Another Newbie! | Arthritis Information

Hi All,

Hope you wont think I'm a fraud as I haven't had a proper diagnosis yet!

I've been to see a Rheumatologist and am waiting for results of blood tests - due to go back to hospital 5th Oct. He is a lovely kind man and says he's testing for RA but might also have Fibromyalgia. If the blood tests show something I will have MRI scan with dye (whats that all about then?

Today I am in so much pain with my ankles and knees, not to mention my elbows, hands and wrists. I have app to see my GP this afternoon as my heel and foot is swollen, as is my neck and shoulder - they sort of feel puffy. Dont know what the doc will do without the consultants diagnosis but I hope he gives me something for the pain.

My sister has had RA for several years and I also have Bronchiectasis - an incurable lung disease.

Thanks for reading
Love Den

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Welcome to the board! You'll a lot of helpful folks here.Good luck with your tests. My doc thought I had fibromyalgia at first as well until the meds didn't help and everything started swelling up. Let us know your results

Susan
Hi Denyse and welcome!!

I hope you get the answers you are looking for with your doc's. This board is a great place to talk with others going through the same thing you are experiencing.

I wish you well!

CinDee
Just back from Doc...

The swellings are not fluid as I thought, its soft tissue. GP is very reluctant to prescribe anything as he thinks the Consultant should. I suppose I was expecting that so its back to Diclufenac for me until I go back to hospital next week.

WELCOME DEN. You are not a fraud - better to start research as soon as possible. This is a great place to start. OO OO OO!!! Don't let them blow off that soft tissue swelling, or say "we don't know why" I forget the name of it, but there is another immune system disorder that mimics RA, but attacks soft tissue. It's pretty rare though, so hopefully they can account for the swelling another way. Good luck to you either way! :) And welcome!
Welcome Denyse - of course you are not a fraud! This disease starts out differently in different people! And I'm not sure - but I think the lung disease you have can be linked to RA too (I remember reading about it somewhere...).

But this is a great place to ask questions and get to know others and their situations. We're a pretty friendly bunch!!

Again, Welcome! Trixie

Hey Katie....there's a soft tissue RA type disease? Where would I find info on that????????
Hi, I am new to the forum...and I haven't had a proper diagnosis yet. My RA is positive....my ANA (for lupus) is negative...and my ESR is normal....not that ESR is conducive to anything. I am a medical laboratory technologist and I do have some knowledge of the tests...but I feel frustrated with the process so far. Its like I can't get any straight answers from anyone...I am seeing a rheumatologist on halloween and I am off work for a couple weeks to try to allow things to settle down a bit...but since nothing has been confirmed, I cannot get any help...or can't seem to.

Anyway..I just wanted to reply to the newbie thread....

thanks
Hi Denyse,

I am new to the board as well. This board is full of great information.

I hope you get your answers soon, it is quite frustrating to be sure.

trixie, I don't know :( google? LoL A girl I worked with had it, she explained it to me, and told me the name, but its VERY long. It's also hereditary, but can be passed from anyone. So, the last person in your family to have had it, might be your mom, or your great great great grandmother. Very hard to trace. It causes swelling of soft tissues and ligaments, tendons, and can hide and promote infections in the bone and soft tissues. Sometimes the only symptoms you have, is like a flu, or cold. The girl I knew, Ann, was sick with flu like symptoms for 10 years, on and off on and off, then suddenly, her ankle swelled up, and they found it in the tendons, and it had caused an infection in her ankle bone. She no longer works with me, so I can't ask her the name :( I'm sorry. If I do find it, I will make a thread! :)
Sharron,

Welcome to the board... You too Denyse. You've come to the right place !!! It's been 4 almost 5 years since I was diagnosed and this board has been a life saver many times over. I believe you will find the information, answers, and questions all here to aid you in your journey. Although it's not a pleasant journey... the people here will ease that for you.

Ask, whine, cry, shout, laugh or whatever you need to do... it's totally unconditional here.

Hi Denyse,

I am new to the forum too but have had RA for a long time. You are for sure not a fraud. You are the only advocate for your health so make sure that you advocate for yourself!
Welcome to you both
Hi,

The results of my blood tests seem ok but I'm having an Isotope Bone Scan to be certain.

The Rheumatologist has suggested that I try taking either Pregabalin or Gabapentin for the Fibromyalgia....

Any opinions on that please?

Den

Welcome

I truly hope things go well for you. You will have alot of support here.

I googled and came up with this

http://www.globalrph.com/pregabalin.htm

Just because your labs say you are fine does not mean you do not have RA ..20% of us are sero-negative.
Hi Denyse, and welcome!

Marian is right - blood tests and bone scans are only part of the picture. I'm sero-negative, but there's not much question that I have RA. One common test is to take (the evil) prednisone in a high dose for a short while. If you magically feel better, it means your symptoms are caused by inflammation.

A bone scan will tell you where hot spots are where RA is attacking your body. But...if you get to the doctor early enough, there may not be hot spots. It doesn't mean you don't have RA. It means that if you DO, you still have time to slow the progression and the damage caused by the disease. RA can be very difficult to diagnose. There are many other, debilitating forms of arthritis and auto-immune diseases. Don't let the doctor just blow you off. Please!

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