Re: TANYA - Help for New Member

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

WELCOME to our elite little group<warm smile>

Pretty scary stuff you've been going through, we do understand<caring hug>

I can also understand your concern about not having a proper diagnosis

, but try not to worry about it as it is really only a label for a set

of symptoms. Having taken charge yourself is the best thing you can do and

it now becomes a matter of searching out all the possibilities.

I'm assuming Babs has directed you to our web site and that you have read

all the info, Dr Scammells book is a good one to read if you haven't

already done so.

I was very interested in your comment that Prednisone did nothing for you,

do you mind my asking what dose and for how long?

Inflammation can occur almost anywhere when soft tissue is involved and that

applies to the lungs as well. Inflammation occurs in the pleura which is the

membrane surrounding the lung and it can be very painful (plueritis). Do

you get a sharp stabbing pain when you breath in?

Sleep can be a problem for anyone with a chromic illness that brings with it

pain, sorry your'e affected by it<caring hug> It makes the days so much

longer and harder to cope with doesn't it? There are lots of natural things

to try that could help with this, have you tried anything at all?

Is your redness in the face over the upper cheeks and nose? The obvious

thing one thinks of is Lupus (as your doctor did) but then there can be

other reasons too and somehow yours doesn't sound quite like a Lupus rash.

Please bear in mind that I'm no doctor so all this is just my personal

opinion!

I too have a very red face (similar to what you describe) from time to time

for no apparent reason (I do have Lupus) and it's no fun! Thank goodness for

makeup, not so easy for any male who might get this problem to cover up

without drawing attention to himself. Though come to think of it anything

goes these days doesn't it, what's a little makeup on a fella matter, I mean

to say dahlink??!!! <big grin>

Before my fingers become uncontrolable (yet again!) I'll finish by wishing

you all the best in your quest for an answer.<warm smile>. Make sure you

investigate everything you possibly can, ever thought of going to a

naturopath and having hormomes and such like checked out as well?

Do stay in touch and let us know how you get on with the test results.

all the best,

hugs,

lisbeth

>Thanks for the information. I am on Vioxx and tylenol for arthritis right

>now. My previous doctors had me on prednisone a while back but i got no

>relief from it. Friday was my first diagnosis and before he starts me on

any

>other meds he wants to wait until xrays of my chest, knees and feet come

>back. He also did some type of liver blood test. I go back in a week from

>tommorrow to find out what meds and what else is exactly wrong with me. I

>have had breathing difficulties for quite some time and it doesnt seem to

be

>asthma or anything like that as they originally thought. I have been sick

for

>over 2 years with fever, breathing difficulties, swelling, achiness all

over.

>About 6 months ago i began to get the morning stiffness that lasted about a

>hour and then about two months ago i began to get the pain and aches in my

>joints really bad. Almost to the point of not being able to walk. I have

>difficulty typing at this moment. It really affects my knees, hips, elbows

>and fingers and occasionally my feet. Honestly it seems to be spreading

>everywhere. I have been going to doctors for the past two years and they

all

>seemed to want to blame it on a viral or bacterial infection that was hard

to

>clear up and i knew it had to be more. I just wasnt getting better. I

finally

>had watched a Good Morning America show about Lupus and i asked my doctor

if

>he thought i had it-he looked at me like i was crazy but went ahead and

>tested me. I thought i had Lupus because my face also breaks out in a red

>rash really bad. The tests came back-the ANA test for Lupus was negative

but

>the RF test came back as positive for the rheumatoid factor. It wasnt until

>then that my doctor actually tried to help me...It took this long...I hear

of

>so many even having it to take longer and that is a shame.

>

>I really have questions about if you or anyone you know who has RA if they

>ever have lung or breathing problems and if you or anyone has had any

>problems filing for long term disability with their work or for Social

>Security Disability. I am on short term right now and will have to do both.

I

>tried working three different times during my illness and i just got so

worn

>out and could not keep going. Also, I was afraid of losing my job if i kept

>coming to work sick or missing days of work so i knew i was better to be on

>short term disability where i can still have my benefits but get the rest

my

>body needs. Also, have you heard of anybody having their face turn red

with

>a flare up? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again for the links

>etc...and for responding.

>

>