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...
So I'm not the actual patient here, but my wife is.
She started feeling pain in both hands, and sometimes her feet about 2 weeks ago. She felt like her hands flaring up a bit. They look visibly swollen. It would go away at times during the day and come back. Her hands also could be a little stiff in the morning. This is the first time it's happened to her. She's 25. We've been married for more than 4 years now and she's been through surgery already (Open Gallbladder removal) and even caught Jaundice before that. Her pregnancy last year was a mess at times. Very nauseous and even ended up hospitalized at 14 weeks.
It's been a tough couple of years for us. She went to the doctor last week. The doctor mentioned she could possibly have RA. They did blood work, and will check back with us in 2 weeks. Me and my wife could not wait. After reading some stuff online, we feel really scared about the situation. We setup an appointment with a Rheumatologist for today. I haven't been able to eat or sleep well since the doctor visit last week. I feel like I can't do anything to help her. The pain she has at night is too much. She's taking Naproxen to help but it isn't doing much at all...
So basically, I don't have anyone to tell me everything will be OK. I found this place and figured some people could help here.
She started feeling pain in both hands, and sometimes her feet about 2 weeks ago. She felt like her hands flaring up a bit. They look visibly swollen. It would go away at times during the day and come back. Her hands also could be a little stiff in the morning. This is the first time it's happened to her. She's 25. We've been married for more than 4 years now and she's been through surgery already (Open Gallbladder removal) and even caught Jaundice before that. Her pregnancy last year was a mess at times. Very nauseous and even ended up hospitalized at 14 weeks.
It's been a tough couple of years for us. She went to the doctor last week. The doctor mentioned she could possibly have RA. They did blood work, and will check back with us in 2 weeks. Me and my wife could not wait. After reading some stuff online, we feel really scared about the situation. We setup an appointment with a Rheumatologist for today. I haven't been able to eat or sleep well since the doctor visit last week. I feel like I can't do anything to help her. The pain she has at night is too much. She's taking Naproxen to help but it isn't doing much at all...
So basically, I don't have anyone to tell me everything will be OK. I found this place and figured some people could help here.
I hope that your wife continues to do well. Proceed, but be mindful of what you have read here.
Symptoms aren't happening as often. Stiffness isn't happening everyday. Very few flares. Inflammation appears to be gone visibly.
We have been to 2 Rheumys and 1 Med Doctor:
Med Doctor: Bloodwork says negative. "You don't have RA, but let's see how you feel in a few weeks".
1st Rheumy: Blood work says negative on RA Factors. Blood work does show inflammation. Doctor said "You don't have RA, but clearly some type of Arthritus." He told my wife to give it a few weeks and see if symptoms go away if not he would discuss medication. Also, my wife's liver blood work shows elevated enzymes(she has been diagnosed with a fatty liver a year ago). X-rays showed no type of erosions in her hands.
2nd Rheumy: Performed her own bloodwork(no results yet). She mentioned that symptoms are clearly of RA and that 40% of her patients bloodwork appears to be negative. She sent my wife to get a new diagnoses on her liver and to come back in 4 weeks to see how's she is doing and to possibly discuss medication if symptoms are still there.
We're stressing this out a little too much. I'm worried, she's worried. The first 2 doctors made us feel better and the last put us back in the same place we started.