Rheumatoid Arthritis Community

Hi, it was good that you went to get blood work without anything on your stomach, or, NPO (nothing by mouth). You get much better results that way. Make sure you ask your PCP/rheumatologist as soon as possible about possibly being seronegative. Like I said, from what I have read or been told by my rheumy, it is really common to test negative, but still have the RA.
You would think that having chronic pain would cause you to become adjusted to it as far as your blood pressure goes. But, on the two days when I was checked in my 2 docs office (PCP and gyn), I was in really severe pain. I just don't think your body gets use to that.
On a lighter note, my gyn started me on a topical estrogen when I saw her on 5/3/11. I stopped the oral estrogen that same day, and, Praise the Lord, I have not had a hot flash since Tuesday!!! I hope that continues FOREVER!!!
Thank you for your response and encouragement. It really means a lot just to talk to someone who understands what you are going through.
Keep me informed.

Lila

Just to let you know that I haven't left you hanging and I'm still waiting for the results. I called today to see if there were any things we can at least rule out. So I'm waiting for a phone call and I have an appointment with pain management in about an hour and 15 minutes.

Hi Lila,

Sorry about your pain but glad that your hot flashes have stopped. (I have them too)

Here is some interesting information about menopause and RA.

Thanks for your update!

Lainey

Hi,
Hope that you get your results today.
Let me know how the pain mangement appointment works out for you - I am very interested.
Best wishes

Yes, thank goodness, for the last few days, the hot flashes have been better, although not completely resolved. But, any type of relief is a blessing.
And, (I crossing my fingers here), it seems as though the RA symptoms have been somewhat better this week!!! Oh, I hope so. I have not had nearly as much pain and stiffness for the last 4 or 5 days. I don't want to get too excited, but I am keeping my fingers crossed.
On even a better note, my husband's bone scan and lumbar MRI "only" showed degenerative changes. Praise the Lord!!!
I am so very thankful for that. Just that makes me better. Now, if we can just find out what is wrong with him and get him some relief, that would be wonderful.

I was told yesterday that all of my lab results were within normal limits except my allergy test results revealed that I'm allergic to just about everything, which I already knew, and that I'm not allergic to peanuts or milk, and all indicators for RA were negative. My glucose levels were slightly elevated though which did cause some confusion and my thyroid hormone levels were miraculously back to normal. So we are back to having no idea what's going on or what the next step will be. I believe I'm going to call my doctor in a few minutes and ask what the next step will be.

Hi Jdhnay,

Please let us know what your doctor says.

Soft hugs,

Lainey

Hi Isrs,

I am glad you are having some good days!
Have you tried any home remedies for the hot flashes?
Here's some information if you are interested: Menopause Natural Remedies

What is going on with your husband?

I'm glad that your test results were normal. However, I know you must be just that much more frustrated, not knowing just what is wrong.
I agree, you should definitely call your doctor to find out what the next step should be.
I am crossing my fingers and hope that you get some answers, and relief of the symptoms, soon.
Keep me updated.

Will do. Still hurting, but at least the pain is dying down some in the day to day pain. It's bearable. Right side is hurting all of the time. Not swelling as much right now. Have no idea why. Unfortunately it has progressed to muscle weakness in both arms and pain whenever I raise either arm up to use them. So the shoulders aren't very happy. I have another doctor's appointment at the beginning of June as to what the next step should be.

Update: Went to the doctor today since they moved my appointment around, and they think I may have Fibromyalgia. So I'm being referred to a Rheumatologist finally and for physical therapy. So we'll see what else is going on with me. I may finally have a diagnosis. Or I may be on the track towards a diagnosis. If that's what I have, I have to see a rhematologist anyway for treatment. They upped my antidepressant and they are sending me to a counselor for health and food to try to get me to lose weight. I told them losing weight wouldn't be an issue if I could stay out of pain long enough to actually exercise for a long and consistent period of time. So the first step is to try the water aerobics class, continue yoga, and try getting back on my bicycle.

Fibromyalia....I'm so sorry. I have had it 21 years. It's a different kind of pain than RA. It is constant and wears you down physically and emotionally. I have developed coping mechanisms through the years to deal with the pain and debilitating fatigue. Other than the times I am 'flaring', I can control to some extent, the pain with sleep. You need at least 4 hours of deep cycle uninterrupted sleep a night. I find that taking pain pills at bedtime is NOT the answer. They keep you from getting into that deep cycle sleep so you are in and out all night long. Pain pills are for daytime, not night.

Beware of choosing a doctor based on their credentials alone. Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis that many doctors do not take seriously. I moved to San Antonio five years ago and it took four of those years to find my Rheumy who specializes in Fibromyalgia, Lupus, and RA. She also has RA herself so we talk the same language!. My cardiologist found her for me.

Let me know how you are doing and what the rheumy says. Good luck.

Sherrie

Just tried to respond to you, but my computer suddenly went haywire, and I'm not sure what happened to the original message. If you get two responses, please forgive!!!
Sorry, but I'm not even sure if I responded to your latest post!! I was in the hospital for 5 days for an intestinal obstruction!!! Not much fun, but, hopefully, I'm on my way back to my old self!!!! However, I'm confused; is my old self good or BAD!!!
I know you want to know just what is wrong with you, a definite diagnoses. However, I do hope that you don't have fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed with that in 2000; it has not been much fun. I saw a rheumy right away and he was great. It took about 2-3 years to come up with the right meds to control the disease, but finally, I was able to control the symptoms as long as I took the medications he prescribed. Then, last August, I had a terrible flare. I saw my rheumy about once a week for about 8 weeks; nothing he prescribed helped at all. In fact, he told me that he had decided to focus his practice on RA, and not see fibromyalgia patients any more, as RA was "a much more debilitating disease". I understood that part. However, he also told me that he didn't know what meds he could prescribe for me that wouldn't interfere with other meds I was already on; he told me to talk to my other MD's, to talk to a pharmacist, and to find someone else to treat me!!! That, I did not understand. Then, about 2 weeks later, another of my MD's told me that the rheumy had just been in her office giving an inservice on fibromyalgia and encouraged her to refer all of her patients with fibromyalgia to him for treatment!!!! That really upset me. Therefore, when it was suspected that I had RA, I chose another rheumy to diagnose and treat the RA. I'm glad I did. My new rheumy is great.
Make sure you find a good rheumy to diagnose and treat the fibromyalgia. Finding the right combination of meds really makes a difference. Also, find someone that takes time with you and answers all of your questions.
Hope you find help soon.
Keep me updated.

Ya think it's time to find another doc? Granted, fibro patients are not easy to be around. Some of us never get the message that we have to learn to deal with this ourselves. You take the meds and control what you can by pacing yourself and getting enough sleep. In addition to that, learn to live with pain that is mainly at a 5 (1-10 range). The pain and fatigue may be debilitating, however, there is no structural deteriation. When I was diagnosed with RA, my rheumy told me that now my main diagnosis was RA and my secondary was fibro. She was right.

Sherrie

I am 35 years old. I have been diagnosed with Hypothyroid with Hoshimotos Disease. Still not sure exactly what that is. Your symptoms were exactly what I was going through when I had HYPER thyroid about 3 years ago. I was getting severe hot flashes, increased heartrate and appetite, anxiety, sleeplessness, watering eyes. These are Hyperthyroid symptoms. You need to see an endocronologist. Now I feel like I have RA. I am having severe problems with my hands and legs. I cant walk, drive my jeep, type, or anything. I was told I didnt have arthritis but Fibromyalsia. I dont have this. They just pushed me out the door still in pain. Now I have to find another doctor and spend another 200 bucks just for a visit and bloodwork. I wish they knew what they were talking about.