Sero-negative inflammatory arthritis

woodbon

Hi, Well that sounds like a really good chat you've had and I'm sure it was a relief to get some answers. I hope now that you will be soon feeling better. It must have been a relief not to have liver problems.
Take care, love Sue

salamander

woodbon wrote:

Hi, Well that sounds like a really good chat you've had and I'm sure it was a relief to get some answers. I hope now that you will be soon feeling better. It must have been a relief not to have liver problems.
Take care, love Sue

Thanks Sue and Princess, yes it is a relief and I feel much better about everything. Feels less overwhelming. First time I've seen this doc and she spent a lot of time reassuring me and giving me info I need. Thanks to you both for your support. Going out for din dins with my family tonight, going to make the most of the wine given starting mtx soon!
love S

Starburst

I thought I'd mention this here; I saw an opthalmologist who performed some baseline eye tests that I needed before starting hydroxychloroquine. Years ago, I had an disease of the cornea, which went into remission. He said it was autoimmune, which I did not know. It comes in flares of inflammation. I wonder if it's related to my arthritis. He's going to write to my rheumy and also, tell him that my eyes are slightly dry, he said there can sometimes be a link. I didn't know this either. Is dry eyes a common symptom?

stepdeb

princess01 wrote:

I thought I'd mention this here; I saw an opthalmologist who performed some baseline eye tests that I needed before starting hydroxychloroquine. Years ago, I had an disease of the cornea, which went into remission. He said it was autoimmune, which I did not know. It comes in flares of inflammation. I wonder if it's related to my arthritis. He's going to write to my rheumy and also, tell him that my eyes are slightly dry, he said there can sometimes be a link. I didn't know this either. Is dry eyes a common symptom?

Hi Princess,
Yes, dry eyes is associated with RA. Uveyetis is associated with psoriac arthritis - that is pain in the eye. I went to optician yesterday and was told this as I have dry eyes.
Hope that helps.
Debbie

stepdeb

sally36 wrote:

hi everyone, went to the doc this morning and thought I would let you know what she said. Basically, although my arthritis is sero-negative it is treated the same as rheumatoid and it is a well documented, tried and tested method - apparently! The liver tests were all ok i.e. I don't have hepatitis and she said that the reason they were so high in the summer is because of the general inflammation I was suffering. They are lower now as I am on steroids, as are all the other bloods.

She told me I was in charge of my treatment! And if I wanted to postpone taking mtx until new year, that was fine. So that's what I am going to do.

I spent most of the consultantion crying, which I am somewhat embarrassed about but the reason being it is my birthday and my mum died a few weeks ago and I'm missing her badly today. Not that I ever saw her on my birthday but she always called and I am sad she is not around. That and the recent diagnosis and being on steroids is making me very weepy. But am doing ok really, especially with all your support here.
S xx

Hi Sally,

Happy Birthday, hope you have had a great evening with your family. Sorry about your mum.
Really pleased that your blood results are OK. I don't know for sure but think the inflammation in your body may contribue to being weepy. I find I am crying one day and up another - I have never felt so out of control with my moods. My temperature is all over the place etc. I too will start mxt in the new year - so lets see how things go!
Debbiex

salamander

stepdeb wrote:

sally36 wrote:

hi everyone, went to the doc this morning and thought I would let you know what she said. Basically, although my arthritis is sero-negative it is treated the same as rheumatoid and it is a well documented, tried and tested method - apparently! The liver tests were all ok i.e. I don't have hepatitis and she said that the reason they were so high in the summer is because of the general inflammation I was suffering. They are lower now as I am on steroids, as are all the other bloods.

She told me I was in charge of my treatment! And if I wanted to postpone taking mtx until new year, that was fine. So that's what I am going to do.

I spent most of the consultantion crying, which I am somewhat embarrassed about but the reason being it is my birthday and my mum died a few weeks ago and I'm missing her badly today. Not that I ever saw her on my birthday but she always called and I am sad she is not around. That and the recent diagnosis and being on steroids is making me very weepy. But am doing ok really, especially with all your support here.
S xx

Hi Sally,

Happy Birthday, hope you have had a great evening with your family. Sorry about your mum.
Really pleased that your blood results are OK. I don't know for sure but think the inflammation in your body may contribue to being weepy. I find I am crying one day and up another - I have never felt so out of control with my moods. My temperature is all over the place etc. I too will start mxt in the new year - so lets see how things go!
Debbiex

Hi Debbie, I had a lovely evening thanks, went to a tapas bar - lovely grub and lots of rjoca (drank too much to spell it Feel a lot better this evening and had a chat to my sisters about mum and that helped too. I think you are right about the inflammation, my moods are all over the place, factor in steroids and bereavement and I haven't got a chance really. Yes, let's compare notes in the new year about mtx - am sure it will hep us both. Sally x

salamander

stepdeb wrote:

princess01 wrote:

I thought I'd mention this here; I saw an opthalmologist who performed some baseline eye tests that I needed before starting hydroxychloroquine. Years ago, I had an disease of the cornea, which went into remission. He said it was autoimmune, which I did not know. It comes in flares of inflammation. I wonder if it's related to my arthritis. He's going to write to my rheumy and also, tell him that my eyes are slightly dry, he said there can sometimes be a link. I didn't know this either. Is dry eyes a common symptom?

Hi Princess,
Yes, dry eyes is associated with RA. Uveyetis is associated with psoriac arthritis - that is pain in the eye. I went to optician yesterday and was told this as I have dry eyes.
Hope that helps.
Debbie

P & D, yes, I've got dry eyes too! What a coincidence Sally x

woodbon

HI Annie,
It's a shame, I know and sad, but as someone born with 2 left feet and too embarresed about showing of my 'skills' on the dance floor, when youger, I envy you your memories. All those dresses.... Did you wear the layers of net, that stick out? You must have some wonderful memories and anyone that can dance or used to dance, is someone I think must be really clever. Love Sue

lynnemarie

hi I too have sero neg arthur and like loads of others took ages to diganose - was quite a relief when they eventually did.

mine is/was sero neg spondy - which is now slightly changed as i have 2 patches of dry skin which they say is phorasis (spelt wrong sorry) mine could have either gone this way/bowel disease or some other way i cant remember which. I know its a immune system default so that your body is attacking itself - so the drugs slow down the disease. i have been informed that it is supposed to be quite mild, there has been times when it doesn't feel like that!!

I do get very tired but are never sure if that is because of working part time, looking after 2 small children and life style etc.

the only bit of advice i can give you, is you can cope, life can be normalish - it is a huge shock to the system and and in the early days it was all i thought about, however it gets easier, the drugs work to a certain extent and it isnt the only thing i think about to be honest sometimes i can go days without thinking about it - i have always wanted to be in control of arthur and not the other way round and some days i succeed!!

Good luck with your journey,

all the best xxxxx

salamander

lynnemarie wrote:

hi I too have sero neg arthur and like loads of others took ages to diganose - was quite a relief when they eventually did.

mine is/was sero neg spondy - which is now slightly changed as i have 2 patches of dry skin which they say is phorasis (spelt wrong sorry) mine could have either gone this way/bowel disease or some other way i cant remember which. I know its a immune system default so that your body is attacking itself - so the drugs slow down the disease. i have been informed that it is supposed to be quite mild, there has been times when it doesn't feel like that!!

I do get very tired but are never sure if that is because of working part time, looking after 2 small children and life style etc.

the only bit of advice i can give you, is you can cope, life can be normalish - it is a huge shock to the system and and in the early days it was all i thought about, however it gets easier, the drugs work to a certain extent and it isnt the only thing i think about to be honest sometimes i can go days without thinking about it - i have always wanted to be in control of arthur and not the other way round and some days i succeed!!

Good luck with your journey,

all the best xxxxx

thanks for that! All helps. S