Hi. I decided to join because despite an official diagnosis, I know I have RA. I had the labs done and to quote "Save for her mild increase ESR & uric acid, her arthritis tests are normal" My symptoms started within the past year, I would awake during the night to pain in my hands and feet, I'd shift around, doze off, and awake in the am to my fingers curled, and hands swollen. I was unable to straighten them or bend them for several minutes. My knees would be so stiff that with shame I admit, that I couldn't even climb the stairs in the am to take a shower and suffered with fatigue throughout the day and evening. This would happen 2 - 3 times a week. After I got up, moved around abit (hour-hour and a half) the swelling would subside along with the stiffness. About 3 weeks ago, I awoke on Saturday am with the stiffness and swelling and within an hour it subsided and I went about my day. Sunday, I awoke, and again had the stiffness and swelling. It still hasnt gone away. It eases through the day, but Im always aware of the stiffness. I was started last week on relafen for 30 days, given a it might be diagnosis, depending on the results. I had been using naprosyn prior to the relafen and it did nothing. The relafen has helped some but in the past 10 days seems to be losing some of its effectiveness. I know my MD won't refer me to a Rheumatologist and they wont accept me with out the referral. So to combat frustration, here I am. I've left a message for my doctor to give me some sort of diagnosis, so hopefully he will. Any advice on what I can do in the mean time to help eleviate some of the pain and frustration is so very welcome. Thanks for being here and I apologize for being long winded.
Sorry, but I wanted to add another wierd symptom I have had since this started. About once a month I wake up with no voice. My throat is not sore, it just feels fatigued and when I speak its in hushed whispers. This lasts about 3 days at a time. Has anyone else had this? Thanks again.
Welcome Betsy.
Your symptoms sound very simnular to many of ours. The voice problems included.
Not being referred to a rhumatoligist is going to be a problem though. Often a GP won't know what to do....or even how to go about dignosising you. I think I'd insist. Not many of us here were given a dignoisis until we actually saw a rhumatologist. I was on the first visit. My GP thought my foot problems were related to bunions that would require surgery and my other aches and pains were all stress related. Lucky for me my insurance didn't require a referral and I made the appointment on my own.
The RD said "What took you so long to come in?" Turned out I didn't have bunions; my problems were all related to RA and once I started treatment I've had very little problems with my feet ever sence. (plenty of other problems....but my feet have improved 90%)
I hope you'll stick around and become a regular part of our group. I'm not sure how much we can help you without your doctors getting on board.....but we'll at least support you mentally.
Welcome.
Can you see a different primary care DR? Maybe they would write you a referal? I'm not sure how you're system works, but you NEED to see someone. You sound text-book. Like Lovie said, right down to the throat thing! If you think about it, it makes sense. RA is inflamatory, when you lose your voice, its due to inflamation....eh, there's all sorts of reasons for weird things like that. I can't spell any of that...can I? oops. Sorry
Katie
Tell that doctor it is not normal for you to be stiff and achy all the time. It is not normal for anyone ... not even old people are so much stiffer getting out of bed than they are 2 hours later. (Their stiffness is more constant - they don't get way better a couple of hours after getting up).
Give that doctor an ultimatim - refer me or I have to change doctors...I am sick!
I'd get to a RD. But until you do - this is a pretty nice place to hang out! Welcome! Trixie
DITTO..DITTO... You have to be agressive with the MD. My doctor was great in explaining to me that she doesn't feel my pain and that I HAVE to tell her or I won't get the proper Rx! She immediately sent me to the rheumy, who also told me to be sure to let him know what my level of pain, swelling and general feeling is so he can put me on the right meds for me... Keep yelling at them.... they will finally get it! I can't understand GP's who won't send you to a specialist if something is out of kilter. The worst thing that can happen is the specialist finds nothing and you go back to the GP for further diagnosis. That's crazy that your GP won't refer you. Do they have to keep referrals down for some reason? Managed care??? That's neither managed nor care! Can you see another GP? Or appeal to your insurance company? Hope you can get in to see a rheumatologist soon.
I agree with everyone else. Either your doctor refers you or you get a new doctor. I would certainly compain to your patient advocate with your insurance company. Most insurance companies will help you if you raise the complaint. Specifically ask for a referral from them to a Rheumatologist. Your symptoms sound classic.
My GP nearly killed me before I got a consult through my Cardiologist while in the hospital to my Rheumatologist. Even after that, my GP and his partners had the gaul to tell me it was all in my head and I might need to see a pain specialist. This is after two very scary stays in the hospital with pericarditis.
I ditched that doc quick. Problem is that most GPs don't have the expertise to diagnose RA. They just look at the blood work and if it comes back fine, they say you don't have it. But I still come back with blood work that's fine after 6 years. There is no doubt I have RA. They can see it on the MRIs, plus all my other symptoms.
Push for that referral. You have the right to good, professional treatment.
Absolutely insist you see a rheumatologist. You are the boss here. Tell your dr that you expect to leave with a written referral to a RD or you will write to your insurance co, and your state medical board. If you are on public assistance you still have the right to medical care.Betsy, have you shown your GP the list of criteria for diagnosing RA? Lovie has put a handy copy of the list in the "new here" section of this board. It's a great way to remind your GP that blood work isn't the only way to diagnose this. Hi. Thanks for all of the support. The problem with the referral is that the Rheumatologists in this area all require a referral...I did speak with the receptionist and they told me to follow up with my MD and if he didn't give the referral to call back and she would run it by the RA doc and have him ok it. So since my first post, I called my MD and explained that the relafen was only easing the discomfort, and that the swelling and stiffness was almost as unbearable as the joint pain, they called me back to tell me he wanted to do more lab work(B12 and folate levels) because he thinks I might have early signs of a vitamin deficiency and he wants to see me this week. Some of the symptoms of that are confusion, paranoia and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. I dont have numbness and tingling, I have pain and stiffness, but I figure at this point, I'll play ball with them. I had blood drawn yesterday and I have an appointment with his PA on Friday to go over the labs and the symptoms, referral or not, I'm getting copies of the labs and when I leave his office I'm calling the RA for an appointment. I did finally have a good day during all of this. I woke up Sunday essential pain free, but it did catch up with me late afternoon, and since then the stiffness is less and the pain isnt nearly as frequent, but I have constant but mild swelling especially over the mpjs of both hands and the metacarpals of both wrists. I'll let you all know how the visit goes and all.Hi ppl,
Just reading through this and wondering what is the voice thing? I noticed mine was weird yesterday ?
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Hi Betsy,