So, anxiety and depression came first as a child. Then IBS, then eczema, and last but not least, fibromyalgia. What prompted my referral to a rheumatologist was wide spread pain (ankles, heels, feet, elbows, fingers, neck, shoulders) and stiffness. Also, spasms that prevented swallowing. Swelling in ankle area/fingers. This all started after a rear end wreck in which the car I was riding in was totaled. I saw a Neurologist for six months after and had a MRI and he stated nothing was pinched, just inflammation. I thought I had MS or something because of the swallowing.
So I went to my rheumatologist and after full body x-rays and bloodwork, he said fibromyalgia. At the time, I had a physical labor job. he gave me some meds and told me to find another job. I did and symptoms improved. When they improved, my rheumy told me my symptoms were not consistent with fibro.
I asked for something besides Tramadol because that made me have headaches and made me sweat. I also wanted to try something besides Gabapentin. He then became fed up with me I suppose because he stated that if the meds he put me on didn't work then nothing would and then really started to say I did not have fibro and referred me to a sleep study and orthopedist. Well the ortho wouldn't take me because they didn't want to be involved with a wreck patient. I told them the settlement was already done and I would be using private insurance and cash. They still would not take me. I gave up. Never went back. I started seeing a psychiatrist and he put me on the meds I am on now and said my rheumy was an idiot. Things worked out for a while with just flare ups from stress, weather and over-exertion. My PCP told me I really need to go back to a rheumy as often people are diagnosed with fibro and then they have other things. I do have 3 fingers turning, both index and a middle. Sometimes they are red. My grandmother has RA and I had a cousin die from Lupus. My rheumy said they were not closely related and didn't count as family history. I tested negative for muscle tissue damage, Lupus, RA and whatever else they tested for. All my x-rays were negative. I agreed to go see a new Rheumy and my appointment is April 4th. I am taking pictures of my hands from swollen, to normal, to red. Just trying to document everything since my last rheumy blew me off. When I was first diagnosed, I was on this forum, but I was burnt out on looking at anything fibro after I was blown off by the doc. I was sick of fibro; sick of hurting, sick of reading about
it, sick of hearing about
it. Now with the new rheumy coming up, I wanted advice on how to act and what to do in this first appointment. I guess i am kind of gun shy now. Sorry to be so long winded.
