Well, let me jump in with both feets here.
I'm a 45 y.o. Male.
I started in July this year feeling horrible. Went to the doctors, and the only thing we could figure was lyme.
2.5 months later I found out it wasn't. (They weren't so quick to call me and let me know how the test turned out
My continued aches and pains have been progressively getting worse.
Had to put the motorcycle away early because it was unsafe for me to continue to ride under these weekend/painful conditions.
Any who, many tests later I finally get a positive result on something. A general rheumatoid test came back k with a "score" of 80. They said normal results are less than 10. My pcp has referred me to a rheumy and my appointment is for February 2007.
in the mean time, 2 weeks ago, I went to the e.r. With chest pains, and left arm pain/numbness. All cardiac results have come back negative.
It turns out this is more than likely all r.a. related.
As I told my pcp today, I feel like I am headed downhill really fast.
I have knee pain, elbow and muscle pain and the joints in my hands hurt. I feel like a bucket of .... well you know. I’m always tired, I seem to hurt everywhere, and otc pain relievers seem not to do a thing.
Today my pcp has suggested a start to pain management until I can get into the rheumy.
I forget what she put me on, but I am picking it up later today.
Maybe y'all can give me some insight on what that basic test meant, and what I can look forward to in my future appointment.
In the mean time, looks like r.a. is going to be a part of my life.
The only other person I have known with this is my mother’s aunt, and that was when I was a kid.
Needless to say this is my first experience with anything of major issue in my life health wise.
Fortunately I have a wonderful woman in my life that helps me get through the day with this. Although I don't think she can grasp all that happens inside my, mentally and physically, she does try. She went with me today to the doctors. I wanted her there so she could get a better understanding of how I feel, and the outlook for the future. She is a real blessing to me, and I know she will be very supportive.
But we both have allot of learning to do. I only thought of looking for someplace to talk to others here on the net because of what my doctor said today.
Thanks for reading this and letting me spill. I think I feel better already.
Harold
The chest pains and arm numbness sound like something else.
Hello Harold. I'm glad you had the chest pain checked out. Google costochondritis, its in inflammation of the muscles and cartilage in the chest, fairly common in ra cases. I can't believe they are making you wait so long to see the rheumy. If you can tolerate them, nsaid drugs are the first thing to try which may be what your doc called in, things like naproysen and Motrin. You have to be careful though as many people get tummy upset with the higher doses we need to take to get relief.
You will need to have x-rays done to determine if you are having any bone damage. They will repeat the x-rays yearly at a minimum to monitor. Do all the research you can, there are many drugs available. Most have a scary looking list of side effects to go along with them. You will need lots of monitoring and you will need to find a rheumy that you like and will treat you aggressively. Most damage from ra is done in the first few years, its very important to treat it aggressively.
Welcome Harold. I'm glad you jumped in. And, it sounds like a Feb appt is about standard for a wait to see a rheumy. It's a long wait for you, for sure, the waiting stinks! But Feb is around the corner unless we're waiting for our first RD appointment, hard to believe.
I want to say more in the way of welcome, answers, or encouragement, but I just popped in for a second and have to push off again. Later. But truly, welcome. I think you'll find that if you have to have RA, you've come to the right place to help you navigate.
PS, an 80 isn't real high. That in itself, for one tiny thing, is a good thing.Welcome to the board Harold! I'm sure you wish you wouldn't
have had to come here, but it really is a great place filled with
people who have a ton of experience and information. I agree
with Michele that is could be costochondritis. It can cause pretty
severe pain, and it goes along with RA. It sounds like you have
a pretty supportive wife/girlfriend. That will be very helpful to
you to have her there to listen. Good luck and keep posting!
Hey Harold and welcome to the boards.
I am glad to see you have gotten the chest pain checked out.
As a male, and now a male with a possilble Autoimmune disease, your heart health as well was the normal male health screens are going to be important. Ask questions, inform yourself, ask the doctor's questions until YOU are satisfied. They may get mad, SO...that is what we pay them for!!!!
With any autoimmune disease, it can affect not just your joints, but can affect major organs, like lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, etc...WHEW...mouth full... (I fuss at my husband the same way)
It could be the stress that RA brings on. Lord knows we all hate that.
But, any chest pain is worth taking seriously. Even if it is intermitten, keep track or a log of when you feel it, it's persistance, and duration.
Yes, it could be inflammation in the connective tissue in the rib cage. Not trying to scare you, I offer this as information only, we all need to be informed and aware of medical information availiable to us to live as healthy as possible.
There are some findings that those people with RA are at a higher risk for vascular issues that are cardiac related.
Okay...that is my fussing for today...LOL
Now, on your pain...maybe the doctor can put you on a dose of prednsone, a stronger pain med and a light weight Anti-Inflammatory to stay the pain and inflammation.
Also, as far as your new sweetie, ask her to post here as well. My husband does and it has helped him greatly. Also, when you are researching on RA, do it together. An informed couple is better then an uninformed one.
Don't stress out or get fearful over some things you read out there...all cause of RA are different. The medical journels and articles have to give you their truth, their findings. We are all different.
We are hear to help, to listen, and you will have PLENTY of ears and shoulders to cry on.
Hope that helps some,
Roblyn
[QUOTE=hessalina]The chest pains and arm numbness sound like something else.
Rheumatoid arthritis is systemic but that seems extreme at such an early stage of the disease. What did the ER think caused it?
Has any DR. given you anything for pain/inflammation while you wait until February?[/QUOTE]
i had the heart checked all out. spent the night in the hospital, they ran tests, i went back last week for a stress test.
all is ok with the heart. for now, nothing was present that could be atributed to a heart malfunction.
my pcp has put me on desipramine for now to help manage the pain, untill i get into the rheumy.
thank you all for the warm welcome. i have a feeling you are going to see allot of me here.
i gave Gwen (my fiance) the url, so if she wants to peek in on me or join, well she knows where i am and what i am saying.
i'll just keep counting down the days and hope 2-5-2006 gets here real quick.
Harold
Harold
Hello, sorry you have to be here. The test, I believe was your sed rate. Normal values for sed rate should be under 10 in most labs. Sed rate shows high if there is inflammtion in the body. It doesn't tell from what or where, it just shows generalized inflammation.
I'm sorry it's going to be a wait for you. I had that too and it sucked. But it sounds as though your doctor has a heart with looking into pain management for you. You might want to give your doctor a call and ask about prednisone too.
Welcome!
Hi Harold,
Welcome Harold, I just wanted to jump in and say within 2 months from my very extreme onset, was hospitalized I had to go back to hospital, certain I was having a heart attack. It was the RA. RA works in mysterious ways
Good for you to educate your wife early. I had assumed my husband understood but he quit understanding when it didn't go away
Think positive. I had to put away my ranger uniform after RA but I still hope to put on my hiking boots again someday. I am better and hopefully you will be too.
AGAIN WELCOME. We can always use another male's perspective
PS I just went down your list and I had many yeses for your nos so that may be a good sign for you anyway [QUOTE=roxy]
Welcome Harold, I just wanted to jump in and say within 2 months from my very extreme onset, was hospitalized I had to go back to hospital, certain I was having a heart attack. It was the RA. RA works in mysterious ways
Good for you to educate your wife early. I had assumed my husband understood but he quit understanding when it didn't go away
Think positive. I had to put away my ranger uniform after RA but I still hope to put on my hiking boots again someday. I am better and hopefully you will be too.
AGAIN WELCOME. We can always use another male's perspective
PS I just went down your list and I had many yeses for your nos so that may be a good sign for you anyway
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