Re: Newbie, worried and scared

[Guest guest]

Dear Carol- go to www.arthritisfoundation.org and you should find alot of your answers before your first RD appointment. Read my previous posts. Hugs, Deborah

On 6/10/06, Carol son <gramcurl@...> wrote:

Hi all,I'm new here. I was looking for info and came across this group.I have my first appt with a rhumatoligist next week. I'm not sure what toexpect. I'm really worried and scared about what he is going to find.

I was having eye problems that began last Feb. Felt like I had something in my eye and then went away and came back worse in April. My eye dr. said I had erosion on my cornea but didnt know what was causing it, so he sent me to a corneal specialist. The specialist examed my eye and asked me if I had been resently dx with RA. I said no. He says, dont be surprised if you are in the near future. He gave me eye drops and recommended that I have my family dr recommend a rhumatoligist. I couldnt get in for about a month. Between then and now, I've had severe pain in my fingers and wrists adn sometimes it feels like my hands have gone numb, knees and the bottoms of my feet hurt! And stiffness, & fatigue. Ive had time to think back on things and some things that were happening to me, that I should have went to the dr. with, I just brushed off, thinking, I was just getting older (I'm 54). My ankles are swollen now too. My family dr. prescribed

Mobic and a water pill, until I can get in to see the rhumatoligist. I have been taking iron for the last yr, cause of low red blood cell count. Also,I have red splotches on my arms. The tops of my arms and up to my shoulders....and chest, and my skin on both sides of my nose is bright red....its hard to cover with makeup, plus I have restless leg syndrome and have to sleep with pillow between my legs, as it hurts for bones to touch. Also have had a low grade fever.

I have been searching the internet for what all these symptoms mean.Can anyone here please give me your thoughts on this please????Sorry this is sooooo long.Thanks for listening,Carol

[Guest guest]

Carol,

It sounds like the classic symptoms of RA, although I don't understand the skin splotches. I know that can be related to Lupus or Scleraderma.

Good luck with the new rhemuy. I hope you find a good one on the first try. Good ones are hard to come across. The best one I had moved to the next city and no longer takes my insurance and I have met with nothing but doctors who don't seem to care. I think because of my age, it's hard for them to believe that I have so much pain and symptoms.

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi all,

> I'm new here. I was looking for info and came across this group.

> I have my first appt with a rhumatoligist next week. I'm not sure

what to

> expect. I'm really worried and scared about what he is going to

find.

> I was having eye problems that began last Feb. Felt like I had

something in my eye and then went away and came back worse in

April. My eye dr. said I had erosion on my cornea but didnt know

what was causing it, so he sent me to a corneal specialist. The

specialist examed my eye and asked me if I had been resently dx with

RA. I said no. He says, dont be surprised if you are in the near

future. He gave me eye drops and recommended that I have my family

dr recommend a rhumatoligist. I couldnt get in for about a month.

Between then and now, I've had severe pain in my fingers and wrists

adn sometimes it feels like my hands have gone numb, knees and the

bottoms of my feet hurt! And stiffness, & fatigue. Ive had time to

think back on things and some things that were happening to me, that

I should have went to the dr. with, I just brushed off, thinking, I

was just getting older (I'm 54). My ankles are swollen now too. My

family dr. prescribed

> Mobic and a water pill, until I can get in to see the

rhumatoligist. I have been taking iron for the last yr, cause of

low red blood cell count. Also,

> I have red splotches on my arms. The tops of my arms and up to my

shoulders....and chest, and my skin on both sides of my nose is

bright red....its hard to cover with makeup, plus I have restless

leg syndrome and have to sleep with pillow between my legs, as it

hurts for bones to touch. Also have had a low grade fever.

> I have been searching the internet for what all these symptoms

mean.

> Can anyone here please give me your thoughts on this please????

> Sorry this is sooooo long.

> Thanks for listening,

> Carol

>

i was diagnosed with RA several months ago with the first symptom

being pain in my soles that just wouldnt go away. symptoms

described seem to point to RA too...good luck carol