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...
Thank you all who responded on my "Scared" thread. (((((hugs around!)))))) Anyway, the news is mixed.
1. She can't rule out RA totally, but I definitely have an inflammatory process going on in my foot. She doesn't know RMO (it's quite rare, so hardly any docs know of it) but isn't sure the inflammation is from that because my foot just got inflamed a few months ago, and I've had the RMO for 18 months. So, she ordered blood tests plus x-rays of my foot and ankle, right hip and pelvis to compare to old x-rays. (I think I may have had RMO in my right hip 2007-2009, but never had an MRI for diagnosis, only x-rays). I have limited range of motion in that hip as a result.
2. She is thrilled that I've figured out some nutritional changes that have helped for me - no dairy, no nightshades, no sugar or refined flour, etc., AND she has an RA patient who manages her disease solely with nutrition! The patient has had no flares and no further damage since starting her nutritional program 7 years ago. She follows the the nutrition outlined in a book called "The Plan," so I'm going to order it. She was happy to know that I realize dietary changes take 3-6 months to be effective and reminded me that many RA meds take that long, too.
3. While she isn't sure what I have is RA, she is troubled by the fact that I had a paternal uncle with severe RA and a maternal aunt with both mild to moderate RA and lupus... plus I had another autoimmune disease, dyshidrotic eczema. She was glad to hear I cured that with nutrition and figured out the offender is refined grains. That was sheer serendipity. I was on the South Beach Diet to lose weight and noticed that, after about 5 months, the dyshidrotic eczema had cleared up. When I got to the stage of the diet where you add back grains, the eczema returned, so I've just stayed off them.
Bottom line: I have a rheumy who listens and who is very supportive of nutritional control - if it works for me. She took her time, answered all my questions (and I had a whole page of questions), and was just so pleasant I couldn't have asked for more.
A bit of superstition: Her office is on Lakepoint (street). My Gram used to live on Lakepoint and I talked to her all the way to my appointment (long distance, as she has lived in heaven for the last 24 years) and asked her to sit with me. Just sayin...
Thanks again! This is one special group of people, each and every one of you!
1. She can't rule out RA totally, but I definitely have an inflammatory process going on in my foot. She doesn't know RMO (it's quite rare, so hardly any docs know of it) but isn't sure the inflammation is from that because my foot just got inflamed a few months ago, and I've had the RMO for 18 months. So, she ordered blood tests plus x-rays of my foot and ankle, right hip and pelvis to compare to old x-rays. (I think I may have had RMO in my right hip 2007-2009, but never had an MRI for diagnosis, only x-rays). I have limited range of motion in that hip as a result.
2. She is thrilled that I've figured out some nutritional changes that have helped for me - no dairy, no nightshades, no sugar or refined flour, etc., AND she has an RA patient who manages her disease solely with nutrition! The patient has had no flares and no further damage since starting her nutritional program 7 years ago. She follows the the nutrition outlined in a book called "The Plan," so I'm going to order it. She was happy to know that I realize dietary changes take 3-6 months to be effective and reminded me that many RA meds take that long, too.
3. While she isn't sure what I have is RA, she is troubled by the fact that I had a paternal uncle with severe RA and a maternal aunt with both mild to moderate RA and lupus... plus I had another autoimmune disease, dyshidrotic eczema. She was glad to hear I cured that with nutrition and figured out the offender is refined grains. That was sheer serendipity. I was on the South Beach Diet to lose weight and noticed that, after about 5 months, the dyshidrotic eczema had cleared up. When I got to the stage of the diet where you add back grains, the eczema returned, so I've just stayed off them.
Bottom line: I have a rheumy who listens and who is very supportive of nutritional control - if it works for me. She took her time, answered all my questions (and I had a whole page of questions), and was just so pleasant I couldn't have asked for more.
A bit of superstition: Her office is on Lakepoint (street). My Gram used to live on Lakepoint and I talked to her all the way to my appointment (long distance, as she has lived in heaven for the last 24 years) and asked her to sit with me. Just sayin...
Thanks again! This is one special group of people, each and every one of you!
sherrie
So happy for you.
I loved picturing you driving to the appt. talking to your Gram for comfort. Beautiful.
Hugs!
I am sooo happy to hear some great news........a great rheumy. Having answers does give some peace of mind because you know what you are dealing with and then move forward. Let us know the final results.
Lynne
Glad your (angel) Grandma sat with you.
I also have a great Rheumatologist, a very compassionate and caring man who is also at the knife edge re RA. He is, in his own words, " a worrywart", always checks out anything different and calls me "a rare bird". because I keep coming up with very rare reactions or side effects of meds.
Hugs
Hope you get a firm diagnosis soon. Let us know what you think about the tips in the book. I have tried Nutritional wise along with meds to control RA. I was seeing a nutritionist MD and she tried to assist me in weaning off meds with diet and vitamins. I tried for a year and found maybe it did help some, but not able to stop meds or the pain. I do leave certain items out of my diet know to trigger inflammation, but I am not as strict as I was before when I was seeing the Nutional doctor. Good luck to you and keep us posted Lynne.
A rheumy that well versed in nutritional therapies is a rare one indeed! I had to 'teach' my young rhuemy about patients who prefer conservative treatments... since I was his first experience with one. Three years later he's now become reasonably versed in the studies. Always thanked me for sticking to my guns and showing him that name brand Minocin can put a very severe case back into mild/tolerable state. Now I've been his case study in food allergy treatment for RA. Wonder how often he uses my example to other patients inquiring about conservative treatments?
But I'm so glad you've found a good rheumy to keep record of your success!
Who is the author of the book "The Plan"?
Have a feeling your grandma was right there with you.
So good to hear when a friend finds a dr they like & trust.
Really happy for you.
Sammy