Being fairly new to this disease, mainly in diagnosis, blood work results are foreign to me and when I say foreign I mean I'm not sure what I'm looking at. I've had so much blood work done my veins have scars on them. I do use a patient portal for everything related to my doctors visits and appointments, she sees them as well as I do, she just blows off my concerns when I bring something up, almost like she thinks I'm a hypochondriac.

I'm trying to educate myself as much as I can about this disease so I feel informed and have a meaningful discussion with her when I go for a doctors visit. I sometimes feel as though she doesnt like I ask questions and seem to have a good understanding on this disease and I always ask lots of questions. Some doctors like being the kind that tell you what you feel rather than you telling them how you feel. I just feel I know my body better than anyone since I live with it. My hope is I don't have to go through a myriad of rheumies before i find a good one like you guys have

I was diagnosed with RA, in March of 2017. And the fatigue is so REAL! First my hands were just killing me, now it's my, hips. thighs, legs, and OMG, my feet. I'm currently taken, Methotrexate 50 ml. 8units, every week, and Plaquenil, 200 ml. twice a day. It is so painful to walk, and I work in the hospital in recovery. I just want some relief.

@AngelinaCedillo I completely understand how you feel, I really do! My ankles hurt me almost everyday, my fingers and hips, both knees, I, like you want some relief too. I used to take MTX 2.5mg 8 pills weekly, now I'm on Humira and inject-able, and honestly I feel worse, the change has gotten worse not better

I can't believe a rheumatologist said that! When you get your RA under control, you will have so much less fatigue. I remember being exhausted all day long in the early years, when I wasn't treated properly. When I finally got on injectable mthx and a biologic, and my whole life changed. Not just the flares and pain, but being able to sleep only 8 hours and not walking up exhausted.

I wonder if Orencia is failing? I have been exhausted for a few weeks, but not sick at all!

@Marlene J, I spoke to my rheumie again yesterday and she said it again that fatigue is not part of the disease. So, I'm pretty sure I need a new rheumie, for sure!

@linzsey Absolutely! I'm making an appointment for a new rheumie for a second opinion, but I wanted it documented that she said fatigue is not part of RA. I went ahead and did my scheduled injection today of Humira and I'm hoping for the best. I will keep you guys posted

I was just thinking about lab results. How are my results always "good" when my pain is at a five or better? What are they testing for? Last time I went to the Dr. (just over a month ago), he prescribed a second med and honestly, the side effects scare me so much I haven't started taking it. Having a flare right now, wondering if I'll be able to take a shower today. Do we have the right to refuse medications that are prescribed or will we just be labeled 'unwilling to follow treatment plan'?

You will likely be labeled noncompliant. If you end up needing disability, you could be denied for not pursuing proper treatment. That is a fine line to walk. It would be best to discuss your concerns with your doctor and see if you could find another alternative. If your doctor is a 'my way or the highway' type person, you may be better off with a different doctor.

Update: Saw my primary doctor on Monday, and he was ok with me switching rheumies, so now I have a new appointment on 7/12, all my records sent including ER visits from the past 3 years. @Kimhurts, you mentioned disability. I just recently applied earlier this month because my pain/flares becomes unbearable. I also have asthma. I have never applied before, how does it all work?

@Bluegal. Disability is a nightmare. I hired an attorney because I was in my early 30s when I applied and had multiple issues that alone may not have qualified, but in conjunction, were incapacitating. The wording in everything is so important. Once it is on the form, the Social Security Administration fixates on it. Attorneys know which words to use and not to use. To us those words are synonymous, but to Disability, they are very different. I was initially denied, then lost my appeal, even with an attorney. My case was set for a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. My attorney filed for Summary Judgment with the Judge because she couldn't believe I didn't get approved. He approved it and I didn't have to go to court. All of this has to be done within a certain time frame or your disability benefits expire and you have to requalify.

I was stressed for 4 years during all of this. I am told the older you are, the easier it is to be approved. I had a desk job and a college degree which also made it harder to get approved. I just went through a Disability review to make sure that I am still deserving of benefits. I don't see how people fake this stuff unless the doctor is in on it too. I have all kinds of documentation and they check to make sure that I am following typical medical protocols for treatment. In fact, that was a point they considered for the approval process. You lose the ability to make decisions freely when the government gets involved, but I couldn't work. I had no other choice.

@Kimhurts I just applied earlier this month for the first time using an attorney. I applied due to the RA and my asthma. I'm 55 years old and divorced 3 years. No alimony from my ex as it was a case of domestic violence and getting away was more important. When I filed for divorce my n-ex knew I had no income and tried dragging it out. I gave up and let him file on me in another county and let him win by default, I didnt care, I just wanted away from him. Recently found out he had a stroke and heart attack last year, almost died and had to learn to walk again, he's 4 years younger than I. I dont no if he's still working but I did find out through the attorney I could collect SS on his income and he doesnt have to be made aware of that, but only when I reach 62. I have to apply for SSI for now

Bluegal62.. so glad you were able to talk with your dr and you are getting a new dr. I haven't applied for disability. .. been scared they will tell me no. I sit in front of a computer all day and at the end of the my fingers hurt so bad.. I suffer from migraines but again I don't think it will be enough... I will try to hold on as long as I can. So glad you are getting a new dr... keep in touch. :)

@SoTired84, I'm glad too! He was really understanding and he really saw I was in pain and wanting relief. Don't be afraid to apply for SSDI or SSI especially if you need it. Look online and find an attorney who represents people applying for it. Like @Kimhurts says, starting the process with an attorney is much better since they do this all the time, and if your RA is debilitating, your medical records will show it. Doing it through an attorney wont cost you anything and if you get awarded back pay, they take their fee out of that. But dont delay, go for it!

Fatigue, tell me about it! The weird thing for me is I couldn’t pinpoint the way I felt as fatigue. I began to feel this must be normal for me, that I was just getting lazy. I sort of thought if I wasn’t struggling with a complete flare up that nothing else should be bothering me. Along with R/A I also have hypothyroidism, I’d heard fatigue was also associated with it. After an adjustment to my thyroid meds I began to feel a bit better after a month or so. Fatigue is real.

@Robin-Mc thank you for validating that for me Robin. I'm glad my primary could see what my rheumie couldnt see, and hopefully with a new rheumie, I will began to see better results. I thought it was just me too, I would drink tons of coffee to help but it didnt. I knew what I felt but just couldnt believe the rheumie I had made me feel like I was just imagining it