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Posted 9/1/2009 7:14 AM (GMT 0)
[img]/community/emoticons/confused.gif[/img] [img]/community/emoticons/confused.gif[/img] I am not sure where to start but here goes. I have been having some chest pains for over six months now. Some of them severe and some are just bothersome. I have had testing done on my heart to check for any heart problems. They didn't find anything wrong. I truly feel my doctor has taken the word of someone else instead of listening to me. The last time i seen her i told her i was still having more chest pains and she put me on prilosec for heartburn. I am not stupid i know what heartburn is and this is not heartburn. I feel she passed me off too quickly. There is not a big selection on doctors in the area that i live unless i want to travel over 100 miles just for them to tell me that nothing is wrong. I feel like screaming. I also have pain and swelling in my feet all the time. Plus i have psoriasis and she thought that i my have psoratic arthritis so i had to have some x-rays to see. Well thats not what it was and i had some blood work done cause my doc thinks that i may have rhematoid(sp) arthritis now. I have to go see a different doc for that now. I have little faith in anyone at this point. I would really like someone elses opinion on what to do. Should i just switch doctors in general and find someone that will listen to me and my symptoms or what?????? I hurt all over at times and i just wish the pain would stop. I really feel i could deal with the problem if i just knew what was wrong with me in the first place. Help anyone.

( I added a topic so more people would read your post)

Post Edited By Moderator (Chutz) : 9/1/2009 9:18:05 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/1/2009 12:44 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Shellsncheese,

Welcome to our FAMILY!!! 

Sounds like you need a 2nd opinion!  You have several things going on and deserve to see someone who will spend time answering your questions and explaining your results!!

You said she referred you to another Dr.?  Rheumatologist?

Patti

Posted 9/1/2009 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Shells...and welcome!

I agree with Patti, either get a second opinion or hire a new doctor. Notice the word 'HIRE'? We all need to remember that is what we are doing. More often we feel like we are indebted to them when we are the ones hiring them and have the right to fire them also. Some doctors go so far as to try and make you feel grateful just to be in their presence! Hogwash!! If you aren't getting the care you feel is appropriate then it's time to switch.

Are you comfortable with your doc for other things? Do you have a good reason to stay with him/her? Then look at your insurance policy, if you have one, and find out how to switch. Make the first appointment an interview...and YOU interview the doctor. Yep, it's going to shock some of them but the good ones will not mind it at all. Right there you will be able to weed out most of the ones you do not want to use. It's hard to change anything, especially when you have to wade through paperwork, but this is your life and it doesn't get any more important that that.

Keep us posted...
Chutz
Posted 9/1/2009 8:31 PM (GMT 0)

Hi and I'll ditto the Welcome... I agree that you need a second opinion...maybe a third and a fourth if needed.  We know our bodies better then anybody, so if we think something is wrong...it usually is.  Last year I thought I might be diabetic but I didn't have insurance...As soon as I had insurance I made an appt. and asked to be tested...The Dr. initially didn't see a reason and didn't want to do it..but I was very persistant...Turns out I am Diabetic and have been for a couple of years...

The moral of that story is that we know ourselves and shouldn't be dismissed... and I think "HIRE" is the perfect term... We pay them to help us not the other way around.

Good Luck on the search..

Me.

I hope you aren't having too much pain, I know it sux!!

Posted 9/1/2009 8:58 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Shell,

I too want to welcome you to Healing Well, I am wondering if your dr thinks you may have RA is she sending you to a rheumatologist? If so, that is the right direction to go to be checked for RA, as that is one of their specialties. I would most definetly push for that appt. Many people do experience pain all over if their RA is flaring.

If you are not happy with your PCP and I am assuming that is the dr you are unhappy with, its yor right to fire her/him. You should be comfortable with your PCP to say the least. Many times people have to keep looking until they find a dr that is willing to listen and take care of them appropriately. Swollen feet is a commom occuranc with RA too. Do you retain fluid? if so, you can be put on a diuretic but you have to very careful when taking those.

Please try to find out if the dr is looking to send you to a rheumatologist. Thats one appt I would sure keep.

Posted 9/2/2009 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Shell,

I'd also like to welcome you to HW! If it were me, I'd definitely get a second opinion. Doctors are human too, and sometimes one will miss what another picks up on. You know your body best, so keep pursuing this. Has your doctor ever sent you to a cardiologist?

Skeye
Posted 9/2/2009 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Shell,

I like your name!  Welcome to healling well.  I hope you find great support, information and friendship here.  I too think you need a second opinion.  Healthcare should be a consumer market!  You need to be listened to.  You deserve to have your healthcare questions answered. 

Do try the prilosec if even just for the reason that you can say, "I tired that, it is not heartburn; I am not better." 

I have had to have high dose IV steriods.  I was warned that I would get horrible heartburn.  Hehe.... I did NOT head that warning.  I was in agony when it finally did kick in.  If I had not been warned, I would have called 911 thinking I was having a heart attack.  Just a thought!

Good luck and keep us posted!!!

Posted 9/2/2009 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
Shell welcome to Healingwell....

I also have chest pain and swollen ankles but my hands also swell mainly my fingers. I found out mine was my blood pressure. Mine would spike and mimick a heart attack with mild to extreme chest pain.

Everyone is right you need to just keep getting opinions. My hubby has been doing that for 10 years now and is finally finding answers. Rhonda is right you know your body better than anyone else so please keep on searching and looking and NEVER give up just in case its life threatening.

Wishing you luck
Laurie
Posted 9/2/2009 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
I just want to thank you all for the support and for the quick response. It feels good to know i am not alone in all this. I have an appointment on the 15th of this month with a rheumatologist. So hopefully i can get some much needed answers. My PCP had put me on blood pressure meds when i first started having all the chest pains. And i actually started to feel better. But i got sick and she took me off of them and put me on predisone for a while. She said that you tend to cough more when you are sick and on BP meds. I don't know if that is true. I do retain alot of fluids in my legs and when my feet swell so do my hands. When my feet and hands a swollen i feel just awful and it is very hard to walk or to even hold onto anything. The only things that i have had done for me so far is alot of blood work, x-rays on feet, ct-scan (because when i first had chest pains i would get really bad headaches) stress tests with heart specialist and some ultra sounds of my heart. I have a big family history of heart problems on both sides of my family with some family members passing away because of this. I hope to find some answers some before i totally go insane. Thanks again!!
Posted 9/3/2009 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
wow, sure hope the rheumy can help...kinda sounds like it could be costochrondrontis which is related to fibro, but maybe a second opinion
from a cardiologist to put your mind at ease would be a good thing...Hope your feeling better soon...
lots of soft hugz...
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Shellsncheese)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 9/3/2009 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Shell I am glad you have the appt w/rheumy. They can also help you and test you for Fibro along with testing for RA. I too have had the bad chest pain and was seen in ER and had a heart cath done. I have a family history of heart problems just like yours. I lost my Dad to a massive heart attack after a aortic heart valve replacement and a 3 way bypass surgery. My chest pain was passed off as unspecified angina, I have a long history of High BP. Just try to hang in there the best you can till you see the rheumy. If he finds nothing then there are other avenues to take.
Posted 9/8/2009 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
I have not been feeling well for the past few days so sorry for not responding. I have been having some chest pains and some pains in my back. And today i have been fighting a really bad headache. Not sure why i have one though. I am not sick. I had really bad chest pains when these headaches first started. CT Scan showed that my sinises was clear as a bell. The ER told me that they didn't know why my head was hurting. They started with the worst pain about six months ago. I have taken 7 Ibuprofen for the pain today. It hasn't even touched it. I don't have anything stronger for pain to take. Going to the ER for headache and chest pain is not an option. Cause they don't do anything for me besides poke on my chest and my forhead like last time. I sure hope i feel better soon. I feel just drained today. Like i have no energy at all. And i even took a nap. Whats up with that. Is the way i have been feeling part of RA???
Posted 9/8/2009 8:44 AM (GMT 0)
It really sounds more likea costochrondrotis flair which is related to Fibromyalgia and seeing a rheumy might help a lot!
but for now try using a heating pad rolled up and placed on your chest, a moist heating pad works bests
and being scared or nervous or angry can trigger these flairs so try to keep calm and yes I know how hard that
can be to do, when your in such pain, just try and we'll be sending hugz to help...
keep us posted when you can, will be thinking of you...
hugz and lots of soft gentle ones
(((((((((((((((((((((((((shellsncheese))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 9/10/2009 7:16 AM (GMT 0)
Is is normal to have headaches when you have chest pains? I have been to the ER and they just told me it was a sinis infection. But later they discovered that they were clear. I have been fighting this darn headache all week. Plus i have been having chest pains at the same time. Can all these symptoms be from RA. I have tried to look online myself but i don't have half of the symptoms for this thing and so on. I am beginning to think i am just crazy. Nuts in the head CRAZY!!!! I really want to find out what is wrong so i call tell everyone that i wasn't just tired because they thought i was lazy or that i just wanted to take a nap. Why is it okay for some people to take a nap because they have a real job but when i want one (because i am a stay on home mom). I am just being lazy if i want a nap. I am almost 34 and it seems just the littlest amount of work that i do i am usually fine while i am working but after i am done i feel so drained. Like i have been working nonstop for about a week. Does anyone know what kinds of tests that you have to have when being tested for RA. I am excited about seeing this doc. in hopes of some answers. But nervous at the same time. Thanks again everyone for putting up with all of my questions all of the time.
Posted 9/10/2009 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
Normally RA testing involves blood testing along with x-rays of the hands or other joints that may be affected. Chartreux suggested moist heat, I made a large moist heat pad by folding a dish towel in half long ways, sewing up the sides then filling with rice, then sewing the top shut. You can then put this in the microwave to heat it up. Be careful you don't get it too hot though. I hope you find some results at your doctors appt coming up.
Posted 9/10/2009 2:39 PM (GMT 0)

   Dear ShellsNCheese,

     Good morning. My name is Dani. It is very nice to meet you. I am terribly sorry that I have not introduced myself sooner. My imflammation is reeking havoc! But! I am ever so glad you found Healing Well.

     All I can say when I read your posts is "Oh, yes, they are right. You should feel comfortable with your physicians". It is very important to me, to have doctors *I* trust, but that also communicate effectivly with one another on a regular basis. I do hope your appointment with the Rumatologist (sp?) goes well! *hugg*

     It was very very nice to meet you. I do hope to get to know you better as time goes by.

*huggs*

dani

Posted 9/18/2009 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
smilewinkgrin  I am really relieved right now. I just went and seen the rheumy today. And she told me that i have psoratic arthritis. I had a really bad spell on Tuesday this week where i had really bad chest pains( like the ones i had went to the ER for). She told me all of my pain that i have been having in my chest,back and feet are all because of the arthritis. She is putting me on Methotrexate and on Relafin for the pain. Plus i have to go see a dermatologist tomorrow to help with the psoriasis. I feels really go to have someone listen to you and give you some answers. She also told me that i have heel spurs. Something that my regular doctor knew about but didn't tell me. How nice of her to keep me in the loop. She had originally told me that i didn't have any signs of psoratic arthritis. The rheumy doctor said that that was a good thing to not be able to see signs on an x-ray. That if there were signs on an x-ray then i would pretty much be screwed. She also said in not so many words that i really need to find a different regular doctor. Well anyway i just wanted to share that with all of you. Thanks for listening.
Posted 9/18/2009 10:40 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad to hear you are being seen by a rheumatologist now.  From what I understand you definately some specialized care with psoratic arthritis.  Keep us informed of your progress and good luck.
Posted 9/18/2009 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you had a good doctor visit and I hope the medicine will work good for you!
more soft hugz...
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((shellsncheese)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 9/19/2009 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Shell, OMG, I just saw my 2nd dermatologist last week and I am right there with you on the psoriasis dx's, but he is also checking on the pustular psoriasis one too. I am on Humira for my crohns and my dr uses Humira for the psoriasis too. So, do you have an outbreak on your feet too? I also had it really bad on my hands. Mine went full bloom when I came down with cellulitis on my legs, it was awful.
Posted 9/19/2009 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
  I have psoriasis the most on my elbows and my knees. But i have had it in just little spots on my feet,toes, knuckles on my hands, on my back now and on my butt, inner thighs also, and in the creases on my elbows where arm bends, and on my legs and in my hair. The little spots come and go with flare ups. At one time i had counted the ones that i could see anyway over 50 spots on my body. Not including my knees and elbows. My dermatologist just put me on Clobex Spray and also Vectical Ointment. I really hope it works. But he said if i doesn't then he can put me on something else. The ones on my hands get worse the more i wash my hands. They usually get big cracks in them that is deep.

       Seizures for 19 yrs, asthma, psoriasis, psoratic arthritis, insomnia,

Posted 9/19/2009 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Shell, mine is the feet and hands. I also have a patch on my forehead right at the hairline. When I got the first round of cellulitis on my legs over night I had the worst outbreak ever on both my feet and hands. They were covered, I had no idea what it was. The cellulitis triggered the flare up with it. My 1st derm gave me a great info sheet and it listed alot of triggers, infections, cuts, abrasions, stress and so forth. I was scared when the outbreak hit because so much of it came up infected right from the beginning. Oh, the inside of my belly button got hit with the small red blisters and Clobetasol cream took care of that but did little for my feet & hands. He also gave me Halobetasol for my feet because of the plaques on the feet. My new derm has me using the Vectical its a vitamin A ointment and he says he is having alot of success with the ointments with vitamin A, its real expensive. I also have Taclonex, I swap out them. Oh yes, I know all about the hands and feet splitting open, burns like fire, then the feet get so sore you can barely walk, using your hands is pretty much out of question. Did you have psoriasis all along and had been treating or is this a totally new dx?

All I know, is I went for a very long while before I even bothered showing my feet to any of my drs, I was too embarrassed as I had no clue what it was. Well, as it turned out none of them did either. It was the dermatologist that knew immediately what it was. My rheumy thought it some crohns related skin issue because there are many w/crohns. I read online where it said its not uncommon for someone with crohns to have psoriasis, another auto-immune disease to add to the list lol.

FYI so far the Vectical is working pretty good  for me.

                                                                  

Posted 10/8/2009 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone i know it has been awhile since i have posted anything. But i have been really busy. First my mom got put in the hospital because she was having trouble breathing. She has COPD and asthma. She was it there for 3 days and then she wanted me to stay with her an extra day. I love my mom very much but i was never so glad to be home. She just doesn't realize how bad i hurt. And those hospital chairs don't help anything. I have not been feeling very well myself. I have this cold that i got from staying in the hospital with my mom. I slept all day today from total exhaustion. Ever since Sunday i have just been aching all over. My joints hurt so bad. They hurt so bad yesterday that i had to wrap my legs and feet in an electric blanket just to get some relief for awhile. It did help for a little bit. The only thing that i can think of is that it is my psoriatic arthritis flaring up. Just how long does these flare up last for. Is it different for everyone??? I would really like to know this. I just want to crawl in a hole. It would be different if i was just one thing at a time i could then tolerate the pain alot better. I am just grateful for this forum and getting to talk with all of u. I know my husband thinks that i am probably crazy cause something is always hurting me. And i really don't like telling him when i am. Thanks for listening.
Posted 10/8/2009 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Shell, sorry I haven't been around much and missed your postings. I have RA with a possible diagnosis of PA as my symptoms mimic PA but I don't as yet have psoriasis! But flares can unfortunately last for weeks or months or only days. Usually if I'm flaring badly I'll go and have cortisone shots in the offending joint or joints, plus you have to rest to give your body a chance to recover. But because you're only freshly diagnosed it could be that the meds haven't had time to properly get into your system yet. It takes awhile for mtx to work and it often makes you feel even sicker initially as its so hard on your liver.
The first time on it after 2 months it wiped out most of my white blood cells, but the second time, I was weaned on to it. Slowly increasing the dose untl my body could tolerate it. It is a fairly toxic med after all. Having said all that, it works wonders for the swelling, only my knees and hips have any swelling. All my other joints are good. I also take humira and its a good combination.
I seem to be raving. It takes time to find the right cocktail of drugs that work for you and unfortunately its just trial and error before your specialist will get you stabalised. But hang in there, you're on the right path now and there are some really good new wave meds out there that have absolutely changed so many peoples lives and stop a lot of permanent damage from happening.
Goodluck with it all, golitho
Posted 10/9/2009 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
shell i was recently dx'd with pa too. are you not on any meds for it, get ahold of your dr.
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