sorry confoosed ..very sorry ...man !! thats not rite that you have to wait maybe start out with baby steps on excersicing ..and take good care ..hope you are ok in the mean time .
Tami

I wonder what her definition of "exercising" is. I'm a huge proponent of exercise, and I think everyone ought to get as much as is possible. The thing is, for some people around here, hauling themselves from bed to bathroom or out to the mailbox is as strenuous as it's going to get. If she's encouraging you to do as much as you can, that's one thing. If she's talking about bench presses and the Stairmaster, she's flat out batshit crazy.

She's "concerned" but wants to wait 6 more months? What's that going to accomplish? Is she sending you for labs or imaging? Was your first rheumy nuts, too?

Are you in an urban area with lots of choices, or are you having to drive two hours to see these people? Do you have a good PCP?

Sorry for all the questions and no answers. We can tell the difference between "aches and pains" and something being really wrong. We believe you.

Thanks Tami and Alto.

I am in a very urban area, so my options are almost limitless. My PCP is a wonderful man, but he wanted an expert to do something. I will call him tomorrow.

She means EXERCISE, baby. I used to run and cycle long distances - she means THAT.

Yes, my first rheumy was nuts too.

I have had the panel of tests. All negative/ normal except for one positive ANA. My plain xrays were... Yawn...

It's not enough. She wants to see swelling. I have some swelling! I call it puffiness. But it still isn't enough. In seven months I have gone from bilateral foot pain to include, all bilateral, ankle, hips, knees, thumbs, and wrists.

I've been crying on and off since 3:00.

Oh boy ...i'd cry too i think...way to confusing ..and also no doubt a helpless feeling ....i sure hope SOMEONE helps you soon ...and you should feel good that you ran and biked long distance ....goodluck to you .
Tami

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with docs. I also had my primary care doc recommend this guy who is basically incompetent, so look around further if you can.

RASally ..i must say if i lived by you and i was in a jam i sure would want you in my corner ..you are a great at getting a person moitivated ... you have a book of knowledege wich is priceles....i must say thank you for always sharing it ...
Tami

Was that the extent of the visit. I was have been super super upset. Oh my goodness. What about something for the pain?

Confoosed I am livid on your behalf. I would be despondent and inconsolable in your shoes - actually, wait - I've been in those shoes, and it hurts like hell to be told the basic equivalent of "you're fine. watch and wait" - when you KNOW you are falling apart.

All I can add is my support and to let you know you are not alone - and to tell you to listen to RASally's advice - she is SO on-the-spot with this kind of thing - her advice is worth more than gold, and has gotten me through a mess more than once.

Hugs to you, confoosed, for having to endure this BULL. I'm so sorry. Don't give up, please. We are all behind you.

RA Sally to the rescue!!! You have an e tire forum at your back missy, give em hell. Sometime we forget WE are the customers in the patient doctor scenario, we should feel satisfied and we do have other choices. Gosh I feel so badly for you, are they at least providing you with something for pain relief. Again my he goes out to you. Trish

HEH, you guys sure do know how to make a gal mist up. Thanks to everyone for your kind words of support - and extra dose of anger. It helps to know - in a weird way - that others have been through this exact same thing. Bless our little souls.

RASally, as the kids say, you're The Bomb. I will call my PCP later today.

My visit was the typical interview/physical exam/verdict thing.

Yep, I tried everything to at least get the rheumy to do SOMETHING and only ended up crying in frustration.

Pain control: she flat out refused to give me steroids. She changed my diclofenac to "prescription strength" naproxen. I am devouring Ultram like tictacs. (Staying within the limits, of course.)

Have you tried prednisone? If not, that would be a quick and conservative diagnostic tool. Your PCP might be willing to help you with that while you look for a new rheumy. Be careful with the naproxen. that stuff tore my stomach to shreds.

Both my girls are hyper mobile. Big time to the point they can make the arm dangle like its broke, scared a few coaches over the yrs.
No way, they both ache, not to the degree I do.
Yes see if your PCP can help you thru this 6 month period.
My goodness just awful. My heart goes out to you.
Perhaps a journal/diary over this period may help. Take it with you
To what ever doctors you are seeking help from.
Some find it very helpful, any good doctor should.
Grasping for anything that may help you get some help.
The very best of luck.
Sammy

You and your PCP can do a lot without a rheum doc at this point. I'd like to say this too - the first line of treatment with RA often involves methotrexate. All the dmards for RA can have bad side effects. Methotrexate takes months to build up to work enough to notice and it can hurt your liver. (I had to go off it and spent 6 months with a GI doctor til my liver was better - couldn't take anything because of the elevated enzymes)

One thing you can try with your primary doc is to get a round of prednisone. Like 3 weeks worth. Take it and see if it greatly improves your status. If it does, then autoimmune disease is probably your culprit. At least then, you will have more to go on.

I took prednisone for shingles in '07. It was euphoric! I'd had strange bouts of RA "flares", but this cured everything, man!
When I add how great it helped to the 6 years (YES 6 YEARS) of symmetrical symptoms, I was sure I had RA.

Another test your PC doc can give you is anti-ccp. Although many people will be sero negative, this test is one that might catch the proof you need. If it's negative too, well, then sero negative it is.

Good luck!

my point to the methotrexate and other dmards is that xrays/mri and a prednisone "test" can come before swallowing "side effect city" pills. :)

Alto,

I have had prednisone three times in 7 months and it has been an overnight miracle drug for me each time. This rheumy said it "is not indicated."

Sammy,

Thank you for your input especially about your daughters. I had two pages of notes, condensed from a diary of sorts. I also had two pages of diagrams with details about exactly where I hurt. I did not convince her. I really feel like I held nothing back..

To add to my anger I have my PCP and a friend who is a NP WITH RA telling me I have arthritis that is serological,