bloods normal, xray normal, now what?

purpleunicorn

Well, just had my second lot of blood results back and apparently they are also normal. Xrays showed nothing so what happens now? What is causing the joint pain, the brain fog, the fatigue? I don't think the GP will do anything more now.

Do I just accept it?

X

phoenixoxo

Hi purpleunicorn,

Just a thought: has your GP ever mentioned fibromyalgia? My best friend has been experiencing symptoms like yours for years, and just before Christmas she had this diagnosis.

I don't know much about it myself, so I hope others here will be of more use!

Best wishes,
Phoebe

purpleunicorn

Hi Phoebe

No, the GP's haven't mentioned anything bar menopause and muscle strain! Trouble is I never see the same one twice. But fibro has been mentioned to me by others and I have to say I think it does fit. I'm not sure how to approach it now though, as my GPs at least seem to have a God complex and get very affronted if a mere mortal offers a suggestion. I am going to try and get in to see the dr tomorrow morning to discuss the results so any ideas on how to ask would be much appreciated.

Thanks

X

traluvie

My bloods and xrays were normal at start, it was a bone scan that showed my arthritis,what has your GP said is the next step?

bubbadog

I have to agree with Tracey, I would ask for a bone density scan, that's how must of us got diagnosied.

ritwren

I hope your appointment with your GP went well Purple Unicorn. I know it's difficult to suggest things to Dr's but sometimes it has to be done.
I'm no Dr but I do have Fibromyalgia as well as PA and OA and it could well be the fibro that's affecting you.
Good luck. Rita.

CJHunter

Hi Purple, as you know I have gone through this whole process of bloods, xrays bah blah blah, and I asked to see the consultant at Guys who specialises in PA and Fibro, well it did the trick as i now have a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Ask GP to be refered to rule things out, I hope they will agree to this and things get sorted hun. xx

purpleunicorn

Hi everyone

Well, I have just slept another day away. This is ridiculous. Very little pain today but this fatigue is killing me.

I rang up to make an appt to discuss the blood test results but they wouldn't see me as it wasn't an emergency. I asked to make an appt for another day and you can't, it's ludicrous. She asked the GP to ring me, which she did just now (and it's only that reason I am awake now). Anyway, I think the fact that I sounded so 'out of it' helped! I have to now go in on Monday afternoon to see what happens next. If they have exhausted all blood tests they will surely have to refer me now?

x

phoenixoxo

Hi again purple,

That's great news, that you've got an appointment fairly soon. Sorry about your GPs' God complex, though. My current doc is fine, a good listener and open to suggestions, but the previous chap didn't take me seriously about my arthritis pain until I cried out of sheer frustration. Would it help to present a list of all your symptoms and how they impact on your daily life? Hope you get a referral!

Best wishes,
Phoebe

CJHunter

phoenixe wrote:

Hi again purple,

That's great news, that you've got an appointment fairly soon. Sorry about your GPs' God complex, though. My current doc is fine, a good listener and open to suggestions, but the previous chap didn't take me seriously about my arthritis pain until I cried out of sheer frustration. Would it help to present a list of all your symptoms and how they impact on your daily life? Hope you get a referral!

Best wishes,
Phoebe

Yes I totally agree with Phoenixe, a list of symptoms, how they effect you daily hun, I did send you the pain map didnt I??
The fatigue is often so bad for me too i just have to sleep b4 i fall asleep on the spot.
Its horrible cos you feel like you are wasting your life, i know. I do empathise hun. I hope you get to see a nice GP and get a referal to someone soon.xx

purpleunicorn

I'm going to write a list of symptoms and effects on my daily living and take it with me on Monday. Clare, yes you did send me the pain map and I've filled it out this afternoon...so many red and orange stickers, and a key to what the colours mean. I've labelled it so there is no confusion! I don't know what else they can do except refer me.

I had a bit of a row with my mum on the phone tonight too...it pees me off so much when someone dismisses how you feel. I tell her how much pain I'm in and she says 'oh it's a touch of rheumatism', I tell her I slept all day and she says 'it's the sleeping tablets' which I rarely take. Today I told her about the brain fog and she actually sniggered and said 'God that happens to every woman, it's because we have so much going on in our heads'. At which point I got really annoyed and told her if she was going to keep trivialising how bad I feel I just wouldn't bother talking to her.

All in all not the best of days.

X

phoenixoxo

Hi hun,

Sorry you had a row with your mum last Friday - it can be irritating enough not to be taken seriously by medical folk, let alone family members!

How was your appointment today? I thought Clare's pain map sounded promising.

Best wishes,
Phoebe

amyloveheart

I have exactly the same problem!

My name is Amy and I'm 18 years old. I've suffered with painful joints since I was about 11 years old. During that time I've had many flare ups, sometimes so bad I can't get out of bed. Both my father and my grandmother have rheumatoid arthritis, and have had since they were both very young. My pain started in my right knee, then moved to both my knees, I've since had trouble with my hips, my right elbow and my right shoulder. My shoulder is whats hurting at the moment, it's so bad when I wake in the mornings, until the strong painkillers I have been prescribed to take kick in, I cannot move it. I've had several visits to the doctors and all the seem to do is tell me its an inflammatory problem and prescribe me more painkillers. I've had a blood test to check for rheumatoid arthritis, but it came back negative.

The only way I can describe my pain is, on a good day, I'm very aware of my joints, I can't straighten my knees to quickly, I have to take it slow. And on my bad days, its so excruciating I can hardly move, all I can do it cry.

I've spoken to my father many times and he says that that I'm experiencing sounds very similar to to pain, when he first started having it (all though his is much worse now as he has had it for nearly 40 years)

Every time I visit my doctor, they all seem to say the same thing, but I never get an answer. I was wondering could it be rheumatoid arthritis even if I tested negative? Has anyone had a similar experience as me?

PLEASE HELP!

purpleunicorn

Hi Phoebe, thanks for asking. I've just started another posts about my GP visit; he's pretty sure I have fibromyalgia after looking at my pain map and hearing about the fatigue etc. I have to go back next week to discuss further.

Hope you're ok

X