Do I look like I'm a doctor?

I am needing to vent about my daughters pediatric rheumatology visit this afternoon! We waited 3 months to get in to see this doctor at Childrens Hospital, and the visit started out well.  It seemed as if he had done his homework prior to our visit, he knew my daughter had a positive RF factor, that she takes kidney meds, etc without us having to tell him.  Then as he is examining her, *he* asks *me* if I thought she had RA?! what?! That is why I brought her!! At one point he shows me her knees and that she has visible swelling/fluid in her knees, quite a bit. We went over that it had been a little over a year, and that the pain had moved into her elbows, as well, however she didn't have pain each day.  His conclusion is that she is fine. Even though she has taken prednisone and told us both in the office that she felt *so much better* after taking it.

While I don't want my daughter to have RA or any other type of arthritis, she has been nagging at me for so long to go to a doctor, especially after the morning she could not get up off of the floor because her knees were so swollen and painful. I worry that she will get worse, and we will not get any treatment. 

I haven't slept much, and it was a horridly long drive and I am in quite the flare! I told the pedi rheumy that I have never had swelling in my knees like my daughter, and he looked totally shocked! Anyway, so sorry to rant and rave and carry on!

You would think that with such stringent requirements for medical school admissions, schools would turn out higher quality doctors! Sorry this appointment was so disappointing. I agree, try to find another pediatric rheumy, and fast, so that this condition can be stopped in its tracks. Good luck to you and your daughter!

Hi Jade...The kicker is the pedi rheumy yesterday has been practicing for 30 years So, I was expecting a great deal of expertise! He seemed so surprised that my rheumy would treat my symptoms based on my sero-negative status.  When he walked in he asked me if I was *aware* that my daughter had a positive rheumatoid factor...Yes! that was partially why we came to see him...holy cow!

Sorry to hear about this rheumy.

My friends daughter has jouvenile arthritis, she is younger only 11 but has had it for a number of years, they treat with cortisone injections in her knees to relieve her symptoms and then use diet and supplements to help her day to day as they also didn't want to put their daughter on the heavy duty meds. She has her good days and bad like us all but has managed to maintain and not get worse.

Maybe you could ask for something similar and try her on fish oil, apple cider vinegar etc.

Such a worry with a child. I have a student in my masters class who originally is from NY. She was treated with bed rest and prednisone back in the 60s and has been left with damaged ankles, toes, wrists and knees. Now she is on mtx etc but the damage had been done.

I panic every time one of my kids complain about sore joints, I know you've been trying to find an answer for your daughter for a while now, how frustrating for you.

It makes you angry when they don't take you seriously. I mean you've gone because you're worred about RA, she has the bloodwork and he ignores it? Is he not worried about potential damage to her joints. Is she still suppose to exercise? What did he say was causing her inflammation? Could he draw off some of the fluid and remove the pressure for her?

No wonder you're cross.

Thoughts are with you, golitho

Mom- in regard to her pain waxing & waning lets not forget 3 things- first of all that is indicitive of RA. 2nd- she has a high tolerance for pain so although she may not be completely pain free- she is to her. 3rd she is young and busy- too busy to think about little aches and pains.

Please do not think I am judging you because that's not my intention and I still think a mom knows her child best- but I would go elsewhere and get another opinion now. Perhaps your RA is painful every day because it's from the damage you suffered before you got on DMARDS. They say it's critical to get on them because most of your damage occurs during the first 2 years.

I wish you both all the best!

until you can get some help i suggest you give your daughter fish oil capsules . They are a natural antiinflammatory. They are large pills aso look at the bottle and ask the paharmacist for some that may be smaller. You can get enteric coated fish oil pills that prevent burping . You should take them too [lowers cholesterol and good for inflammatory issues and skin]It may Take a awhile to get some rsults but they will help arthritis and help her sleep if ypu give them to her in the evening.
I don't blame yu for being upset.
I suggest you find another rheumatologist . your poor little girl is sufferimg . cathy from ma

Hello Momto3!

I think I can help you and your daughter with some advice.

I have been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and osteo arthrosis for about 20 years. Finally, I managed to cure myself through a low acid-diet.

The rheumatic patient is at the origin of his own condition and he alone is able to remove its cause by a drastic change in his diet. For most rheumatic conditions are due to a kind of food poisoning by acids. It may sound rather revolutionary that all the food that normally is promoted as healthy is a real poison for rheumatic patients. But that is in fact the reason why doctors can‚t find the cause of rheumatism. They never look for the cause in the food, and certainly not in the "so-called healthy food". Rheumatism is most frequently due to an accumulation of acids. Acids dissolve the calcium in the body. The only way to cure rheumatism is to give your body the opportunity to rid itself of the accumulated acids without adding new ones. The worst acids are those from foods that actually taste sour, such as wine, cider, fruit juice, buttermilk, yogurt, curd cheese, Molkosan, vinegar, lemon, oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, other acid fruit, rhubarb and tomatoes. It is advisable to take a teaspoon of cod-liver oil a day, pure without additives. It is thought to suppress inflammation and it is restoring the oil and the cartilage of the joints.

 After my recovery, I could not bear the thought that I knew how to cure rheumatic pains in a way, which was both natural and sound, but wasn't doing anything with it. I wanted to help others as well. I have published the history of my recovery in a book. The title is "Cured of Rheumatism through Diet". The author is Jeanine Van Belle and the publisher is Ennsthaler. 
I hope you will try out the low acid-diet and I wish you a quick recovery.

Good luck!
Jeanine from Belgium

Hi Golitho..my daughter hasn't had any knee swelling as of late, but now has some type of bump at the base of one of her fingers, so when we go in for a doctors visit later this month I will mention it and see what that is about.  Over here, they do treat JRA the same as they would adult RA, with the sames meds depending on the severity. My daughter doesn't eat any of the acidic foods that the other poster mentioned and neither do I for that matter because I have gastroparesis and my diet is so bland as it is.

I did visit a dermatologist a couple of weeks ago for a facial rash, and we started talking about RA and joint pain and she told me to  try ginger root for pain relief.  Naturally I made a bee line for the natural grocer! I have all but taken half the bottle and yet to have any pain relief, but it was worth a try!

I hope you are doing well and your RA and pain is not flaring to badly!

Pretzel...yes, it does sound a bit like PSA doesn't it? thanks for posting!