Rheumy update...

traluvie

What an awful long day yesterday was..
Left the house at 9 quite bright, arrived back home at 5.45 an exhausted mess lol...What a journey.. do not want to be doing that in a hurry again..
Anyway after arriving at the hospital at quarter past 11 i was sat fidgeting for over an hour,..was uncomfortable but was thinking of you all in my pockets with them egg sarnies and box of chocolates ... lol
Finally i got called in ,, and DD i remembered to press record on my phone woo hoo lol..
We talked through my medication and how i was getting on. In regards to my vitamin D defficiency i will have to take the calci chew tablets for life, but can lower dose over summer months...
He was happy about the hydroxy working, although i did say i noticed the pain increasing slightly..He is happy for me to continue on these and maybe lower dose in 6 months if still effective. but would not want to try another tablet at the moment..I said i was happy with what i am taking at the moment and felt there was no need to increase anything..
I then explained that although i was happy with my pain, my mobility was becoming an issue due to th epain in my hips and knees..
He asked about my pain and said i was to have hip and full back xrays..
I asked him wether he thought it was inflammatory or osteo arthritis in my hips and he said well if your asking me if you have severe arthritis in hips and need an operation the answer is no(i never asked that lol) but there is a good chance there is some irritaion??
does irritaion mean arthritis??
Asked him if he was any closer to having a diagnosis, he said because my bllods have come back ok in regards to auto immune, RF and esr etc but my bone scan showed inflammation in various joints it is hard to pinpoint a diagnosis with so many types of inflammatory arthritis..
He has said he will see me in 12 months time and if my symptoms become worse i can ring up his secretary and make an appointment..That fine with me, not like i am going to be having a miracle cure lol.. i'm comfortable with my pain levelsat the moment (apart from my hips and knees)thats the important thing.
Went and had my xrays, whata long process that was too, i was just happy to have it all done at once so i didn't have to come back in a hurry.
Rheumy said he will write to me with xray results, either way though the xray will just confirm things or not so will still be in the same position i presume..
My friend asked how i think it went..I told her i have now accepted i have arthritis and it is not going anywhere in a hurry so i have no problems really with the outcome..
My Oh on the other hand is fuming.. he can't seem to understand how they can leave me the way i am just to get on with it..I have tried explaining things to him but he doesn't seem to accept it.. he wants a miracle cure i think , i told him it is not possible... so wasn't very talkative last night..any ideas what to say to him???
I have rambled on haven't i lol.. am lay in bed very stiff and sore this morning doesn't help i have had to try and dash to the toilet too, bit worse for wear this morning... still smiling though.. just lol..
Right i am going to shut up rambling and go and catch up on yesterdays posts..Thanks for your support yesterday.. i was chuckling to myself when i was thinking of a few people from here.. you kept me going..

nanasue

Oh Tracy, I have just read your post after seeing your answer to mine. You took the time to reply even though you're feeling rough at the moment. I wish I could help in some way, you shouldn't have to put up with pain and stiffness in your hips if the other meds aren't cutting it. At least he said you can ring up if it gets worse. Sorry I have to go now OH is moaning as we need to go shopping and he likes to go in McD for breakfast first. I'll PM you later. Take care, chin up,love and ((()))

Sue x

dreamdaisy

Ye gods girl, that was a long day. You are very philosophical at the moment and I hope that stays a while 'cos it helps. I can understand your OH's reaction to it all: men like to fix, we cannot be fixed and they do become very frustrated about that. Mr DD has also had similar feelings but 15 years on he doesn't worry about it now - we now know I is never going to be as I was!

Still keep a record/diary of what is what, good and bad. Diagnosis can take time, ensure you do keep in touch with him - write to him every now and again - so you can easily get back into the system if required. If you do not hear about the Xray result within a few weeks then chase - I am sure you know the drill by now: tiring, isn't it, on top of everything else. Rest up today, you will need to, keep up with the dullers, and hang on to the philosophical thing for as long as you can. DD

traluvie

Thanks Nanasue..It's all about supporting eachother, if i can offer support i will, appreciate your kind words..

DD..Philosiphical i am trying to remain..Smile is wearing thin at the moment.. i have challenged myself to get washed and dressed and move downstairs so i can make meself a brew an slice of toast for my tablets..OMG.. :eek: hard work or what lol..am now comfortable(as best as can be)on the settee surrounded by cushions..These hips are certainly giving me pay back for yesterday..Reckon i will stay put on here till kids and OH back from work..Have placed a small stool at side of me with tablets water and phone..have bottle wione in fridge may even drink that see if i feel better , thats what sticky would suggest lol...

Poppyg1rl

Oh Tracy, you poor thing, so much to go through in one day I do sympathise, it's exhausting.
Well done you for putting your feet up and relaxing, after the day you had yesterday you thoroughly deserve it.
Sending love and a gentle hug xxx

liesa

Hiya Tracy... ur oh sounds like mine, last night my righ hip went suddenly and i could walk... altho i did manage to struggle upstairs to spend a penny, got jammies on and then down here with cup of tea, an hour or two later we both went to bed, again i could barely walk, Steve was by now getting quite worried, i told him it the way it is... funny thing tho i slept soundly the whole night! hes just called me now to see how i am and to tell me how concerned he is. i dont see anyone for my arthritis, Steve cant understand how they can just leave me like this... he thinks cos ive had 6 kids that i have a high pain threshold i dont, i just get on with it, case of having to, our partners are so sweet and mean well but they just dont quiet get it, arthritis doesnt go anyway we just learn how to handle it....
sorry your stiff n sore but hey nice bottle of wine later should help lol
hope you have a nice restful day with no pain xxxxxx

traluvie

liesa wrote:

he thinks cos ive had 6 kids that i have a high pain threshold i dont, i just get on with it, case of having to, our partners are so sweet and mean well but they just dont quiet get it, arthritis doesnt go anyway we just learn how to handle it....

That is so true Leisa... i think my oh is baffled as to why i am just accepting thats it... suppose it is hard for them to see us suffering as we are..
Don't know about the pain free day, but the rest part i am doing lol..Hope your not too bad today..x

stickywicket

traluvie wrote:

have bottle wione in fridge may even drink that see if i feel better , thats what sticky would suggest lol...

Hey, my reputation goes before me! Not at 10am I wouldn't! Or alone. I do have some limits, you know, to my life of debauchery.

Traluvie, you must have had an exhausting day yesterday. It's not only the physical stuff. It's the mental effort of trying to hang on to so much info and then the emotional stuff can kick in too, especially when OHs don't get it. Like DD says, men are fixers. Even now, the minute something new goes wrong Mr SW wants to cart me off to the docs as if all he needs to do is put a bit of elastoplast on and kiss it better. (Mind you, if it were the new, young fit guy, I might be willing to give it a try.)

Go easy on yourself today. (Then get the bottle out this evening.)

traluvie

stickywicket wrote:

traluvie wrote:

have bottle wione in fridge may even drink that see if i feel better , thats what sticky would suggest lol...

Hey, my reputation goes before me! Not at 10am I wouldn't! Or alone. I do have some limits, you know, to my life of debauchery.

Traluvie, you must have had an exhausting day yesterday. It's not only the physical stuff. It's the mental effort of trying to hang on to so much info Go easy on yourself today. (Then get the bottle out this evening.)

Your right it is a wee bit early..i shall have a drink with you later..that bottle in my fridge has cobwebs on it, it has been there for so long lol..

Your right it was an exhausting day,.. hileena gave me a great idea about writing down what rheumy says.. i knew that would be impossible for me to do so i downloaded an application on my phone and recorded the converstaion, so i now have it saved on my phone..my phone is my new memory..

frogmorton

Hi Tracy

Nearly missed this luvie l am sorry :oops:

Sounds like a plan to me. l am like you happy so long as things are pretty well ok. l dont expect miracles either.

Those x rays are what you really did want aren't they? and if there is a problem then you will hear what and what can be done.

My husband always wants things 'fixed' as well and doesn't understand that is not always the case :roll:

I think the girls dun good there and overall a good appointment especially as you can get you next appointment sooner if you need to.

Love and hugs

Toni xx

traluvie

frogmorton wrote:

Hi Tracy

I think the girls dun good there and overall a good appointment especially as you can get you next appointment sooner if you need to.

Love and hugs

Toni xx

Exactly Luvie, an open appointment so to speak, great comfort in knowing that...Yes the xrays were what i wanted, and glad they were done there and then, so i should get a letter off my rheumy with the results in the next few weeks..Will let you know..
How are you Toni??..x

Mat48

Well done traluvie for getting it all done as you had planned. That's probably why you're in such a positive frame of mind, despite feeling lousy physically today, because covering the priority areas is the main battle. I wish my rheumy was as ready to offer open appointment as yours. I asked him who I contact if I am worried about worsening symptoms and he looked baffled and said "well your GP or physio of course" and that was that.

Wish I could be as philosophical as you are about this arther - I just want a name for mine if it plans to stay around bothering me - before I can be remotely philosophical. The thought of just being abandoned to all this makes me very agitated. My hubby on the other hand just shrugs and says things like "oh well we will just have to think about moving to a house with less stairs one day" in matter of fact tone while he watches me hump down the stairs one at a time or on my bum! I think he considers it to be a great excuse for us to move to sunnier climbs where all will of course be well with our world, health, finances blah blah whereas I'm much more combative, impatient and pesimistic.

So it's not always the men that want to fix and women who can philosophise - we are the other way round in this household!

Good luck with keeping positive - if the x-rays come back and the hip proves to be something they can sort out then you're not really being left unfixed are you? Mat xx

Ps what did the rheumy say about you recording the consultation? I can't imagine mine liking that at all but will ask as it's a really great idea.

traluvie

Mat48 wrote:

Ps what did the rheumy say about you recording the consultation? I can't imagine mine liking that at all but will ask as it's a really great idea.

Mat i am naughty.. :roll: I didn't ask, i just pressed record on my phone as i was called in..I did it so i can remember what he said as my memory is terrible lately and you don't always take in what has been said, so i have it for my records now and can listen back.
I do not have a definitive diagnosis either, all i know is that it is inflammatory, what sort no1 knows, but i am happy that i am being treated and taken seriously,, not all of us can be fortunate like that..
I hope you get some comfort soon..

barbara12

Hi Tracy
Sorry this will be short, I am working off a dongle and it works when it feels like it
That was such a long day, know wonder you were exhausted...I really do wish you well with everything, and yes my OH is like yours..he thinks they are not doing enough...suppose that is what they do worry over us...
Now you get some rest..now dongle please work... :roll:

Mat48

Ha that makes me laugh! I'm married to a man who gets in such a tizz about all forms of indiscretion and is so law abiding I think it must have rubbed off temporarily. I'm doing it next time I meet the rheumy (end November) and I certainly won't ask for permission either!

Am still hoping that my arther's been a big red herring either from monopause or now the realisation that I've been taking 75 mgs too little of Levothyroxine because of stupid blase me not looking at boxes hard enough for a month. So far nothing's changed except in addition to all the joint pains and stiffness I've now got a splitting headache :evil

I admire your positive attitude a lot Toni and plan to try and emulate it re being undiagnosed. What role models in courage and patience so many of you are becoming - I hope you can all stand the pressure?! Mat xxx

traluvie

Mat it is hard to think about what is and what may become..If i'm honest i do not plan ahead i do not think too much into the future, I have only had my problems for just over 12 months now but i have come to the realisation it is not going away in a hurry lol..
I have always been a bubbly person and very active, now my life has changed dramatically.. This is how i look at it...i can either be miserable about it or try and remain bubbly for the sake of my children and my own sanity.. Not everyone is like that though, and thats fine too, everyone has there own way of dealing with things, i just try and remain positive, it certainly keeps me going on days like today lol.. Don't worry i am not perfect i can have a mental breakdown quite often
i shutr myself in the bathroom and have a good old cry, no1 is none the wiser..

traluvie

Barbera,

Thank you for going out of your way to reply, i appreciate it..Make sure you don't break that dongle in a fit of rage...