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...

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FieryPrincess 09/10/2010

I have a dr's appointment on Monday.

This is a follow-up for hip xarys and some bloodwork taken a few weeks ago. In that last week/ten days I have felt so bad. It was good that it was a long weekend since I needed the extra day off to recuperate.

I come home and I usuallly just go to bed. Tonight was a victory because I made dinner too.

I want my dr to refer me to a rheumatologist. I want something other than tylenol, tramadol or mobic. I strongly suspect this is RA even though I tested sero-negative and was told that my sed rate was very slightly elevated.

I just don't know any cute attention-getting phrases to get anyone to listen to me.

wrenchead 09/12/2010

It may not be RA, I say this because of an article I ran across not long ago. My rhuemy like's the term " undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis " which I found odd at first, until I read that article. There are over 100 different forms of inflammatory arthritis. Holy crap me says. The bottom line short story is that they are very similar and treated basically the same. After all, whats in a name right, as long as your being treated, the beast is held at bay and you can function the best you can on any given day. :)

deleted_user 09/12/2010

My best advice would be to write down your symptoms so tha you don't forget anything you wanted to say. Wrenchead is correct about all these nasty arthitrises being treated basically the same way.

Just an FYI before going to see the doctor. I have NEVER had a very high sed rate, even durin terrible flares and my doctor only uses that marker as one of many when we discuss treatments.

Be adamant that you want relief and if you have the time do some research on the web to see what alternatives you would like to discuss with the doc.

General practioners are great docotrs, but rhuematologists know the questions to ask that piece together the puzzle of your problem. Hope you get that recommendation and feel better soon. marcia

FieryPrincess 09/12/2010

Thanks for the tips.

I just want something to happen. When I say the GP, she prescribed tylenol. And of course, it is ineffective. It has been ineffective for me even for headaches my whole life.

Tylenol (shakes head in disbelief). There are days when I can't take one step without being in pain. If I sit for more than 20 minutes, I walk like an octogenarian for a minute before becoming fully upright again. Tylenol. Ha!

thinksRAstinks 09/12/2010

Why is your doctor so reluctant to give you the referral? What can it hurt? I would insist. Best of luck to you.

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