Been A While, Need Advice - Florida | Arthritis Information

It has been a while since I have posted about my daughter Katie who is a Type I diabetic and diagnosed with JRA last year. We finally made our move from Maryland to Florida (South) the beginning of April. I thought this would be really good for Katie because she had enough issues with diabetes and only being 15, now she is 16, and when she finally got diagnosed (had knee pain since little girl) last year it seemed like something was always bothering her. Thought the cold was bad for her but now I am starting to wonder.

She has been in pain here just about everyday now and I do not mean minor pain, I mean pain that makes her cry and she does not do this. Her knees are swelling up and she constantly feels sick. The other night I found her in her room crying and she said that she could not walk so we helped her out to the other room with us and gave her motrin 800 mg. The next morning she said she felt better. She does not like the heating pad because she says it makes her swell up more. Today she was complaining about her knees and ankles which is a first and they are swolling. Does Florida have anything to do with this or was she just doomed to get worse? Did not know if it could be weather related?

Also, I tested positive for lyme from Maryland and even though she tested negative twice I am going to have her tested again Friday because she has a lot of the same symptoms.

Any advice would be appreicated.

Thanks

Welcome back Tammy. I'm glad you guys are moved and settled. I doubt very seriously that the weather has too much to do with your daughters condition. Have you found a new RD in Florida yet?

Good to see you here. How are you doing with the lyme disease?

No, I have been searching but not found one. We are like an hour and a half but any major areas. Her local doctor is an OD (Treats everything) which helps but she has never been this bad. I feel so bad for her. If it is not her diabetes then it is the JRA but always something.

I am doing ok with the lyme thing. I need a specialist myself because it is pretty bad and I was treated back in Novemeber for it but apparently not enough. There is only one lyme literate doctor in the whole state of Florida and he has a 6 month wait so I called someone that was referred to me from my old area (maryland) and he had a wait also but after hearing all my symptoms and all he scheduled me for the 11th of June so we are heading north. He will put me on meds and the I will follow up with local doctor for follow ups. Sounds like I may need IV antibiotics at this point.

The weather effecting a person is COMPLETELY individual. I can't stand cold weather, I thrive here in Florida. But Liz can't STAND heat, and does better living up in WI.

That lyme thing really makes me suspicious.......I hope the testing goes well(?) *hugs*
Hi, How awful for you. It is such a worry not knowing what the heck is bothering our children. I hope you can get some help quickly. These doctors have resources and can talk to each other. Let him/her KNOW the pain she is in. Sarah

I've heard that lyme disease can be mistaken for RA. I would also be suspicious.

I live in Florida and for me at least, I don't think it effects my RA. I do HATE the heat though. In fact, I can hardly tolerate it anymore but I think it has more to do with menopause than anything else. I seem to be hot all the time. I'm leaving for Oregon in a month and I'm counting the days. At least when it's hot there it cools off at night.

Tammy, did your daughter have a rheumatologist in Maryland? Maybe you could call her old rheumatologist and get him to prescribe something for her until you get a doctor in Florida. It doesn't seem that Motrin is going to stop damage. Good luck.

You've moved to a very humid climate, with a very active barometer. I lived a good many years in Florida and the US Virgin Islands and didn't know how much the weather affected my joints until I moved to the relatively dry midwest. My ring size immediately went down two sizes after the move! A lot of the other swelling I had also disappeared. Coincidence? I don't think so.

I'm sorry that your daughter is suffering. Please be sure to get her to a good rheumy.

Thanks to everyone for the quick responses. It always helps hearing from others.

I am going to call her old rheumy today. He was a very nice helpful man who always took the time with her.

When I see my specialist on the 11th I am also going to bring up her symptoms and issues and see what he says about the possibility of lyme.

I was wondering about how the weather constantly changes. I know it does to some point in Maryland also but it seems to level out. She was not in this much pain ever before.

[QUOTE=IslandWoman]

I'm sorry that your daughter is suffering. Please be sure to get her to a good rheumy.

I am majorly affected by the humidity too. Once the humid summer starts I can feel it. I actually feel better during the winter when it is drier. My son keeps telling me we should move to the desert because of my RA. Any chance my waist size will go down 2 sizes if I do? LOL