Hello everyone!
I was surfing the net regarding forums and found ya'll. I am going to see a rheumatologist for the first time tomorrow (thursday). I really don't know where to begin...I can tell you that I started having problems about 7 months ago. The knuckle on my left hand got real red, it started swelling and it felt like I had injured it. Every time I hit it against something it just ached. Then the middle finger on my right hand started aching at the joint where the finger attaches to the hand. It was swollen, red, felt like I injured it. Well, to make a long story short...that was 4 weeks ago. I went to my GP, he drew labs and my RA factor was 52.6 then, and now I can barely move that finger on my right hand. My ring finger and my pinky are swollen at the middle knuckle. I have lost strength in my right hand. My left knee has started hurting in the process, and my feet have always bothered me. When I get out of bed in the mornings I can barely walk (I am 42 years old)(very young!) I am also scared to death! I don't know a lot about RA, the only thing that sticks in my head is "crippled". I know there is a lot that can be done and I guess I'll find out my options tomorrow.
But you guys are living it. I have already seen that some people just don't understand where I'm coming from, and they don't understand the pain I'm in. Some have said "now you know how I feel" or "just wait till you get old". I hope I'm not being too forward for the first time. I truly think ya'll are a God-send to me. So that's why I am posting. Does anyone have any suggestions for going to the doc first time? The funny thing is is that I am a nurse, and nurses make the worst patients. I want to go to the doc as a patient though and not a nurse.
Thanks for any responses. I can tell ya'll are very blessed to have each other!
First, welcome to the forum. I suggest you write out a list ahead of time to go over all your symptoms. Years at this, and I will still forget something important.
The first visit should be a long one where they ask you lots of questions. I think it's one of the best visits to have because it starts the ball rolling and may bring to your attention and the doctor other problems that might be also happening.
Ask about treatment options, getting xrays especially on your hands and your knee. They may do additional blood work.
Then come back here and let us know what they say. Lots of people can answer questions that tend to come after you've seen the doctor.
Good luck.
My best advice is to research. Be knowledgeable. Google treatments for ra and start reading. There are many drugs that can help and they know that early, aggressive treatment is key in preventing permanent joint damage. Don't be alarmed at all the side effects you read about, it can be scary but with the right drugs, it is possible to control this disease but it takes some time. Good luck tomorrow and let us know how it goes.
Welcome to the forum.
Good luck tomorrow and let us know what your doc said! Yay! I love new people! Hi! I'm so glad you found us! I don't have much more to add to what the girls have said...except No question is a stupid question, no symptom is too small, and if it feels wrong, it probably is. Good luck and let us know how it goes! :) Good luck with doc appt. Lady jane Hang in there! Cindee Welcome!!! Please keep us updated on your dr visit. My only advice is to be knowledgable. Learn everything you can about this disease and ways to cope including meds, stress relief, etc. This board is full of wonderful people who live with the same things you do day in and day out. Don't ever hesitate to ask a question, there is a wealth of info here! Take care, Phatgirl2 Hello Everyone!!!!! I have never felt such support!! I wanted to thank each and every one of you so much!!!!!I am glad I have wireless internet and a laptop in my house,
Good luck with your appt tomorrow. We've all been in your shoes and we've all known that fear when we were diagnosed. You've got lots of support here. Your initial symptoms are so familiar, mine started the same way. Good that your getting in to see a doc so quickly. That's such a positive step. And there are so many treatment options now that weren't available in the past. So many people with RA really live pretty normal lives, it's amazing. Good advice from everyone to get some pain meds to get you through till the drugs kick in and start helping you. I resisted pain meds for a while, but gave in and took them for a short time to bridge the gap, so to speak. As for people who don't understand, you can only do so much educating. It's such a relief when you come across someone who knows what you're going through. It's almost like finding members of a secret society! Best of luck to you! Welcome It is sometimes a long process. It is good to be in contact with people who really understand.
I [QUOTE=arriscolwell]I KNOW. This place is almost creepy. Like a bad Wes Craven movie....with Danny Elfman music...it just doesn't seem real. Hahaha sorry....you have to be a real dork like me to get that...
Great, just great, I understood that. But, there are days that without this board I don't know what I would do. You will find tons of support and caring here.
Yay. I got called interesting! That is something to yay about, right? Haha I picked Wes Craven because well...his movies suck...and Danny does such GREAT music..it's just not natural to pair them... You know - I thought I posted here....but I didn't... I guess I forgot to do it! Welcome, there's a ton of nice people here. We're close in age, I'm 39 and this started for me last year. Yes, it is scarey. How did your visit with the doctor go?????? Hello everyone! Well, I went to see my doc today and so far he is diagnosing me with arthralgia. I told him I went to see my GP about 5 weeks ago with my hands and my feet and I guess he took that as the start of my symptoms, but it's been going on longer than that. When I couldn't stand it anymore is when I saw my GP. My RD said he liked to see symptoms that have lasted at least 6 weeks before he diagnosed RA, but he did say that I have all the symptoms. Anyway, he took more labwork and they xrayed my hands and wrists. He gave me a depomedrol injection to see if that will take care of all the swelling and he wants to see me again in two weeks. He said if any of the labwork was bad he would call me back in and not make me wait two weeks(?) He said he will treat it aggressively if that is what I have. I don't know what to think right now, I just want to know what's going on. I think I'm going to keep a journal for the next two weeks so I can track any progress/decline. I don't like not knowing.
I'm glad he told you straight up that he was going to treat whatever it is agressively, that's a good doc. :) Good luck to you!!! Keep us posted! I think there's some reason that the RD's give prednisone right away; the RD did that with me too. I think it tells them something on how you react to it.??? He'll go over the xrays with me in two weeks. I had them done after my office visit. I'm a little confused myself. Trixie66, what happened with you when you were diagnosed? QuietAngel, I had to wait a few weeks after my first appt to get a firm diagnosis too. I suspect most of us had the same routine. By then the xrays and blood tests are all done and reviewed. I think the only drugs I got on the first visit were NSAID's for the swelling. She may have offered steroids, but I turned them down. It wasn't until the 2nd appt that my doc went over all the drug options and actually prescribed RA drugs. Like your doc, she wanted to be aggresive from the start, which was terrific. Sounds like you have a good doc! Glad to hear you have another appt so soon. Try reading up on the RA drugs before your next visit so you'll be a bit more prepared for the options that the doc may want to try. I was flummoxed by all the drug choices and just kept saying "you tell me!" I have to say - that my case was unusual. It all started with a severe allergic reaction. However, my Mother has RA and it's in her family. So, I'm predisposed to it. But, 1st I was put on a Medrol dose pack; Rd wanted to see if the symptoms came back - they did. Then it was watch and see - and put on prednisone long term. 2 months later - plaquenil - then sulfasalizine and just now Humira and MTX. I wish I would have been put on it sooner - I just started this week. Over a year of my life has gone by while the docs "waited and see'd" and I've had to leave my job and my life has come to a stand still. Sounds like you have a good doc. If he thinks it is RA - take his advice.....hit it hard right from the start. That's my advice. Good luck
sure I list everything that is going on, no matter how small it
seems. Often times my doc will find a clue in something I
thought was insignificant. It's pretty overwhelming, but there is a
lot of info out there, especially on the internet. Sometimes it's
easier starting with a simpler explanation from a book. I gave
my hubby "Arthritis for Dummies" which helped him understand
a lot. I'm sure you know most of that stuff though, being a nurse.
Good luck and we'll be waiting to hear about it!Hello dear & welcome!!! As everyone has said already good luck tomorrow & let us know how it goes. I did want to comment on what you wrote about how people don't understand. I run into it a lot. People think that it is osteoarthritis and just a part of getting old---I just turned 39. Arrgh ...it is so aggravating!!! Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this? Thanks!!Not really...we all run into it. I have JRA, imainge trying to explain that to your 3rd grade class. Eventually, you just don't tell people unless you HAVE to. And when you do, you make for sure you have plenty of time to explain it, or they will never understand. In the end, its really only worth explaining to people that you deal with on a constant basis. For those that you pass in a store or mall or whatever, well...its just not always worth it...sometimes you just have to shrug and let the ignorance through! Oh well. I always make sure the people I work very closely with are aware, and anyone who seems to be a potentail friend...oh, and my landlord, and my nice neighbors(when we have them) etc etc. You get the idea :)Quiet Angel, I know how you feel. I am a nurses aide for 32 years now. And when I found out i was so scared and in deinal. I didn't want to hear the RA word. It took me 4 appts with the doctor for it to sink it. And when it did I was so upset. I live in bad pain everyday. I hope with you will be able to take meds to help. I have been having alot of problems with meds. But I have alot of allgery's to meds. I also have it in my fingers, wrist, knees, and feet. But I have a postive attidude. I will not let this take over my life I fight it everyday I go into work. You may laugh at this but I say to myself Joan you can make it and I do. I try to put all the pain out of my head and fight it all the way. The doctor told me i am very strong willed and I am. Don't get me wrong i do have some
because I would never get up the stairs to use the desktop
computer to post! There are a lot of us who are on here most of
the time, so if you have any more questions, ask away!
I, too must be a dork. Love Danny Elfman, Oingo Boingo fan growing up in the '80s. Still can't believe he's writing movie scores after "dead man's party".
Hey, I also like your choice of User name and your reasons for it. You're pretty interesting.
Ally
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