Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
There already may be a discussion on here about this but there is a lot to look through. I have been c/o my symptoms since age 35 or so. Was originally told I had fibromyalgia but did not see a Rheumatologist until about 6 years ago. Have seen him off and only and with increasing symptoms in the last 18 months have seen him back more frequently. All blood tests are normal except for high CRP. He even sent me to another rheumatologist for a 2nd opinion who could not come up with a definitive diagnosis but recommended he keep a close eye on me.
Was started on Sulfasalazine 3 months ago which did not help whatsoever and had followup this week, luckily on a day that I felt probably the worst ever, the pain, fatigue, weakness etc. He has finally listed seronegative rheumatoid arthritis as the diagnosis for documentation purposes and to justify the methotrexate that I was started on with a plan to increase in 8 week increments until I respond and if not, will go to a biologic.
I am a nurse and stubborn and my usual MO is to do things way past what I should be doing so this is very hard to accept and especially the reactions you can get from others when your blood tests do not PROVE you have the disease. I just hope it's not too late to stop the destruction. Have already had three neck surgeries, knee surgery and foot surgery.
Was started on Sulfasalazine 3 months ago which did not help whatsoever and had followup this week, luckily on a day that I felt probably the worst ever, the pain, fatigue, weakness etc. He has finally listed seronegative rheumatoid arthritis as the diagnosis for documentation purposes and to justify the methotrexate that I was started on with a plan to increase in 8 week increments until I respond and if not, will go to a biologic.
I am a nurse and stubborn and my usual MO is to do things way past what I should be doing so this is very hard to accept and especially the reactions you can get from others when your blood tests do not PROVE you have the disease. I just hope it's not too late to stop the destruction. Have already had three neck surgeries, knee surgery and foot surgery.
It was hard for each and every one of us to accept, I promise you are not alone in that! We all had the stages of grief and denial, at least most did including me.
It's not too late to stop continual destruction. You can stop it today. You may need an Mri to confirm any damage prior however. If you can eventually afford it and get a doc to agree, get an Mri of the worst joint.Destruction and a definitive diagnosis can occur from this Mri. X rays are useless unless you have received massive bone loss from years and years of destruction.
We got a person with 20 years seronegative here on this board. Then, voila, positive. Don't worry about proving it to persons (hey, I still struggle with it....being negative 7 months in), but worry about RELIEF and HEALING from pain and destruction.
You are welcomed here!
Jane
Wow! 20 years? That has got to be some kind of record. I went through the whole "you have fibromyalgia" gig as well. I finally reached a point where I was absolutely positive that the Rheumy was incorrect with his diagnosis.
So, I saw another Rheumatologist who picked up on the auto-immune aspect. I've got some GI problems and the Sulfasalazine really calmed down this part of the disease.
You will find that you have a lot of fellow nurses on this site, myself included.
I'm sorry you had to find this website but want you to know that you are welcome here!!
Regards,
TheWino
There's to many to claim blood work a lone should be the determine factor.
Sometimes the medical community stuns me.
They can be like our government & simply not agree on important
Matters.
Why is that?
Proof is right before their eyes.
Patients like you & so many others.
Blood work should be part of determining not the one & only factor.
Sammy