Re: Need advice...etc. Christy

[Guest guest]

Hi Christy:

It sure sounds like RA, and you can have a negative RA

factor and still have the disease. Since this rheumy

is new, he most likely wants to have lab work done

again so that he can base his treatment program on

more current labs. They all seem to like their own

tests, and not just rely on other labs.

The bone scan will help with seeing if there are any

erosions from RA, although I had x-rays for this. I

have been dx with RA for almost 7 years and my x-rays

show very little bony changes, and I credit this to

early aggressive treatment of my RA. If it is RA, you

certainly need to be on something more than just

Naprosyn, and the treatment needs to be aggressive

from the first. You need to be on a DMARD like

Methotrexate or Plaquenil.

Glad that you stopped lurking. This is truly a

wonderful group of people who give unconditional

support to each and every one of us. See if you can

get an earlier appointment with your rheumy since you

are having so much trouble with your hands and

fingers. That you are noticing bony changes by just

looking at your hands is something that you need to

take seriously, and get treatment for. You need to be

proactive, you are your best friend, and this is your

body, your health, and your life. Let us know how

everything turns out -

Kathe in CA

--- skyhawk7593 <audcarmom@...> wrote:

> Thank you for this list. I've been lurking and you

> folks seem to be

> a caring bunch with some knowledge.

>

> I hope not to bore, but I need to pick your brains.

>

>

> Last April I was on a 2 hour drive when I noticed

> that I had

> stiffness and pain in my fingers, toes, wrists, and

> ankles. Upon

> further inspection my fingers looked swollen around

> my knuckles. I

> went to my primary doc. and he did blood tests and

> when the results

> came in he said they were negative and that I

> probably had a virus.

> The swelling and stiffness went away and I felt

> badly for people

> with RA, but I thought my ordeal was over.

>

> A bit over a month ago I noticed the swelling,

> stiffness, and pain

> in my fingers and toes again. I am a teacher and

> noticed my fingers

> looked gnarled and strange on the overhead projector

> and I started

> having difficulty leafing through a stack of papers,

> holding on to

> small objects, and writing with small pens. My

> knuckles and fingers

> seem to be shifting and getting bumps on the sides

> overnight. So, I

> made an appointment with a rheumatologist.

>

> I got in on Dec. 8 and was feeling relieved that I

> might learn what

> was going on. I went to his office and he did an

> exam. He wasn't

> the most personable guy. He wrote a lot and didn't

> say much. He

> prescribed naprosyn 2x a day at 375 mg and ordered

> several blood

> tests and a whole body bone scan.

>

> I started taking the med. and the swelling is worse

> if anything. He

> seemed to be worried about me missing school and

> scheduled my follow-

> up for MLK day on Jan. 16th. I thought this was a

> long time, but

> who am I to know?

>

> The bone scan is on Dec. 19 and I've already had the

> blood tests.

> Does this sound typical?

>

> Christy in Ohio

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

Kathe in CA

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