Help for New Member

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Hi Group: I've received e-mails from a new member who needs help. If anyone

can give additional feedback and support, I know she'd appreciate it

very much. Thanks so much.

Babs

Hi Babs

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.

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