Re: Finally a diagnosis ... now what?

[Guest guest]

My doc gave me

> scripts for predisone and another drug called Ebrian or something

> like that. How important is it to have a rheumatologist if she can

> just give me the medicines?

>

> in St. Louis

,

In my view, it is essential to have a rheumatologist if you have RA.

The treatment of the disease is very complex. The symptoms and the meds

both need to be carefully monitored. There are new meds available that

many GPs may not be familiar with. But definitely choose somebody you

like!

Sierra

[Guest guest]

My doc gave me

> scripts for predisone and another drug called Ebrian or something

> like that. How important is it to have a rheumatologist if she can

> just give me the medicines?

>

> in St. Louis

,

In my view, it is essential to have a rheumatologist if you have RA.

The treatment of the disease is very complex. The symptoms and the meds

both need to be carefully monitored. There are new meds available that

many GPs may not be familiar with. But definitely choose somebody you

like!

Sierra

[Guest guest]

> Hello,

> I have only posted once before asking about inflamation after knee

> replacements. Saturday my primary care doctor called to say that

the

> progression of deterioration in my x-rays compared to 6 months ago

> is " dramatic " in my knees, shoulders and wrists and that since I

have

> high inflamation " markers " in three different blood tests, she

feels

> I have RA even though my RH factor stays at around 12 which is

> considered negative.

> I don't understand how I can have it but not have it show up in my

> bloodwork. For the last two years she said I had fybromyalgia. She

> wasn't going to even repeat any blood work or x-rays, but I went

in

> for pain when she was on vacation and the other doc in her

practice

> ordered it all repeated.

> It's funny because I really thought if I finally knew what was

wrong

> it would make a big difference and I could cope better. The

> fibromyalgia never seemed to truely fit in my mind. So now I

know ...

> I guess if I could have RA without having a higher RH factor.

> My doc says I need to find a rheumatologist.She offered me two

> choices, but I am hesitant to go with either because the 3 docs

she

> has referred me to before (neurologist, orthopedist and

> psychologist ... because she thought it was all stress related)

were

> all really cold and condesending. After reading about so many

people

> here having bad doctors I hate to even try a new one. My doc gave

me

> scripts for predisone and another drug called Ebrian or something

> like that. How important is it to have a rheumatologist if she can

> just give me the medicines?

>

> in St. Louis

,

I have had some very bad experience with doctors and I have also had

some great ones. I have seen alot of people avoid medical treatment

that really was important because of 1 or 2 bad experiences. It's

not easy when you don't feel good but it is important. I always try

to keep in mind that " the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak " .

And you never know, you may find a wonderful doctor that can help

improve your life and compliment your doctor.

Roxanna

[Guest guest]

> Hello,

> I have only posted once before asking about inflamation after knee

> replacements. Saturday my primary care doctor called to say that

the

> progression of deterioration in my x-rays compared to 6 months ago

> is " dramatic " in my knees, shoulders and wrists and that since I

have

> high inflamation " markers " in three different blood tests, she

feels

> I have RA even though my RH factor stays at around 12 which is

> considered negative.

> I don't understand how I can have it but not have it show up in my

> bloodwork. For the last two years she said I had fybromyalgia. She

> wasn't going to even repeat any blood work or x-rays, but I went

in

> for pain when she was on vacation and the other doc in her

practice

> ordered it all repeated.

> It's funny because I really thought if I finally knew what was

wrong

> it would make a big difference and I could cope better. The

> fibromyalgia never seemed to truely fit in my mind. So now I

know ...

> I guess if I could have RA without having a higher RH factor.

> My doc says I need to find a rheumatologist.She offered me two

> choices, but I am hesitant to go with either because the 3 docs

she

> has referred me to before (neurologist, orthopedist and

> psychologist ... because she thought it was all stress related)

were

> all really cold and condesending. After reading about so many

people

> here having bad doctors I hate to even try a new one. My doc gave

me

> scripts for predisone and another drug called Ebrian or something

> like that. How important is it to have a rheumatologist if she can

> just give me the medicines?

>

> in St. Louis

,

I have had some very bad experience with doctors and I have also had

some great ones. I have seen alot of people avoid medical treatment

that really was important because of 1 or 2 bad experiences. It's

not easy when you don't feel good but it is important. I always try

to keep in mind that " the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak " .

And you never know, you may find a wonderful doctor that can help

improve your life and compliment your doctor.

Roxanna

[Guest guest]

,

I would HIGHLY advise you to see a rheumatologist. I'm quite stumped

that you haven't been sent before this.

To have damage severe enough to require joint replacements and not be

referred to a specialist is quite surprising.

If your primary is basing your diagnosis on the RH factor, she needs to

go back to school and learn about RA.

I'm sero negative and have been for close to 30 years. Up to 20% of

people with RA have a negative rheumatoid factor. There are NO blood

tests that can confirm a diagnosis of RA.

Blood tests in conjunction with other symptoms such as bone erosion are

most likely to get a diagnosis of RA.

Early treatment of RA can help slow down the bone erosion. It's quite

possible that you have secondary FM. Many people with RA also have FM.

It may have been a blessing that your regular primary wasn't there and

your blood tests were repeated. I have to warn you about starting the

prednisone. It has some serious side effects, and is difficult to get

off of if you're on it long term. Many doctors will give it to provide

immediate relief while waiting for RA meds to start working, since some

take several weeks. But your doctor didn't give you RA meds, she only

gave you something to help the inflammation. Prednisone won't treat

the RA. It's important to start treating the RA if that is what you

have.

I understand your feelings on doctors. I've been to several

rheumatologists, all with different personalities. Since moving to a

new state, I had to search for a new rheumy. My first was a dunce, but

my second one is an absolute doll. He is kind, gentle, very informed,

and appreciates that I'm informed. Please try to find a rheumatologist

ASAP.

This link will help you understand the blood tests in rheumatology.

http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/Lab%20Tests.html

a

On Jul 10, 2005, at 8:46 PM, kuehnlej wrote:

> Hello,

> I have only posted once before asking about inflamation after knee

> replacements. Saturday my primary care doctor called to say that the

> progression of deterioration in my x-rays compared to 6 months ago

> is " dramatic " in my knees, shoulders and wrists and that since I have

> high inflamation " markers " in three different blood tests, she feels

> I have RA even though my RH factor stays at around 12 which is

> considered negative.

> I don't understand how I can have it but not have it show up in my

> bloodwork. For the last two years she said I had fybromyalgia. She

> wasn't going to even repeat any blood work or x-rays, but I went in

> for pain when she was on vacation and the other doc in her practice

> ordered it all repeated.

> It's funny because I really thought if I finally knew what was wrong

> it would make a big difference and I could cope better. The

> fibromyalgia never seemed to truely fit in my mind. So now I know ...

> I guess if I could have RA without having a higher RH factor.

> My doc says I need to find a rheumatologist.She offered me two

> choices, but I am hesitant to go with either because the 3 docs she

> has referred me to before (neurologist, orthopedist and

> psychologist ... because she thought it was all stress related)were

> all really cold and condesending. After reading about so many people

> here having bad doctors I hate to even try a new one. My doc gave me

> scripts for predisone and another drug called Ebrian or something

> like that. How important is it to have a rheumatologist if she can

> just give me the medicines?

>

>   in St. Louis

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I would HIGHLY advise you to see a rheumatologist. I'm quite stumped

that you haven't been sent before this.

To have damage severe enough to require joint replacements and not be

referred to a specialist is quite surprising.

If your primary is basing your diagnosis on the RH factor, she needs to

go back to school and learn about RA.

I'm sero negative and have been for close to 30 years. Up to 20% of

people with RA have a negative rheumatoid factor. There are NO blood

tests that can confirm a diagnosis of RA.

Blood tests in conjunction with other symptoms such as bone erosion are

most likely to get a diagnosis of RA.

Early treatment of RA can help slow down the bone erosion. It's quite

possible that you have secondary FM. Many people with RA also have FM.

It may have been a blessing that your regular primary wasn't there and

your blood tests were repeated. I have to warn you about starting the

prednisone. It has some serious side effects, and is difficult to get

off of if you're on it long term. Many doctors will give it to provide

immediate relief while waiting for RA meds to start working, since some

take several weeks. But your doctor didn't give you RA meds, she only

gave you something to help the inflammation. Prednisone won't treat

the RA. It's important to start treating the RA if that is what you

have.

I understand your feelings on doctors. I've been to several

rheumatologists, all with different personalities. Since moving to a

new state, I had to search for a new rheumy. My first was a dunce, but

my second one is an absolute doll. He is kind, gentle, very informed,

and appreciates that I'm informed. Please try to find a rheumatologist

ASAP.

This link will help you understand the blood tests in rheumatology.

http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/Lab%20Tests.html

a

On Jul 10, 2005, at 8:46 PM, kuehnlej wrote:

> Hello,

> I have only posted once before asking about inflamation after knee

> replacements. Saturday my primary care doctor called to say that the

> progression of deterioration in my x-rays compared to 6 months ago

> is " dramatic " in my knees, shoulders and wrists and that since I have

> high inflamation " markers " in three different blood tests, she feels

> I have RA even though my RH factor stays at around 12 which is

> considered negative.

> I don't understand how I can have it but not have it show up in my

> bloodwork. For the last two years she said I had fybromyalgia. She

> wasn't going to even repeat any blood work or x-rays, but I went in

> for pain when she was on vacation and the other doc in her practice

> ordered it all repeated.

> It's funny because I really thought if I finally knew what was wrong

> it would make a big difference and I could cope better. The

> fibromyalgia never seemed to truely fit in my mind. So now I know ...

> I guess if I could have RA without having a higher RH factor.

> My doc says I need to find a rheumatologist.She offered me two

> choices, but I am hesitant to go with either because the 3 docs she

> has referred me to before (neurologist, orthopedist and

> psychologist ... because she thought it was all stress related)were

> all really cold and condesending. After reading about so many people

> here having bad doctors I hate to even try a new one. My doc gave me

> scripts for predisone and another drug called Ebrian or something

> like that. How important is it to have a rheumatologist if she can

> just give me the medicines?

>

>   in St. Louis

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I would find a good rheumatologist to help you. Some doctors are just

not qualified. We all feel the same way, we hate seeing new doctors,

but I think it's necessary at this point for you.

Just my thought,

Tawny

> Hello,

> I have only posted once before asking about inflamation after knee

> replacements. Saturday my primary care doctor called to say that

the

> progression of deterioration in my x-rays compared to 6 months ago

> is " dramatic " in my knees, shoulders and wrists and that since I

have

> high inflamation " markers " in three different blood tests, she

feels

> I have RA even though my RH factor stays at around 12 which is

> considered negative.

> I don't understand how I can have it but not have it show up in my

> bloodwork. For the last two years she said I had fybromyalgia. She

> wasn't going to even repeat any blood work or x-rays, but I went in

> for pain when she was on vacation and the other doc in her practice

> ordered it all repeated.

> It's funny because I really thought if I finally knew what was

wrong

> it would make a big difference and I could cope better. The

> fibromyalgia never seemed to truely fit in my mind. So now I

know ...

> I guess if I could have RA without having a higher RH factor.

> My doc says I need to find a rheumatologist.She offered me two

> choices, but I am hesitant to go with either because the 3 docs she

> has referred me to before (neurologist, orthopedist and

> psychologist ... because she thought it was all stress related)were

> all really cold and condesending. After reading about so many

people

> here having bad doctors I hate to even try a new one. My doc gave

me

> scripts for predisone and another drug called Ebrian or something

> like that. How important is it to have a rheumatologist if she can

> just give me the medicines?

>

> in St. Louis

[Guest guest]

,

I would find a good rheumatologist to help you. Some doctors are just

not qualified. We all feel the same way, we hate seeing new doctors,

but I think it's necessary at this point for you.

Just my thought,

Tawny

> Hello,

> I have only posted once before asking about inflamation after knee

> replacements. Saturday my primary care doctor called to say that

the

> progression of deterioration in my x-rays compared to 6 months ago

> is " dramatic " in my knees, shoulders and wrists and that since I

have

> high inflamation " markers " in three different blood tests, she

feels

> I have RA even though my RH factor stays at around 12 which is

> considered negative.

> I don't understand how I can have it but not have it show up in my

> bloodwork. For the last two years she said I had fybromyalgia. She

> wasn't going to even repeat any blood work or x-rays, but I went in

> for pain when she was on vacation and the other doc in her practice

> ordered it all repeated.

> It's funny because I really thought if I finally knew what was

wrong

> it would make a big difference and I could cope better. The

> fibromyalgia never seemed to truely fit in my mind. So now I

know ...

> I guess if I could have RA without having a higher RH factor.

> My doc says I need to find a rheumatologist.She offered me two

> choices, but I am hesitant to go with either because the 3 docs she

> has referred me to before (neurologist, orthopedist and

> psychologist ... because she thought it was all stress related)were

> all really cold and condesending. After reading about so many

people

> here having bad doctors I hate to even try a new one. My doc gave

me

> scripts for predisone and another drug called Ebrian or something

> like that. How important is it to have a rheumatologist if she can

> just give me the medicines?

>

> in St. Louis