new here & a little confused

  For the past 2 months I had been feeling extremely fatigue, stiff joint in my hand (numb) muscle and joint pain all over my body, real achey, and on top of that i started to notice this rash (hives) on my elbow, thumb, knee, wrist. very red, swollen, hot to touch.

I finally when to see my internist who did some blood work a week later he called and tell me that my sed rate was elevated as well my Rheumatoid factor and referred me to see a rheumatologist.

I just had my appt. with the rheumatologist this wednesday 12/16/09. I have to say i'm still in shock and trying to put everything together. She did mention the following things to me.  She order a whole bunch of blood work and also x-ray of my spine and wrist. She also Rx'd Prednisone 40mg/day x3days, then 30mg/dayx3days, then 20mg/dayx3 days, then 10mg/day x 3days. Have a follow up appt with her on 1/5/10

to discuss my results. I'm really tired all the time. I feel that my body is giving up on me. Needless to say I'm scared.  Any comments or suggestions.

1-Raynaud's phenomenon

2-Dactylitis

3-Extensor Tenosynovitis

4-Paresthesias

5-Hypermobile Joint Syndrome

 

Hi nurse7409, Welcome to the forum. You will find there are many caring people at HW.
I post on the Fibro Forum and here on the Lupus Forum. I an so sorry you are going
through this. It does take some time to absorb all of this and can be overwhelming.

It is nerve racking waiting for test results.There are so many symptoms that overlap with the ConnectiveTissue Diseases. It is not uncommon to be first diagnosed with one thing and then another. Being patient is not always easy.

I see your doctor has put you on a prednisone taper, that should help with the inflamaton.
It is good that your doctor has started treating symptoms.

Do what you can to alleviate stress, stress will cause more pain. Gentle stretching and
walking helps. I do relaxation therapy doing deep breathing exercises.

I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, in my case Scleroderma, Lupus and RA. I am
taking Methotrexate to help slow down the progression of the disease. It took awhile to
get my dx. Repeated bloodwork showed positive RNP and I had a skin biopsy confirm
Scleroderma. MCTD is the only CTD that can be confirmed with only one positve antibody.
RNP in high titres.

One of the reasons it take so long for a dx is that antibodies wax and wane. There are
also some of us who have never presented with a positive ANA, I am one of them. My
Rheumy uses the ANA 8 ELISA Method of testing that is able to detect multiple antibodies.
Some Rheumys check ANA and if it isn't positive they do not do further testing.

Good Luck to you, take one day at a time. Come back to ask questions and keep us
posted.

Hugs, Robin