I know this is crazy but..... | Arthritis Information

Hi all! This is my first post, I just found this board today, I wish I would have found it 4 years ago! So for my first post Im just gonna break out with a whole box of crazy! So here I go!

I have filed for SSDI, and I have to go see thier doctor on Monday, heres the problem.... I need to make sure I am flared up! soooooo Im asking what makes you guys flare? I can flare for no reason at all, but I have noticed dairy products seem to bring it on too, so I am trying to figure out how bring it on, and I need yalls help.

The last time I went to see thier doctor I wasnt flared at the time I was there, and that very night my knee swelled to the size of a basketball! unprovoked mind you! I ended up getting turned down because I was fine when I was there I want to prevent that this time if I can. I hope this makes sense. ty for any help, Sherry

Dear Sherry, this make no sense to me. If you have the RA (SEDS) inflamation it should show on your blood test! Honestly, I hope your body can tell these people you neeeed help! Good luck. Lynda (I had a flare after eating fresh tomatoes/bell peppers/ and potatos ??? the nightshade family. I also have them when I am stressed, really stressed!Sherry, they don't base their decision solely on their doctor's examination of you. That is only part of the decision making process. They take into consideration age, damage, complications caused by RA, labs, history of the disease, how long you've been treated, history of meds that you've been prescribed and how compliant you were in taking those meds, how well documented your medical records are by your treating doctors and other factors. Is this an appeal process that you're going through? What meds are you on? Lindy

Yeah i know they go by other things too, but I figured if I walked in there looking fine (as I am sometimes) they will judge me on that, ya know? I have had this for 4 years and have been seeing the Rheumatoligist since it started ( well since they figured out what it was). I am on Enbrel,methotrexate, tramadol, hydrocodone, zoloft (for the depression because of the r a) and floic acid.

No this isnt an appeal I had to start all over (but I do have an appeal pending) in the meantime I am trying to win on the first time (good luck to me , i know).

I have read where some people go in and ACT like thier worst day, now how in the world do you act like you are inflamed?? and I suck at acting anyway, I just want it to be a bad day, so they can see its real, ya know?

Sherry46539266.8493055556I don't know what to tell you. When I was examined by the SS doctor I was in full flare, walking with a cane, swollen, no grip, inflammation of most of my joints and had just been diagnosed with PA along with RA and OA. I also have medical complications from RA. They will know it's real when they review your medical records. You wouldn't be on dmards, biologics and Tramadol if it weren't for real. The other diagnosis you have in your favor is depression. You might stress how depression caused by RA has impacted your life. Depression seems to be a large part of the equation when they're making a determination. Lindy.Yes, they have me going to see a psychitrist on Friday. When he/she gets inside my head , they may lock me up, LOL. What Im scared of is last time I was fine and the doc had me squeeze his hand all that , I dont want to fake it, not cause Im so moral, but because I suck at it! And if my hands were swollen then oddly all would be well, or if I was on the walker or cane. I just want it to be real, and my luck dictates fine day of dr's visit, and the next day I cant even get out of bed, you know typical R.A.. I also have OA and fybromyalgia, Im a mess! thanks for your advice and keep me in mind on Monday I will let yall know how it went. I like this board, yall have been very kind! Welcome to the board!!!I am new to this board also. Good luck on Monday.

I know this is going to sound stupid but what is PA?

Also my sed rate was up but they said the rheumatoid test was ok. What does a high sed rate mean? How high or low is everybody?

Again good luck on Monday!
Linda

Hi Sherry...welcome!

Good luck on Monday!

Glad you're here Sherry. Hope all goes well for you.

Welcome.

Welcome to AI Sherry. Although I understand how you're feeling, I have no words of wisdom. In a perfect setting we'd be all jacked up the day we see the ssdi doctor but in the world of RA, it will certainly be the day or two after the fact. The good thing is, you do have the last 4 years of medical records from the professionals not to mention a list of medications...can't fake that. Good luck to you & let us know how it goes.

kbean....sed rate is how they measure pain/activity and it constantly goes up and down depending on the pain/activity that a person is experiencing. Hope that made sense.

Peace & Love...Neasy

Neasy thank you for your reply. Do you know what is extremely high?

Hi Sherry, really hope everything goes well for you though in what mad world do we live where you are hoping for a flare? Not criticising your health system as I know absolutely nothing about it but, well, it does seem a bit bonkers.

kbean- PA is psoriatic arthritis- I've had it for 4 years but hadn't heard of it either until a month ago (new here too!)

wishing everybody a better day

Sam

Samantha Great Name! LOL Thats what I named my daughter! My favorite name of all time! Anyway yes it is crazy, but you know the Social Security System here is a mess! I cant just go in and tell the truth and have it work out. Luckily I do have 4 years of medical records and usually when I see my own doc i am flared so that has to be good right? Never the less I will praying for a flare as nutty as it sounds!

kbean, my dr told me there are sevral diff charts or ways to measure sed rate, depending on the lab you use, my sed rate was 71 and normal was 10-14. you need to ask your doc what is normal, and how you compare.

I was in full body flare the first time I went to see the SS dr. and then a couple of month before I was approved I got sent to another one of their Dr's and I was on Humira then and Humira was doing its job. Not much swelling, not much of anything. I did not have good medical records, because I did not see RD's until I was in my 20's. And to boot, my current RD did not even send in my records to SS. I had old medical records from when I was in teenage remission that were submitted. I did not get approved by my history of medical records, I got approved because I was finally bad enough to be considered disabled. Took me a couple of tries, but I did finally get it.

Good Luck to you!