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Frustrated, need to vent!!!!

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 5/27/2011 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, I know you've read a million posts like this but I need to vent-:) I am having such a bad day today despite being on meds. I feel like I've been run over by a truck. A front is coming through and we got rain today.

Do any of you feel like you get the run around from your doc when they don't know what is wrong and can't make a diagnosis??? I went to a new rheumy about 6 months ago. I think the first one was better at being decisive by my symptoms, he thought I had an overlap or mctd. The new guy seems so indecisive!!!! In the first visit he seemed to be leaning towards RA because I have a family history of it. This visit he seemed to forget some things about my history from my first visit and we've chatted some in between visits-:) I was kind of disappointed in my visit with him. He ran blood work, sed rate, and lupus panel and x-rays. It's not like you want things to be positive but it would be nice to have a darn diagnosis. The plaquenil has helped and given what I would say is 60% improvement but I still have pain and fatigue. I just want some answers. He told me to take OTC pain relievers. For this, I traveled for. I am going to go back to my rheumy in my small town. Thanks for listening to me rant today.......
Posted 5/28/2011 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
I just switched rheumys for that very same reason. The one I was seeing was nice, but so indecisive it made me nuts. I saw my new rheumy almost two weeks ago. She spent over an hour with me. Diagnosis: Seronegative RA. She started me on MTX. I used to take Plaquenil and it helped a lot, but after about six months, I had an adverse reaction and had to stop taking it. I applaud your decision to go to antoher doctor. The one you were seeing obviously isn't helping you. Best Wishes, V
Posted 5/30/2011 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds very familiar. I'm currently without insurance!!! I'm really wanting to find a new rheumatologist, though. Mine seems like his mind is always somewhere else. He nods, when I tell him I'm still in a lot of pain, and the fatigue is overwhelming, despite all the meds. Then, next visit he'll act like the meds have been working wonderfully for me. He seems confused that I'm not happy with the medicine I'm on. I still don't have a definitive diagnosis, still called "inflamatory arthritis" I'm pretty sure its RA, though. The way I feel is pretty definitive. I don't even care anymore.

The thing that is really bothering me, is that yesterday I was at a small get together with my grown children (34 and 35) and both my son and daughter are showing the early symptoms of RA (stiffness, malaise, shooting pains in joints, aching back).

I also have ulcerative colitis. I have been wanting to get on plaquenil, but I really need to find a job that has some insurance. It's hard to think about a job, though, when I'm too tired to even run my vacuum cleaner :(
Posted 5/30/2011 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I am not alone in this situation. I suspect that I have more than one thing going on. LOL..... The story of my life..... I really don't get it when doctors don't read your chart or make assumptions about how you are doing!!! Why don't they ask and take good notes??? Mine had the nerve to ask why exactly I didn't exercise when I had pain?? Hello, if it is bad enough, you can't get out of bed without a struggle. Sometimes, they just don't get it. He also told me to take OTC pain relievers and my GI told me specifically to take them only when I had to b/c of my colitis (which is in remission.) It's hard when they are unsure of the diagnosis-:) Thanks for the feedback! Y'all hang in there as well. I'll post again when I have my lab tests and x ray results.
Posted 5/30/2011 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I'm always told to take over the counter stuff, too. 3 or 4 ibuprofen sometimes takes the edge off of the pain a little. But that is so hard on your stomach. Especially an empty stomach. So, what do I do, eat something. Now I've gained 10 pounds over the winter. I'm going to try to eat healthier snacks. I worry, too, because I bruise easily, and have Ulcerative colitis, and I sure don't want to do anything to start the GI bleeeding.
Posted 5/30/2011 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Ooh, yea April Rose, taking OTC anti inflammatories is a big no no for people with IBD. It's hard to know what to do for the pain and now they are saying people who took tylenol 4 or more days a week had a much higher incidence of blood cancers! Sometimes tramadol works for me but who wants to take that and drive? Even if you don't feel woozy you shouldn't drive taking it. Ugh!!!! Yea, I've gained about 8 pounds since my resection in Nov. I never lost any weight with the colitis but I guess it was keeping me from gaining. I have low thyroid and gain weight when the wind blows the wrong way. Good luck April.
Posted 5/30/2011 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, guys! I take Celebrex, but not every day because of my stomach. I also take Tramadol, and have for several months. It doesn't impari my driving, so I am thankful for that. I have a friend who tries to take Tramadol, but it makes her sleepy. I guess I am on of the lucky ones. Neither my ortho or my rheumy ever suggested I take OTC nsaids...well, except for the dork rheumy I saw years ao. I hope you all can get some relief soon.

Blessings,
V
Posted 5/31/2011 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Oh celebrex, what a lifesaver for people with chronic pain and arthritis. I hate that I am allergic to it-:) I am anxious to hear my lab and x ray results.
Posted 5/31/2011 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
Don't worry about Venting - i did just that last week and it got me thru.

 You know what i'd Love to see the Doctors and Rhumys Read This Site Maby they'd Learn something

 from the short time i have been a member i have seen most people are world wide USA UK Australia etc How can So many People From So many Diffrent worlds All Have the Same Problems with their Doc's ? we really need to Retrain them after all they were suposed to be there For us wern't they? how dose that Hipocratic oath go -" First do No Harm "

                                                                       nono

Posted 5/31/2011 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, I totally agree badday. Now my Gi doc listens and is pretty darn good. I guess it is a matter of training for sure!!
I switched my antidepressant over the weekend and low and behold my symptoms improved dramatically. I think I had some fibromyalgia in there. It's a shame we have to treat ourselves sometimes but that's the way it is. I just wanted relief from the pain. We'll see what the results show.
Posted 5/31/2011 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I agree- RD's should read these sites and amend their wishy washy ways! My same RD (at different time periods) has told me I had the most severe presentation of RA that he ever saw to calling it "the rheumatic episode" you had. Makes me feel crazy.
Hope you get better answers and are feeling better today.
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