RA appt update *sigh*

[Guest guest]

For all those who tell me their stories, thank you so very much. I

don't come here often bc it's just too much for me right now. I'm at

a bad point right now regarding this and after my appt, it just

worse. Read on.

She said that even though I have EVERY symptom of RA, I don't have

it. She said I have fibromyalgia. I looked that up. According to the

symptom list, I don't have it. I have almost none of the Fibro

symptoms but every one of the RA. She won't Dx RA bc my RA factor

isn't positive and bc there is no damage in my joints. You're not

supposed to wait until you see damage and RA factor doesn't have to

be positive to have it. She also said I don't have Lupus but I do

have a slightly overactive thyroid. She told me that the Fibro

doesn't respond to anti-inflammatories but does respond to pain meds

meant for " blunt pain. " She didn't give me a Rx for pain meds but

gave me samples of anti-depressants " which don't work for that use

until you take 40mg " but the pills are 10mg and she told me to take

1/2 for 2 wks, then 1 whole one for 2 wks, and give her a call.

Well, I've been taking Aleve again, and lo and behold, the

inflammation goes away but the pain doesn't. So, I took an Ultram

(someone on here takes them so I tried it) and found out I'm allergic

to them. So, I also have some left over Demerol and I've been taking

that for the pain. B/t the Aleve and the Dems, I'm good mostly. But

I don't even know if you can take these two things together but

nothing else works so here I am.

I took 1/2 of the anti-depressant. The next day, I was so tired I

could barely function. I had all the gastrointestinal side effects

listed. I didn't care about anything. Prozac (which I took years

ago for a few wks for post-partum) did the same thing to me. I can't

function on anti-depressants.

So, that's where I am right now. Same place I was before I wasted

all my time and money on that stupid female doctor. I'm feeling

really lost right now and I feel like I've been failed somehow. I

will wait for my friend to see what she has to say. If not, I'm

going back to my PCP bc he gets it. Didn't I say I don't like female

doctors? Yep, I did. This is why.

Thanks for thinking of me. Hugs.

Jen