Waiting on the bloodwork...probably OA, not RA

[Guest guest]

Hi!

I went for a very long appointment including knee xrays and bloodwork.

The doctor wants me to lose weight and exercise more. He says that it

does not look and feel like RA, but it is probably OA, but he is

running some lab tests to make sure. He seemed to think I was in

pretty good shape and he did not want to change my meds. He was nice,

but I kind of feel like nothing has changed. He recommended swimming

for me, so we will see. Right now, I do some walking, but my knees have

been hurting.

I am back trying to lose weight and it is amazing how well eating less

works. I basically have cut out the junk, cookies, candy and ice cream

and I am eating more fruits and vegetables. Thanks for asking how I

was doing. Penny

[Guest guest]

Hi Penny,

I'm glad your doc appointment went ok. Try to get a copy of your lab

tests. You can go on www.labtestsonline.org to find out more about

your tests. I was diagnosed with RA four years ago. I knew nothing

about the disease, now I sometimes tell my doctor what's going on, and

what meds work for me:) I'm glad you don't have RA, its a very

painful disease. The OA is very painful too. Are you on any meds? I

know how hard it is to lose weight when your in pain, and can't

exercise, water exerice is very good. A lot of the YMCA's have

classes, check it out. Just take one day at a time, and you'll get

there. Take care, and hugs, Tawny

[Guest guest]

Hi Penny,

I know you were welcoming a new dx, an answer to the increased pain, very

understandable. But praise God it wasn't RA. That is a horrible disease, one you

really don't want. Now, I have OA as well and it's bad, but not as bad as RA.

I'm glad he is running more tests instead of just relying on his clinical

knowledge. At least you'll know for sure.

Swimming is very good if you can be that active. I use to do water aerobics with

the older folks at the YMCA. It was too much for me to get there, dress, workout

and change to get back home. It would have been more workable if I could have

done it with more ease. Sometimes the preparations of something is more taxing

then the actual activity. At least that is what I find to be the case for me.

Most days for me, taking a shower is all I can handle. Forget anything else. And

of course I don't shower every day cause I don't need to. Every couple of days

is about all I can handle and that's if I am not in too much pain. I don't

understand it, I take all this pain medicine and still have pain. Makes no sense

what so ever to me. I see PM doc next month, we are to discuss this.

Do you have a local YMCA close to you? Or anywhere that has an indoor pool. You

have to be careful too, if the pool is used for lap swimmers too, which they

usually are, they have a conflict with the water temps. The lappers want the

water to be cooler, and us with these chronic pain issues can't tolerate the

cooler temps, we need the water warmer, esp those of us with OA, RA, and FMS.

The cooler temps just make us stiff. I think this is part of why I had such a

hard time, the water was pretty cool. Anyway, it would be nice if you could find

a place that does PT for RA patients and get in there. That's one way the RA dx

would come in handy as if you had it, you could readily go to one of those

places and your ins would pay for it too. Check around, see what you can find.

Yes, portion control does a lot for wt loss. Even if you don't give up your

sweets, everything in moderation! A bite won't hurt anyone, but you can't go

beyond a bite with that kind of stuff and if you have that kind of wheel power,

then you have no problem. lol

Good luck to you on your weight loss and swimming.

Hugs,

Tommie

Waiting on the bloodwork...probably OA, not RA

Hi!

I went for a very long appointment including knee xrays and bloodwork.

The doctor wants me to lose weight and exercise more. He says that it

does not look and feel like RA, but it is probably OA, but he is

running some lab tests to make sure. He seemed to think I was in

pretty good shape and he did not want to change my meds. He was nice,

but I kind of feel like nothing has changed. He recommended swimming

for me, so we will see. Right now, I do some walking, but my knees have

been hurting.

I am back trying to lose weight and it is amazing how well eating less

works. I basically have cut out the junk, cookies, candy and ice cream

and I am eating more fruits and vegetables. Thanks for asking how I

was doing. Penny

.