it off, thinking that everyone has aches and pains sometimes. Now, though, every little twinge I feel has me all paranoid.
I've been trying to not let myself worry. I don't have the diagnosis. But, I can't help wondering what my future holds. I've resolved that if it turns out I have it, then it's better to know sooner rather than latter. So I can pursue the right treatment and slow the progression.
What can I expect at my first appointment? I've not had any x-rays. The labs that my doctor ordered are the extent of any studies I've had to this point.
By the way, this is the second time I've had a doctor at the immediate care center suggest I may have an autoimmune issue. The first time was several years ago, when I was having shoulder pain with no known case. The doctor, at that time, told me I should be checked for rheumatoid arthritis. But I just blew her off. I thought it didn't make sense considering it was unilateral pain in a shoulder. But now, I wonder... Also, I still have pain in that shoulder, and now in the elbow and hand as well...but unilaterally.
Not sure what to think. It's quite worrisome really.
Hi Momz,
Welcome to the forum. I know just how you feel since I just joined recently. I worked as an radiology tech nearly 30 years and had a history of an achy shoulder and bursitis anyway. My elderly mother was recently diagnosed with cancer and with all the lifting and straining to help care for her, I thought my growing aches and pains could also have been from too much stress and strain. Not! After the last 6 months of adding new joints that hurt, swelling, and getting to a point where i was of no use to anyone, my orthopedic gave me her opinion and sent me off to see a rheumatologist. What a surprise! My RA factor, CRP, and sed rate were very high. On top of that, my ANA screen was positive and was told I may also have Lupus. I just received news this past Friday morning that the additional tests for Lupus were negative. I needed a little good news with all the bad news that's been added lately.
All the new meds were frightening to me and the good people here helped reassure me that these are necessary to help fight this disease. Like you, I don't know what the future holds. I read some things that I really don't want to read, but knowledge is power.
From my experience, I can tell you to expect to get x-rays on everything that hurts along with a chest x-ray. I've never had so much blood drawn as much as I have in the past 2 months, so you can expect that as well.
I hope you don't have much damage yet. If you're like me, you'll find yourself here often in an effort to learn. Good luck!
bfils2010-07-05 08:14:36Welcome to the board!
I recommend you write your questions down on a pad of paper and bring it to the visit along with a pen to jot down answers. It sounds - from your post, anyway - that you don't have that bad of a case of RA. If your aches and pains have been tolerable enough to "just blow off" then try not to worry yourself too much. One thing I have learned since reaching out to others with RA is that every case is different, including the level of severity. You may be one of the luckier ones who can control those aches and pains with a milder course of medication.
Best wishes to you, let us know how the visit goes.
Sorry you need to come here, but you have come to the right place! There is much knowledge between these cyber walls..
Read and read and read some more.
Remember: No one's RA story is the same.. use this info and experiences to help you understand your situation.. Green-Tara's idea of keeping notes is excellent! It's near impossible to remember everything that you are experiencing and you don't know the relevancy as yet..
Keep us in the loop.. good luck!
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