I was dx with ra in June 05 and am new to the boards. I have gained a lot of info from them but I have some symptoms I have not read from anyone else so I'm wondering if something else is going on.
I have deformed fingers, pain in both wrists, knots on both knees, both heels, left ankle, and a whopper of a knot on left elbow. Also get tingling and numbness around my mouth and in my cheeks, in both thighs, both knees, left hand and feet. Also my feet are always cold. I can put on two pair of socks and still have cold feet. I also have trouble concentrating and comprehending. Sometimes it seems like I am talking to Charlie Brown's teacher. I get tired very easily and I have spells where I stutter. Twice in the last three weeks I have had severe shaking in my legs and arms. I usually have the shakes for a couple hours every day but the bad spells I couldn't walk or pick up anything.
Anybody else have any of this? I told my rheumy about it and he told me to tell a neuro. I told the neuro and she said it was stress. HELLO!I agree with db. These don't seem to be common symptoms of RA - and they sound serious enough that they shouldn't be ignored. We all have stress here - you can't have RA without stress - but I haven't heard of symptoms that severe. Hope you get a good diagnosis soon!
Almost sounds like some of the symptoms of MS. Tell your Rheumy you want a different Neuro to see. Stress does a lot to our bodies, but you don't have to take that as the first diagnosis! Good Luck to you! :)
I can't add anything to the above advice except to press upon you the seriousness of your symptoms and for you to demand medical testing and answers from your RD. Your RD referred you to the neurol. and your RD can refer you to another one. Do you have an internist, family doctor that you see? If yes, I'd start there. I know it's like starting all over again but you're going to have to get answers, and if necessary treatment. I'm so sorry that you're getting the run around but be persistent and demanding. Thanks for the advi. I called my family doc, who set me up with the neuro and they are setting me up for a second opinion. Will let you know what I find out. Deena, I wish you luck. You do need answers. Trisha Thanks for all your input. Hurry up and wait some more.
He gets more upset than I do with the hurry up and waits! He knows I'll have this for life but it just rips his heart out when I have a bad day. He even says he'd take my pain if he could. Wonderful man I would get checked for diabetes and OA. Most of your sumptoms are relted to diabetes, but the nodules could be from RA or OA. With RA i get dizzy and also have some trouble talking cuz i get inflammation anywhere from my toes to my brain. I also get an inflammed heart if i don't take my celebrex and have trouble breathing. It's a hard thing to work with, I know. But please get checked for the diabetes and possibly celebrex for your RA (if you have RA) and if that isn't it, try and see an neurologist as that would be the only other thing that should help. I wish you well. I have question that I've never asked my RD. Sometimes, when I'm eating, My tongue feels weird. It feels like it is just too tired to move. I feel it on the left & right sides. I've never in my life heard of anything like it. Would RA cause this. I hurt ALL other places, so I guess that can hurt too. I'm very curious to hear if anyone else has this problem. Trisha THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD NOTICE IF IT IS DIABETS IS MOOD SWINGS AND PEEIND EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES ALSO ALWAYS THIRSTY. tHATS WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR ME. My tongue tingles sometimes. It's pretty weird. I started keeping a daily journal in Aug. 05 and take it to RD appts with me. I don't know if the RD has even read it but it helps me to write stuff down. Memoryis completely in the toilet. You know, make a note but forget the note?lol I sent a copy of the journal to LTD people and the caseworker said it helped to see what it was like to live with RA and coupled with the doctors records it helped tog et my claim approved. Deena, that is a really good idea! The journal could be really be useful. I am so forgetful I dont know if I would remember to write in it every day!
In nursing school we had this little saying to help us remember the symptoms of High/Low blood sugar: Hot and dry, sugars high; Cold and clammy, need some candy.
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