I had my first appointment today

Julie10

Hello everyone. Just wanted to let you know the outcome as you were so helpful to me in preparing for the clinic visit. The pain map and my list of symptoms were a great help and saved lots of time. After looking at blood results and x-rays, questioning me and then examining me all over the doctor said that he was almost certain that it was RA. He did not want to start treatment until I have a whole body scan but I did go for more x-rays (wonder why a chest xray? - forgot to ask) and blood tests. He said that they will start treatment when all the results come back but I could wait 4-6 weeks for a scan. He wrote on my forms that it was early RA but said that, if he started treatment now, the scan wouldn't show a true picture - he wants to know the extent of it first. He showed me swollen areas which I hadn't even noticed. I have OA in my knees as and finger tips and in my ankles too. I didn't really expect to get this far today - I imagined they would wait until further tests were done but I asked him outright if he suspected we were looking at RA and he said that he did. I don't know how I feel - just a bit numb I suppose - but I am a positive person and will get my head around things.

Thanks again and I hope you're are all having a pain free or relatively pain free day.

Julie.

dreamdaisy

I am glad to hear your appointment went well. I suspect the chest Xray is to do with making sure that all is OK before they decide on what meds to offer so it's par for the course. DD

Ankyspond

Thats great news that you are getting somewhere, bad news you have RA! Glad the pain map helped to make things easier for you. As DD said the chest X Rays will be to prepare you for any medication you can't go on Sulpasalazine, Methotrexate etc until you have had one. At least you are being treated, so pleased for you. xx

frogmorton

Hi Julie

well good result there and a good rheumatologist

But you WILL feel mixed emotions for a good while l did for a long time.

Keep posting and we willl be here to help you through whiel you get your head around it all.

Love

and HUGS

Toni xx

Julie10

Thanks to all three of you! I am going to read up all I can while I wait to be called in for my scan. My hands are so painful tonight - it was my first full shift back at work this afternoon but I am mentally tired after such an important day. I'll try and work my way through all the posts in here as I'm bound to pick up better advice than anywhere else.

Bye for now, Julie.

tjt6768

Sorry I'm only just welcoming you Julie, I'm not on the ball at the minute. However.. Welcome from me, sounds like you've got a good rheumy team. I hope that they can get some form if treatment etc sorted soon.

Best wishes...

stickywicket

I'm sure you will get your head round it, Julie. And we'll all be here to help you. Don't forget AC put out some good booklets - top of the page, 2nd from right, Publications & Resources. You'll get there.

valval

what a great appointment it sounds far better than mine went so glad you have such a great team looking after you val

hileena111

Hi Julie
Thats great news.....sounds a very good appointment and a very good rheumy

Love
Hileena

Julie10

I'm sorry to be late replying to you Tony, Stickywicket, Val and Hileena. I have taken a couple of days to get my thoughts together but, yes, I am pleased that the appointment went the way it did despite getting the diagnosis I didn't want. And I have my scan date already! Lss than 2 weeks to wait even though they told me it might be 4-6 weeks so that's reassuring as it will mean they might start treatment soon after that. Does an ultrasound scan show inflammation that an x-ray can't show? And do you usually have a choice with Methotrexate - injection or tablet form? I would prefer injections but imagine it may not be up to me!

Best wishes,

Julie x

DebraKelly

Hi Julie,

Glad you first appointment went well. It does help if you have a good consultant. I have a really good one too.

You will be getting a chest exray to see if your lungs can cope with the treatment/medicationt that you will be receiving.

I got this done at the start of my treatement too.

Although it was funny when I got my chest exray done as I am rather large chested :oops: the nurse as me to stick my chest out, I just gave him a funny look!

dreamdaisy

I think the traditional start is meth tablets, probably at a low dose which can be gradually increased if needed. Every situation is different however, your rheumatologist might have a different approach. DD

tjt6768

Well best of luck with the scan Julie... I haven't been started on any of those drugs (as yet) but was started on the hydroxychloroquine but it didn't really do anything for me.. Anyway, best of luck, we will all pop in your pockets on the day...
We are sometines a bit roudy and mischievious but on the whole ok

Julie10

Ha ha thank you Tony - that's very kind of you! And thanks for posting too DD Debra, your post gave me a good giggle! I hope I will be able to support people on here properly myself once I have become more familiar with this whole arthritis business. I am taking notice of other symptoms I have now though in case they are relevant - it really does make you focus being told you have something like this that isn't going to go away. I am having pain on the soles of my feet and also a burning behind my breastbone as soon as I eat or drink anything. My eyes are particularly blurry today with pain behind them too. I realise all these things could be irrelevant to RA but it's best to mention them I suppose. Thank you agin for all your replies!

Julie x

tjt6768

I know that others always say to keep a pain diary, something I really should keep myself but I am soooo useless at things like that lol.

Might help though

julie47

Hi Julie

I am glad your appointment went well at the rhummy. Its good that they are testing you further with the scan and the results of that will start you on the right sort of medication.

Take care
Love Juliepf x

frogmorton

Hi Julie

glad you are still posting it DOES help doesn't it??

I think you are beginning to get your head round it all?

keep us up to date and do what Tony says...keep a pain diary - it helps them and you and makes appointments so much more efficient!!

and you don't leave thinking....'l wish l had said......'

Love

Toni xx

stickywicket

Are you taking any anti-inflammatories, Julie? I ask because they can affect the stomach and your 'burning behind the breastbone' after eating could be caused by them. Usually a stomach protector is prescribed with them. In any case do mention it when you see the doc as it'll help him/her get your meds right. And,if you're taking any pills in the meantime, always take them with food.

hileena111

Hi Julie,
Glad you havent lost us
Its a good place to be isnt it.....I've not been posting much this past few days because I've been sick and a blinding headache {nothing to do with arthritis} Yes if you take anti inflammatories ask your doc about omneprozol or the other one i forget...lan...something or other
I had to ask my GP for something like that and he said why??? I reminded him of the amount of tablets i was taking and he gave me a prescription for them


Love
Hileena

Julie10

Hello all! Thanks for the advice and, yes, this place is such a help! At the moment I am still just taking Brufen and the Codeine which was prescribed by my GP. I do take a lot of meds for other problems though so I think I do need to ask about a stomach protector. I was just wondering whether most of you still suffer significant daily discomfort and pain even though you take meds to help (I understand that the Methotrexate doesn't treat the pain)? I have come to realise that a couple of months ago the pain in my hands was nowhere near as bad as it is now and I could turn door knobs and open jars and bottles with no problem. I had "aches" before then but nothing like this. Painkillers only seems to dull the pain - is that the best I can hope for? I am keeping a pain diary and it's this which has hi-lighted the fact that it's a daily part of my life at the moment.

Hileena, sorry to hear of your headaches and sickness - hope you're feeling better today.

Thanks again everyone, hope it's a good weekend for you all.
Julie x

hileena111

Hi Julie,
Not feeling so bad today thanks and hopefully it will clear completely as the day goes on.
I've hired a scooter from Newcastle for a few hours today. I've got one but it comes to pieces and lives in Peters car. He has a very sore back today so I wouldnt ask him to take it out and assemble it and then take it to pieces and put it back in the car when he is like this.
So hopefully a drive in the fresh air will help...I do have a car lOL but thats not in the fresh air LOL
I've got OA but usually the pain doesnt go completely.....but I feel much better and can do things easier.....and bit by bit I've figured out how to do things to make life easier
Love Hileena

stickywicket

Julie, I'm afraid the misnamed 'painkillers' don't. They dull the pain, that's all. We all have to find our own ways of living with it and reducing it as much as possible. You do get used to it.

As for opening jars and turning door knobs now hurting your hands - I suggest you buy anything you can to help. Change the knobs to handles. Buy an electric jar opener. There's no point in incurring more pain than is necessary.

If you are taking Brufen & other meds I think you need a stomach protector asap. You have enough pain & discomfort to put up with that can't be taken away. Best to ensure you don't get any extra unnecessary ones.