Flares can be slow onset or immediate onset. They can last for months/years and sometimes only for hours. They can even move around during the flare.

Most rheumies have a lot of blood drawn for a battery of tests. The rheumy may even order xrays of swollen joints to check disease progression. The tests you already have had may or may not be what the rhuemy needs. So be prepared either way.

Glad your hubby is joining you. You are very lucky to have a supportive spouse.

Sorry you have to join us, but glad that you are here.

I wish you luck at your appt. It's great that you are taking someone with you. That's smart. I thought I was really prepared also but two things I had not remembered to do were to document during the day the severity of each symptom as the day went on. She (my rheumie) was interested in this. The other thing that would've been nice is to research my family history. I had not really heard about anyone in my family with RA but it turns out after my appt I contacted all of my cousins and found out just how many of my aunts on my moms side had autoimmune disorders.

I remember before my first appt I was starting to feel crazy because I was noticing more and more areas that were painful such as who knew we had so many little joints and bones on the tops of our feet and such?? I went to my PCP in tears a week before my first rheumie appt and she put me on Prednisone and said i wasnt crazy that people with RA always tell her they hurt in places where they never knew could hurt. So please don't let the fact that you are more aware of these pains surprise you.

I wish you good luck at your appt and a very happy new year,.

Nervous is certainly allowed when treading into new areas we are not familiar with-very glad to hear your husband will be tagging along with you.
Happy new year

Best of luck to you on the 2nd. I was terrified of the meds at first but this group made me feel so much better about approaching them and being confident.

The nsaids need to be taken consistently so that it stays in your system in order to keep inflammation down... hopefully preventing a flare. It's not quite like having a headache now and then and taking something to remedy it. But this is my opinion / experience and plz check with your doctor before you take my advice.
You will do great...
And just know that all of us have been down the same road and we are here for you...xo Sun

It's good that your husband is going to your Rheumy appointment with you. Mine came to several appointments with me and it helped him to realise what RA entailed. Another pair of ears is always good, especially at your first appointment.
If you have questions you want answered write them down so you don't forget to ask. Make sure you get them answered in language you can understand. I also have found it helpful to jot down the doctor's responses. Just keep in mind that RA is a very individual disease and what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for someone else.
Good luck with your appointment and hope 2014 is a healing year for you..

hey lisa

welcome
welcome
welcome

we are glad you are here.

i think it is awesome that you are bringing another set of ears. :) I hope the rheumie is thorough and compassionate and that you get some scripts written for diagnostic tests. i started with MRI"s of my wrists (not fun but black and white conclusive).

go out to eat after with hubbie then let us know what happened

peace
Ros

RA can increase VERY rapidly. I backpacked over an 11,000 foot pass in the Grand Tetons in July. Over 4 days, we hiked 38 miles with a lot of elevation gain. Three weeks later I could not take a short walk around the block without swelling in my right knee -- that continued for two months -- and within another week or so I could not squeeze the shampoo bottle to wash my hair.

Good luck on the appointment.

I wanted to thank you all for your well wishes, advice, & what to expect. You are all wonderful! I'll update tomorrow. Headed to bed. Hope I can sleep.....

Welcome to the site. Good luck at your appt. tomorrow.
I wanted to add that my feet were examined thoroughly
by the doctor. If I had known this I would have painted my toe nails, did a pumice stone smoothing round up, and aired out my feet which had been jammed in too tight sneakers on a hot day for hours prior!! It was really embarrassing! Definitely not my proudest hygiene moment!! I know this sounds superficial but it isn't--you don't want to be caught off guard and get flustered or embarrassed when you need
to be able to listen/take in important information!! Best wishes!