Hate to ask, but need vibes again...

white cat lover

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Now that you know it isn't RA, I hope it's something that's got an easy "fix factor"!
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by kluchetta

BUT, my CRP (cardio reactive protein) level is extremely high. It's supposed to be between 1 and 3. And it's 60.2!!!
They say that means some sort of inflammation so I have to call a rheumatologist. And things still hurt. Mostly my ankle right now. How bizarre is that? Anyway, the vibes worked, no RA that they can tell!
There's such thing as seronegative RA - I don't mean to scare you, but just so you and everyone else knows...

Was your esr/sed rate up too? Another possiblity is that you could have a bad infection, that will set off some of those tests too.

What other tests did you have? ANA? Anti-ccp (better test for checking for RA), did they do any tissue typing?

Good luck getting into a rheumatologist! If it looks like it's going to take two or three months and there are any tests your GP hasn't done yet, you might want to ask to have them done so as to speed things up when you do get in to see the rheumatologist.
 
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kluchetta

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

There's such thing as seronegative RA - I don't mean to scare you, but just so you and everyone else knows...

Was your esr/sed rate up too? Another possiblity is that you could have a bad infection, that will set off some of those tests too.

What other tests did you have? ANA? Anti-ccp (better test for checking for RA), did they do any tissue typing?

Good luck getting into a rheumatologist! If it looks like it's going to take two or three months and there are any tests your GP hasn't done yet, you might want to ask to have them done so as to speed things up when you do get in to see the rheumatologist.
I did know about seronegative RA.
The Dr. said my sed rate was either zero or negative. I asked about the anti-ccp test, and the Dr. said the Rheumatologist would do that. I can't go until March, anyway. I have possible jury duty all of February.
 

babyharley

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Originally Posted by white cat lover

Now that you know it isn't RA, I hope it's something that's got an easy "fix factor"!
I am sending you many more vibes!
I'm so glad they ruled out RA
 

strange_wings

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How are you going to get through jury duty? I hope you can keep your pain under control the best you possibly can.
Sitting for long periods of time is torture for me, but that's because of the particular joints affected.
-You may want to tell them ahead of time if you'll need extra breaks or anything. They have to reasonably allow you some.

Did your doctor at least prescribe some NSAIDs and other medication to help?
Ice might be a bit helpful, at the very least once it's starts numbing the area there's a little relief.
 

ldg

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Aw sweetie - good news it's not RA, but bad news you have to wait until MARCH to keep working on it!!!! ???? UGH.

Sending vibes you find a quick (and easy!) solution and that you're out of the pain woods soon.


Laurie
 
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kluchetta

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Aw thanks everyone...it won't hurt to sit because it's my hands and ankles. And knees now. But it's feeling like the ibuprofen 3 every 6 hours - is not working as well any more.


It's ok waiting until March - they probably wouldn't be able to get me in until then anyway. I don't think there's such thing as a rheumatological "emergency" LOL.

It kinda stinks because I was so happy that I didn't have any pain since my hip got fixed and now this happened.
 
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kluchetta

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Still having a lot of pain, and now I'm getting red, warm, swollen spots on my hands and feet (over the joints). I can't play my instrument.


But the good news is that I called the Dr. and got a new rx for inflammation - so hopefully that will help. And I have a rheumatologist appointment on Feb. 5.
 

celestialrags

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I am glad you don't have to wait til march.
I hope the new rx for inflamation works better for you, I feel bad knowing you are having do live with pain, I wish I could be around more to see how yoy are doing.
Feel better.
we are always thinking of you.
 
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kluchetta

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Originally Posted by celestialrags

I am glad you don't have to wait til march.
I hope the new rx for inflamation works better for you, I feel bad knowing you are having do live with pain, I wish I could be around more to see how yoy are doing.
Feel better.
we are always thinking of you.
Thanks much! Last night was agonizing. The new prescription seemed to do absolutely nothing.

BUT...this morning I called the doctor, and she said it would take a few days to really start working, so that was great to hear. She also called in a prescription for Vicodin for the pain, so I was actually able to work a little today. Typing's not real easy right now, but it'll get better!
 

ldg

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Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry! But I'm VERY glad to hear your rheumatologist appointment got moved up so much!


that those anti-inflammatory pills kick in quick! Was it Celebrex? When they pulled Vioxx, that's what my dad started taking for the RA. (He's diabetic, and this is a side-effect).

Wishing you pain free days and nights!



Laurie
 
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kluchetta

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Originally Posted by LDG

Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry! But I'm VERY glad to hear your rheumatologist appointment got moved up so much!


that those anti-inflammatory pills kick in quick! Was it Celebrex? When they pulled Vioxx, that's what my dad started taking for the RA. (He's diabetic, and this is a side-effect).

Wishing you pain free days and nights!



Laurie
I am allergic to Celebrex - so it's something called Etodolac or Lodine (generic).

The Vicodin helped a LOT, but not for as long as it's supposed to.
 
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kluchetta

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I have my rheumatologist appointment today, so I'll possibly know more later! Wish me luck!
 
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kluchetta

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Thanks all! The doctor was really nice. She spent almost a full hour with me, ordered more blood tests, started a new med and continued my others, and wants to see me in 6 weeks.

So it's confirmed that I'm not crazy or making it up. I do have tender spots that seem a lot like RA, but the bruising coloration I'm getting over the spots is not typical so she's reluctant to call it RA so quickly. I keep on the painkillers, the anti-inflammatories, and add to it another drug that stops the body from attacking itself. Pretty good news all in all.
 

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Last year I had the same symptoms for several months. The pain would be intence for several hours in my wrists and then all at once the pain would go away but then the pain would pop up somewhere else a few minutes later. I went to the doctor thinking it was arthritise or carpall tunnel. I had several tests done but everything came back normal except I had low iron. The doctor put me on some over-the-counter iron pills and I haven't had the pain again. I hope everything turns out ok.
 
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kluchetta

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That's great!


It's totally possible that.it is a virus/bacterium or some such that is causing it. Especially since I responded so well to the "crap drug," (the doctor's words, LOL) Lodine!
 
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