Hi - I am new

[Guest guest]

Hi all, I just signed up for this group yesterday. I have been having

these bouts of the " flu " where I am incredibly ill, NO energy and can

barely move, entire body aches and I can't close my hands. Everything

except my chin aches, my feet hurt, I have chills then sweats. The

first day of these bouts, I can't get out of bed to go to the doctor.

Last week I went to the doc the second day of the illness and he did

blood tests and found ANA and elevated white cells. I went in for

another test yesterday and he was to get back to me today.

Instead, one of his associates called me and said the white cells were

normal so I'd just been fighting something off. The other times I

went to this clinic, I was told the same thing although this is the

first time they ran an ANA. I am sick of being told I just had the

flu. I am an otherwise healthy 41 year old woman who eats decently

and walks/runs frequently.

I asked him about the ANA titer the first doctor told me he'd run and

the guy I was speaking to said he know nothing about that, but I had

obviously just been fighting off something bacterial.

I got pretty upset because I've been getting these bouts with the

" flu " every so often and I get knocked on my butt for 3-5 days, and

he's telling me it's nothing??? The conversation ended with him

saying the first doctor would call me back.

I have friends with Lupus and arthritis who suspect I have RA. My

hands are now a little stiff after this last bout last week. I can no

longer squeeze ketchup out with one hand, I can't use a candle lighter

with one hand - but can use two hands together to squeeze.

Please, I'll take any input I can get. If this doctor - a family

practioner - fails to help me, where do I begin? Do I find another

general practioner who will refer me out or do I just go see a

specialist? What kind of specialist handles this kind of thing?

I am not scared, I know there are medications and lifestyle

adjustments I can make to live with what I may have. However, I would

like to start treatment asap. I suspect the " flu " bouts have been

going on for a year, and are actually flare-ups, they've been getting

more frequent as time went on. I've had three such bouts with the

" flu " since May. I might add I do not throw up but my stomach becomes

mildly upset.

Thanks in advance, and sorry this is so long. I want to take control

of my healthcare because who else will?

Elmblad

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