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...
I know some of you hav had RA affect your organs I'm just wondering how you found out about it. It doesn't seem like the drs typically look for these probs. did you hav symptoms that led to further looking? I also find that even when I have had symptoms lets say heart. It's attributed to other things like palpitations they think its because in anemi. And hav low potasium but no one has looked further into heart prob. I do hav high BP Of course I guess labs show kidneys and liver
Wishing you a pain free day with lots of warm sunshine
Peace
Bluedogs2
However, even though that all sounds incredibly complicated, it all started with the bloodwork! Even the heart issues - they can tell a lot through certain labs (which was a real surprise to me).
The "good" news, per se, is they were not actively looking for any of the above - the blood labs came back wonky in each case, leading to further investigation.
Ultimate irony: the cause of all of the above? My RA - which the blood work did NOT reveal until AFTER all the rest. How weird is that?! Now that I have the RA dx, they watch all the rest on a regular basis.
Like Bluedogs2 said - I'm sorry you are going through the worries - and though blood labs aren't always so helpful with autoimmune disorders, I've found them to be pretty on the spot with the other problems.
I hope this has helped a bit.
Gentle hugs...
Got one of those just this morning - good grief !
Peace and Smiles
Bluedogs2
Please update us!
My heart went into afib because of all the fluid around it. Well they couldn't find a reason a young gal would have pericarditis other than my RA so they said my RA caused it. Now my eye (yes just one) has retinopathy. They will NOT believe me that it's the RA causing it (even though it's a form of inflammation) but no, they say that's due to my diabetes.
Since I'm already on "aggressive" treatment for both my RA and diabetes, it's not like we can do much more in that realm to fix it. I guess it really doesn't matter what they attribute it to because in my cases the treatments wouldn't be any different even if they decided to say hoop-dingalings or wickwacks caused it.
good luck on all that is taking place with you .. hope they listen and help you .
i have a enlarged heat something i didnt have before RA had heart test a few weeks back so i guess it all a domino affect .. lucky us .
good luck on all that is taking place with you .. hope they listen and you .
i have a enlarged heart something i didnt have before RA had heart test a few weeks back so i guess it all a domino affect .. lucky us .
These are words that need careful preservation and considerable thought as to exactly how to use them in conversation with "DOCTORS" -
Just Really GREAT words
Peace
Bluedogs2
good luck to you.
scarlett, thats too much you went thru. god bless you.
However, I am almost equally certain that if they ever label me with wickwacks my brother will certainly die of laughter as he has known for a long time I am wacked, just not wickwacked!
At any rate does seem for me it's something goes awry and then it's test, tests, and more tests (until I run out of blood or a hit the unknown billing amount quota they needed to reach for the month) till they figure out what it is for me.
So keep digging until your comfortable with the diagnosis and treatment or until you have a hole comfy enough to your liking for the other option in case they can't figure it out in time!
Sometimes I wonder if I slipped them a five with my urine sample jar if I'd get a diagnosis sooner.....