Just wondering how many people on here still have no definitive diagnosis (still waiting).
Seems to me that arthritis is full of frustrations. First you are restricted in what you can do. Then you have the frustration of waiting for a diagnosis (I'm convinced my doctor is waiting for leg to drop off before he tells me I have only one leg-sorry bad metaphor). Listening to you guys it seems an added frustration is waiting to get all the meds right. Aaaagh!
Just thought it would be helpful for all of those of us without the confirmed diagnosis to hear from others. You are not alone. It seems a lot of people on here who have been diagnosed had to fight tooth and nail too.
And also, I would like to thank everyone on the board.....you are all great. If I feel really down, I just log in here and it makes me feel better.
Niki
hi Niki,
I am a recent joiner to this group and already I have learned much. Add my name to the list of people who went for several years without a firm diagnosis. It took about six years before I really knew, but luckily I had a doctor who treated my symptoms long before the tag "RA" was applied. I think it helped prevent joint damage as I have no erosions at all. Just joint space narrowing. When it comes down to it, you don't really care for the label so much as you need the pain/joint damage addressed so that you can live your life to the fullest extent possible.
My 1st doctor told me that the diagnosis picture comes together eventually. He was right...hang in there! Glad we can all help one another.
Hang in there Niki. I was one of the lucky ones who saw an RD who did not believe in delaying a diagnosis just because the blood work was negative. I did however have other obvious criteria.
Don't give up though...and like Molly said; it's the treatment that is most important anyway. If the RD you are seeing now is not treating your symptoms I'd suggest a second opinion right away. One of our biggest fears, if not our biggest is joint damage caused by lack of treatment early one. A lot of the damage is caused early on. Some doctors recognize this....and some do not for some reason.
Best of luck to you.
Lovie