Hi

smile

Hi there,

Im new here, Ive not been diagnosed with arthritis, but Im thinking I might have it, thats a maybe. I will explain.

At the start of the year I had problems with tiredness eg weak arms and legs when I walked up stairs or lifted something. I was tested iron levels etc and they were normal.

Move forward until recently, maybe 2 weeks ago or a bit less I developed a pain in my groin, both sides. At times I had to stop walking. I was told it was a muscle strain which I didnt believe. Also from about 2 months ago I was getting times when my chest/back would have a deep ache, even at the sides of my ribs. I was told it was anxiety or asthma. Move forward again until a week ago. I was at work (quite a physical job) my neck, shoulders and back where hurting/aching. I cam home and they were still hurting, in the end I went to bed. By the next day I had pain in my feet, my toes, my hands, wrists, elbows, knee (at the top and tender at the top of the shin) and the back (like the back of where the hips are, just above the bum). That night I was in so much pain I had 3 hours sleep. The next day I was so worn out and in pain. That night I had one hours sleep. I went to the doctor was told I had an infection and was given antibiotics. Ive taken them everyday since, the only improvement is that I dont need to lay in bed everytime I get up to walk around. However I was back at work for a few days and I was in so much pain that I couldnt conentrate, I felt like I was going to fall asleep. When I wake up in the morning Im very tired and just want to lay back down. I just feel very unwell, tired and in pain. Ive read about nodules that you can have with arhtritis and I noticed that on my hand near the base of my thumb (both hands) I have a small hard lump and also right on the top of the crease of the wrist (top side). The only thing I can liken the ache/pain to is years ago I broke a bone in my wrist, shortly after when I went into the cold my wrist would ache. Ive found opening a bottle etc is harder than normal. One hand also had some swelling near the thumb and first finger.

I dont fancy going over the christmas/new year period feeling like this. The antibiotics are strong and Im taking 4 a day. Its almost a week and nothing has changed.

My problem is Ive seen so many doctors in the past year and a half and I dont think they believe me when I say how I feel. All because Ive suffered with depression.

Another problem Ive had in the last year is that Ive not been able to gain any weight or go above a certain weight. No one has been able to help say what is the cause.

Can anyone help with ideas of what could be going on, I know no one can diagnose or anything like that. I just feel like because no one can see the pain they dont believe I feel unwell.

Thanks

tillytop

Hello Smile and welcome to the forum.

I am so sorry you are feeling so terribly unwell at the moment and that you feel that the docs are not taking you seriously. i have been in that situation myself fairly recently and I know how hard it is. I know too, as will many of the other forum members how difficult it can be for others to understand how bad you feel when your pain isn't always obvious.

In terms of the arthritis (and, in fact in terms of your general health) has the doc done any blood tests? Although inflammatory arthritis can be hard to diagnose, usually blood tests at the GP are the first step (full blood count, ESR, CRP and possibly rheumatoid factor) and those results may show that there is inflammation in your body which needs investigating further. It is worth bearing in mind though that, if you DO have an infection, this may well affect the blood results anyway.

Difficult though it is when you feel you are not being listened to, I do think you need to go back to your GP to tell him that the antibiotics have not made a difference and to tell him again just how unwell you are feeling. Do you feel you could ask for some blood tests? I don't think that is unreasonable under the circumstances.

If you re-post your message on the Living with Arthritis forum, I am sure you will get some useful replies - more people look there.

Also you might like to consider calling the Arthritis Care Helpline for a chat and some advice. The number is at the top of the page.

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

smile

Thank you for the reply and advice.

I just hate going to the doctors through fear of being judged and Im not very good at suggesting they do blood tests etc.

I do have an appointment tomorrow that I was going to cancel, but with how Im feeling I just feel its important I see someone.

When I was given the antibiotics I was also given some anti-inflammatory medication (Meloxican or something like that, cant remember) to take once a day. I do believe that taking that is what helped me sleep after the first few nights with pain and not being able to sleep.

To be honest the doctor I saw diagnosed an infection by what I said and they asked me to squeeze their fingers. That was it, they didnt ask in detail about the pain, where it was, what it felt like nor did they even feel where it hurts.

I just dont know what to do tomorrow. Im just dreading work this week. I do four hour shifts with no break and you are constantly moving about. Today just putting shopping into a bad made my arms hurt/ache.

Thanks again

dreamdaisy

Hi smile, welcome to the forum. It can be very hard to get a doctor to listen to one sometimes, so why not write a list, just like your first post, and then just hand it over? You don't need to talk, he can read and hopefully your written word will have a greater impact. Two things must be remembered about docs: 1. They do not know everything. 2. They do not know everything. Oh, and there's a third thing - they do not know everything. GP means General Practitioner and that is what they are, they are not specialists. I think most of us on here (no matter what version of arthritis we have) feel tired: some of us can sleep for England and never feel lively, some of us rarely sleep well and suffer accordingly. It can be a long, long path to diagnosis and perhaps you will have to try to be a little more assertive - I know that isn't easy but waiting for your doctor to take action may waste too much time: I lost five years of possible treatment by just waiting. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow - ooh, another thought - is there anyone else in your immediate family with a similar problem with their joints? Arthritis does run in families and if there is, then that is further evidence to support your request for a blood test for RA (rheumatoid arthritis). That would be a starting point at least. Let us know how you get on, please. I wish you well. DD

smile

Thank you for the advice, Im going to go to the appointment as planned and will try to be more assertive. Im not too sure about family having athritis, but for some reason my late nan comes into mind, my she had many health problems. I cant even ask my family because to be honest they have been just as bad as the doctors telling me that I dont look unwell and there is probably nothing wrong.

I went to bed about 8pm last night and once again have woken up exhausted and aching. Its going to be one long day.

Will let you all know how I get on.

Thanks for the support.

tjt6768

Good luck with the appointment, remember, the doctor is there for your benefit, try to make them understand just how bad things are.. I know what you mean about 'not looking ill', I am that way sometimes and you can see it folk's eyes, thinking, nowt wrong with him.. Grrrrr....

Best wishes

tillytop

Morning Smile

I was pleased to read that you have decided to keep your doc's appt today. I do understand how hard it is and, if I had a pound for every time I have said "that's it, I'm never going back to the doc" I would be sunning myself on my very own Caribbean island by now!!!

I thought DD's idea of handing over a written list to the doc was a good one - I have done this myself in the past and it can make things easier.

Given that the GP prescribed an anti-inflammatory alongside the antibiotics, it does sounds as if he believes there is some inflammation going on somewhere and the fact that they made a difference should be of interest to the doc.

Really, really good luck with your appt today. Will be thinking of you. Please do post an update if you feel able.

Lots love Tilly xxx

smile

well the doctor I saw has given me some blood tests (have to go get it done) checking rheumatoid factor/ autoimmune screen/urate/ANA/vit d levels and calcium. This doctor said he cant say what is going on, but with these tests they can rule things out, but they are looking at inflammatory conditions.

On a side note, would inflammation problems cause stomach cramps and loose bowel movements. Since Ive felt unwell (and at times maybe a month ago) Ive had bad stomach cramps. Well today I spent about 15 mins on the toilet and then once more again. The stomach cramps have now gone.

I dont know what to do about work now, I work with the public so shouldnt actually be going in, but even after two days off last week I was theatened with discilpinary action. Thats how the company works.

dreamdaisy

Fistly, well done to you for keeping the appointment and asking for the blood tests - now go and get them done. I think it best if you try to ignore your family - are they doctors? Probably not! I have arthritis and I don't look ill - I look tired, yes, pale, yes, but not ill. I don't know about the second part of your question, whether inflammation would cause cramps etc: to me it would seem likely BUT I AM NOT A DOC. Let's take things one step at a time, get the blood results and work from that. I wish you well. DD

tillytop

Morning Smile

How are you doing today? I was so pleased to read that you felt able to go to your GP appt and to ask for the blood tests. Getting those done is a great first step towards finding out what is going on. Have you made an appt to have them done?

In terms of the stomach probs Smile, there are some auto-immune inflammatory conditions which I think can cause digestive problems but there could be any number of causes and it could be totally unrelated. Have you mentioned this to your GP cos I think it's important for him to have all the facts to help towards finding out what's going on.

Are you keeping a list of ALL your symptoms? I know it's a pain to do, specialy when you are feeling so unwell, but it can be useful to take along to docs appt - and for your own information. In terms of the iniflammation, it is worth keeping a note of how it is affecting you - for example do you have prolonged periods of stiffness when you wake, or when you have been immobile. How long does it last or is it continuous. That is the sort ot thing that a rheumatologist will want to know if you are referred following your blood tests.

What did you decide about work in the end yesterday? I am sorry your employers are not supportive.

Please do post again with an update when you feel able. Best place to post is the "Living with Arthritis" forum because your post will be seen by more people there. Also, you might find the "working matters" forum useful. Not sure if you are aware of that one.

Thinking of you.

Love Tilly xxx

frogmorton

Hi Smile

I have met you already on LWA today I know.I just wanted to say Hi offically

Bless you - i hope you get some help very soon - once you do life will be ok again.

Love and hugs

Toni xx

Colin1

Wow smile thats a bit of a story its awful when you feel that way .
Good luck with the appointment catch you soon

Colin