Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Anne, How long have you been taking Plaquenil? It can take up to six months to do it's stuff, so I wouldn't stop that one until you've given it a fair trial. Also, most meds in this category are long term in showing benefits, so it takes a while to get an idea of what good, if any, they are doing. I would persist in asking for help from a Rheumatologist, and if they can't help you get more comfortable, then ask to see an internist for a second opinion. Don't give up, honey. We have all found that we have to be our own best advocates in this battle. Never let a doctor blow you off just because they can't come up with an easy answer. We're here to help. So don't worry about whining. What kind of cheese would you like with that? LOL Hugs, MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Anne, How long have you been taking Plaquenil? It can take up to six months to do it's stuff, so I wouldn't stop that one until you've given it a fair trial. Also, most meds in this category are long term in showing benefits, so it takes a while to get an idea of what good, if any, they are doing. I would persist in asking for help from a Rheumatologist, and if they can't help you get more comfortable, then ask to see an internist for a second opinion. Don't give up, honey. We have all found that we have to be our own best advocates in this battle. Never let a doctor blow you off just because they can't come up with an easy answer. We're here to help. So don't worry about whining. What kind of cheese would you like with that? LOL Hugs, MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Anne, How long have you been taking Plaquenil? It can take up to six months to do it's stuff, so I wouldn't stop that one until you've given it a fair trial. Also, most meds in this category are long term in showing benefits, so it takes a while to get an idea of what good, if any, they are doing. I would persist in asking for help from a Rheumatologist, and if they can't help you get more comfortable, then ask to see an internist for a second opinion. Don't give up, honey. We have all found that we have to be our own best advocates in this battle. Never let a doctor blow you off just because they can't come up with an easy answer. We're here to help. So don't worry about whining. What kind of cheese would you like with that? LOL Hugs, MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Hi Anne, Go right ahead and rant and whine! I just gone done doing the same thing earlier. I'm so glad we have this group to express our frustrations and get it all out. I think it is so strange how things work with this disease. When I went in to my doctor I was just going for a physical. I had some symptoms that I thought just had to do with being over weight and getting older so I didn't think much of them when I told them to the doctor. The next thing I know she's doing a bunch of blood work and telling me I have Lupus. I would rather not have had such depressing news yet I know I needed to know and was the type who would have ignored it until something serious happened. Then there are those of you who know something is wrong and want to know the facts and try to get them and nothing comes up. It is just the strangest thing but I guess nothing about Lupus makes much sense does it. I sure hope you get some straight answers soon! Hugs Carol In LUPIES , " britlit1964 " wrote: > Get ready for a rant and whine session!!! > > I just spent another 3 hours at the doctor and am no farther along in > grappling with this than before I went in. My ANA, CR-P and SED rate > are normal and there is nothing in the bloodwork that indicates > inflammation, yet my knees, hips, ankles and hands are mega-duty > swollen and I have rheumatoid nodules on my elbows! A few weeks ago, > the CR-P was very high; now it's totally normal. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Hi Anne, Go right ahead and rant and whine! I just gone done doing the same thing earlier. I'm so glad we have this group to express our frustrations and get it all out. I think it is so strange how things work with this disease. When I went in to my doctor I was just going for a physical. I had some symptoms that I thought just had to do with being over weight and getting older so I didn't think much of them when I told them to the doctor. The next thing I know she's doing a bunch of blood work and telling me I have Lupus. I would rather not have had such depressing news yet I know I needed to know and was the type who would have ignored it until something serious happened. Then there are those of you who know something is wrong and want to know the facts and try to get them and nothing comes up. It is just the strangest thing but I guess nothing about Lupus makes much sense does it. I sure hope you get some straight answers soon! Hugs Carol In LUPIES , " britlit1964 " wrote: > Get ready for a rant and whine session!!! > > I just spent another 3 hours at the doctor and am no farther along in > grappling with this than before I went in. My ANA, CR-P and SED rate > are normal and there is nothing in the bloodwork that indicates > inflammation, yet my knees, hips, ankles and hands are mega-duty > swollen and I have rheumatoid nodules on my elbows! A few weeks ago, > the CR-P was very high; now it's totally normal. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Hi Anne, Go right ahead and rant and whine! I just gone done doing the same thing earlier. I'm so glad we have this group to express our frustrations and get it all out. I think it is so strange how things work with this disease. When I went in to my doctor I was just going for a physical. I had some symptoms that I thought just had to do with being over weight and getting older so I didn't think much of them when I told them to the doctor. The next thing I know she's doing a bunch of blood work and telling me I have Lupus. I would rather not have had such depressing news yet I know I needed to know and was the type who would have ignored it until something serious happened. Then there are those of you who know something is wrong and want to know the facts and try to get them and nothing comes up. It is just the strangest thing but I guess nothing about Lupus makes much sense does it. I sure hope you get some straight answers soon! Hugs Carol In LUPIES , " britlit1964 " wrote: > Get ready for a rant and whine session!!! > > I just spent another 3 hours at the doctor and am no farther along in > grappling with this than before I went in. My ANA, CR-P and SED rate > are normal and there is nothing in the bloodwork that indicates > inflammation, yet my knees, hips, ankles and hands are mega-duty > swollen and I have rheumatoid nodules on my elbows! A few weeks ago, > the CR-P was very high; now it's totally normal. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Thanks for understanding, Carol! My ankles and hips are just throbbing tonight, so I'm miserable. Plus, I had my methotrexate shot today so I have nausea and diarrhea to look forward to for the next few days. LOL, but after the appointment, I went to my favorite Chinese buffet and totally pigged out! I figured that the nausea will hit tomorrow anyway, so I might as well enjoy my food today! I'm so glad that you were diagnosed quickly, since it was in the cards that you'd have this disease. My bloodwork results have been all over the place, which makes it hard to pinpoint and treat. RA is obvious, but there are other things going on that aren't so obvious. I sure wish we could figure those out! Thank God for silly little bulldog puppies who love to cuddle! -Anne > > Get ready for a rant and whine session!!! > > > > I just spent another 3 hours at the doctor and am no farther along > in > > grappling with this than before I went in. My ANA, CR-P and SED > rate > > are normal and there is nothing in the bloodwork that indicates > > inflammation, yet my knees, hips, ankles and hands are mega-duty > > swollen and I have rheumatoid nodules on my elbows! A few weeks > ago, > > the CR-P was very high; now it's totally normal. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 Hi a, I didn't get the number. I was looking at the computer reports with the doctor but, Good God, there were SO MANY test results that it was hard to remember. The one that really caught my eye was the SSDNA (it was the DNA part that drew my attention!). The maximum normal limit was 90 and mine was 135. I'm going to England next month, though, and I asked the doctor's office if I can get a copy of my complete file to take with me in case I get sick over there. They thought that was a great idea and said they'll have everything copied for me on Monday. This will be a good record to have just for myself, too. -Anne > Just curious what did your thyroid level come out at. I know that can cause a lot of body pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 Anne, wave at Big Ben for me, would you? And, it's always smart to take your records with you, even when you go to a new doc stateside. Have a great trip. Loving hugs, MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 Hi a, The two DNA tests that came back with high values are Lupus indicators, they told me. What's so baffling is that the ANA is negative. If the ANA turned up positive, it would be a slam dunk. Also, they told me that often people turn up with a sluggish thyroid when there's some sort of a disease transition, like when a disease is starting to show itself. I have to go for more bloodwork to watch this in particular before I go to England. I'll be in England for 8 days; I was supposed to participate in a three-week study program at Oxford but then my mom became critically ill, so I had to cancel the program. Unfortunately, my mom passed away at the end of February. I still had the plane tickets, of course, and we're going to use them -- it will be nice to get away for a while. The cool thing about going to England even when you're ill is that they have socialized medicine. Even tourists get free medical care if you become ill while you're there. So, just in case I suffer a flare, I want to take my records with me. That would help a British doctor decide what to do. -Anne > Hi Hon, > > Ya, that is a really good idea to be taking a copy of the results. So that one DNA test that you are referring to did they tell you how that effects you? just wondered. You are going to England for a vacation? How long do you get to go over there for? Sounds like fun. Love, a > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 Hi a, The two DNA tests that came back with high values are Lupus indicators, they told me. What's so baffling is that the ANA is negative. If the ANA turned up positive, it would be a slam dunk. Also, they told me that often people turn up with a sluggish thyroid when there's some sort of a disease transition, like when a disease is starting to show itself. I have to go for more bloodwork to watch this in particular before I go to England. I'll be in England for 8 days; I was supposed to participate in a three-week study program at Oxford but then my mom became critically ill, so I had to cancel the program. Unfortunately, my mom passed away at the end of February. I still had the plane tickets, of course, and we're going to use them -- it will be nice to get away for a while. The cool thing about going to England even when you're ill is that they have socialized medicine. Even tourists get free medical care if you become ill while you're there. So, just in case I suffer a flare, I want to take my records with me. That would help a British doctor decide what to do. -Anne > Hi Hon, > > Ya, that is a really good idea to be taking a copy of the results. So that one DNA test that you are referring to did they tell you how that effects you? just wondered. You are going to England for a vacation? How long do you get to go over there for? Sounds like fun. Love, a > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 Hi a, The two DNA tests that came back with high values are Lupus indicators, they told me. What's so baffling is that the ANA is negative. If the ANA turned up positive, it would be a slam dunk. Also, they told me that often people turn up with a sluggish thyroid when there's some sort of a disease transition, like when a disease is starting to show itself. I have to go for more bloodwork to watch this in particular before I go to England. I'll be in England for 8 days; I was supposed to participate in a three-week study program at Oxford but then my mom became critically ill, so I had to cancel the program. Unfortunately, my mom passed away at the end of February. I still had the plane tickets, of course, and we're going to use them -- it will be nice to get away for a while. The cool thing about going to England even when you're ill is that they have socialized medicine. Even tourists get free medical care if you become ill while you're there. So, just in case I suffer a flare, I want to take my records with me. That would help a British doctor decide what to do. -Anne > Hi Hon, > > Ya, that is a really good idea to be taking a copy of the results. So that one DNA test that you are referring to did they tell you how that effects you? just wondered. You are going to England for a vacation? How long do you get to go over there for? Sounds like fun. Love, a > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.