frustrated and in pain

NOT a good combination.

I've been having symptoms for many years, with things getting progressively more severe over the past 2 years. I've been through many different doctors, and I have yet to get anywhere towards a diagnosis and medication. Just fired my PCP today, since she is not at all helpful, and the rheumatologist I saw wasn't helpful at all. My naturopath is extremely helpful and supportive, but there's only so far you can go with alternative medicine and she's also 7 hours away now.

At this point, I'm seronegative and have had a low ANA (1:80). However, I take a very high dose of turmeric every day, which my ND agrees most likely made my lab values fall within normal. Question is if I can survive the pain that follows when I DON'T take the turmeric... and I don't think I can. SSA and SSB normal at 0.2 (normal 1), and my CCP was 15.6 (normal 20). Didn't test rheumatoid factor, though my C-Reactive protein was low at 0.5. The only test result that was somewhat interesting was my chest xray, which showed some vertical scarring in my left lung. I've also been having pain there and have had episodes of difficulty breathing.

Mentioned that I've been having difficulty breathing, and my now former PCP wasn't at all concerned, which is part of why I'm now looking for a new PCP. My chest xray back in 2010 was totally normal, so this is new.

Have also been having daily swelling and pain in my fingers, some days so much so I can barely use my hands. Tylenol & Aleve do help, but so does keeping my hands warm by wearing gloves. Also been having joint pain in my feet. Plus pain in my hips and shoulders that keeps me tossing and turning when I try to sleep. Then there are the occasional flare ups of severe pain in my shoulders that have happened twice. Comes on out of now where and lasts 1-2 months.

Also severely dry eyes, but thankfully my eye dr put me on Restasis after finding I don't have any tear production (just a tiny bit of moisture by my tear duct). Dry mouth too, which is annoying more than anything else. And there are also the low grade fevers (99-100F), fatigue and weakness. Have had to give up doing some things because I've lost so much strength in my hands. Joints have all become very crackly, too, which is a big change for me.

Right now, both my ND and I are in agreement that I probably have Sjogren's, Raynaud's and maybe RA too. Its just SO frustrating having to fight with doctors when I don't feel well, and not being able to find any doctor here who'll give me an accurate diagnosis.

Do you mean the seasoning/spice you are taking and it helps? I just never had any luck with that kind of thing. Sometimes rheumies just do not want to treat based on symptoms alone, perhaps because you have found relief on an all natural basis? It is so hard to say! I would get another opinion for certain! If you truly have RA, tumeric or any *all natural* method is not going to work in the long run, and you are going to need real treatment. Several here have had to go to more than one doctor in order to get some results, it is frustrating, I know! Hang in there!