!st my Dr's nurse says I have RA now she says she never said I do!! Do I or not??

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After getting my blood work back the nurse from the Dr's office called and told me my test for Rheumatoid factor was positive. I asked her what that meant. What was she saying. She said I tested Pos. I said "Are you saying that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis?" She said "Well the blood test said you tested positive for it so yes." I called my PCP back the next day once it sank in and asked for a referral to an RA Dr. and another nurse said " You don't have RA according to your chart which I have right here in front of me." "WHAT?!" OK now I'm mad! I was told I do, I've got TONS of the symptoms, my grandmothers had it, my rheumatoid factor was 30, I'va got nodules, stiff joins PAIN PAIN PAIN and the list goes on. So I go BACK to my PCP 2 days later. She says she still thinks it's "just regular old arthitis" but she'll refer me to an RA Dr. "if I want to go to one." Heck yeah I want to go to one! I can't drive the 1/2 hour to each

day without crying because it hurts so bad to hold the steering wheel even loosely! Aleve worked in the very beginning. But not for long. Aspirin did nothing at all. They are trying me on Mobic. 1 a day for now, then 2. If that doesn't work then on 2 the next drug therapy. I got the the RA doc Aug. 15th. Can I give you guy a detailed list of all my symptoms and get your opinion??? I know your not Dr's but.... <kyrik@...> wrote: > My name is Tina. I'm a 38 yr. old mom of 3. Just diagnosed today>

with RA. I'm scared sh*tless. Crying all day. Where do I begin? Sorry for your DX But yes, we understand the crying here > have a million questions. My PCP said she recommends just keeping me> on 3 aspirin 3 X a day that she suggested today as the Aleve hasn't> been doing the trick. Use Bufferin! I got a terrible ulcer from regular aspirin...>>>But shouldn't I get my ass to an RA Doc ASAP?!Yes, asap! The sooner the better. Your PCP should havereferred you already, imho...Good luck, ~TINA~ www.ChinaDreamsFor.com

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Keep calling the RA's office and see if they have a cancellation for that day. Also some RA's only see new patient's on certain days, If this one does then you can call only on that day. I had problems with RA dr's and found an Internal Medicine doctor who has a sub-speciality as a Rheumatologist. Call your HMO and see if any of their Dr's do both. My understanding was that only internal meds could be liscensed in both. I live in GA so where you are may be different. Stacey Tina Haynes <travswife2003@...> wrote: After getting my blood work back the nurse from the Dr's office called and told me my test for Rheumatoid factor was positive. I asked her what that meant. What was she saying. She said I tested Pos. I said "Are you saying that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis?" She said "Well the blood test said you tested positive for it so yes." I called my PCP back the next day once it sank in and asked for a referral to an RA Dr. and another nurse said " You don't have RA according to your chart which I have right here in front of me." "WHAT?!" OK now I'm mad! I was told I do, I've got TONS of the symptoms, my grandmothers had it, my rheumatoid factor was 30, I'va got nodules, stiff joins PAIN PAIN PAIN and the

list goes on. So I go BACK to my PCP 2 days later. She says she still thinks it's "just regular old arthitis" but she'll refer me to an RA Dr. "if I want to go to one." Heck yeah I want to go to one! I can't drive the 1/2 hour to each day without crying because it hurts so bad to hold the steering wheel even loosely! Aleve worked in the very beginning. But not for long. Aspirin did nothing at all. They are trying me on Mobic. 1 a day for now, then 2. If that doesn't work then on 2 the next drug therapy. I got the the RA doc Aug. 15th. Can I give you guy a detailed list of all my symptoms and get your opinion??? I know your not Dr's but.... <kyrik@...> wrote: > My name is Tina. I'm a 38 yr. old mom of 3. Just diagnosed today> with RA. I'm scared sh*tless. Crying all

day. Where do I begin? Sorry for your DX But yes, we understand the crying here > have a million questions. My PCP said she recommends just keeping me> on 3 aspirin 3 X a day that she suggested today as the Aleve hasn't> been doing the trick. Use Bufferin! I got a terrible ulcer from regular aspirin...>>>But shouldn't I get my ass to an RA Doc ASAP?!Yes, asap! The sooner the better. Your PCP should havereferred you already, imho...Good luck, ~TINA~ www.ChinaDreamsFor.com __________________________________________________

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This sounds familiar. PCP and their assistants making generalizations that mess with your life. I actually had a PA write to a Rheumatologist and when I got the records he had written that he thought it was a case of "no excercise, at all at all". He also put things in there that I said that I didn't say at all, making it seem more like muscle pain.

When I got my diagnosis from another rhuematologist (they assume your doctor knows you) I wrote a letter to the doctor in charge of the PA and explained that his assistant had cost me three years of a diagnosis and lots of suffering, and hinted that I was thinking about sueing! Keep complaining keep going back . Keep looking for a doctor that will listen to you. You need to be on more than aspirin if you are going to start feeling better. Good luck Tana

-----Original Message-----From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of Tina HaynesSent: Monday, July 17, 2006 3:31 AMRheumatoid Arthritis Subject: !st my Dr's nurse says I have RA now she says she never said I do!! Do I or not??

After getting my blood work back the nurse from the Dr's office called and told me my test for Rheumatoid factor was positive. I asked her what that meant. What was she saying. She said I tested Pos. I said "Are you saying that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis?" She said "Well the blood test said you tested positive for it so yes." I called my PCP back the next day once it sank in and asked for a referral to an RA Dr. and another nurse said " You don't have RA according to your chart which I have right here in front of me." "WHAT?!" OK now I'm mad! I was told I do, I've got TONS of the symptoms, my grandmothers had it, my rheumatoid factor was 30, I'va got nodules, stiff joins PAIN PAIN PAIN and the list goes on. So I go BACK to my PCP 2 days later. She says she still thinks it's "just regular old arthitis" but she'll refer me to an RA Dr. "if I want to go to one." Heck yeah I want to go to one! I can't drive the 1/2 hour to day without crying because it hurts so bad to hold the steering wheel even loosely! Aleve worked in the very beginning. But not for long. Aspirin did nothing at all. They are trying me on Mobic. 1 a day for now, then 2. If that doesn't work then on 2 the next drug therapy. I got the the RA doc Aug. 15th. Can I give you guy a detailed list of all my symptoms and get your opinion??? I know your not Dr's but....

<kyrik@...> wrote:

> My name is Tina. I'm a 38 yr. old mom of 3. Just diagnosed today> with RA. I'm scared sh*tless. Crying all day. Where do I begin? Sorry for your DX But yes, we understand the crying here > have a million questions. My PCP said she recommends just keeping me> on 3 aspirin 3 X a day that she suggested today as the Aleve hasn't> been doing the trick. Use Bufferin! I got a terrible ulcer from regular aspirin...>>>But shouldn't I get my ass to an RA Doc ASAP?!Yes, asap! The sooner the better. Your PCP should havereferred you already, imho...Good luck,

~TINA~ www.ChinaDreamsFor.com

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