Confused!! Its positive though....

kirst74
kirst74 Member Posts: 72
edited 20. Nov 2014, 11:08 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi hope everyone is okay.

Have just returned from rheum appointment.
Now I am confused. Saw consultant. It felt pretty rushed.
All bloods were normal. Said x rays were "pretty good" Said I have"wear and tear in joints"
She said that I "definitely do not have Rheumatoid arthritis" . Factor negative. That's all I could really hear. Which is fabulous, its all blurry in my brain as I really do not have any answers. I don't think she knew.
The MRI for my hands results are not in yet (after a month) and she said that she will phone me this week as will chase it up. If it shows inflammation, will discuss "stronger medication"
As it stands she has prescribed hyroxychloroquine.
Discussed Raynauds syndrome too.
She did though mention hyper mobility. I certainly cannot bend my body in weird shapes!! Do I have an inflammatory arthritis or not? no idea. Does that explain why I have drift of my fingers and my toes are deformed? not a clue. She seemed to think it due to my ligaments/tendons being all loose and stretched and said they could be easily fixed.
Have another appointment with consultant April next year. Confused has been the word of the day. Said it 100 times it feels.............But it all really is all good, but doctors do make us feel its in our heads a bit.
Kirstyxx :? :? :?

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Right, 'wear and tear' is osteo, and it's not unknown on here for OA-ers to have a history of hyper-mobility. OA can be accompanied by inflammation (many on here take an anti-inflammatory as well as pain relief) but, although she said you don't have RA, that doesn't mean that you don't have some form of auto-immune malarkey going on.

    It's a good start that you have the hydroxy, it's not one I've had but hopefully others on here can tell you a little about it. I for one am pleased that she will be seeing you again - that shows an interest in you as a patient. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    No helpful advice to give but I'm glad you got some answers.
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • phoenixoxo
    phoenixoxo Member Posts: 625
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kirsty,

    Well done for getting through your appointment. I'm not surprised it all felt a bit rushed, with so much to take in and process :?

    I can't add much to what the others have said, but I'm pleased you've made a start and I hope that the MRI results help your consultant to arrive at a fuller picture. In the meantime, good luck with the hydroxy! :)

    Best wishes,
    Phee
    PsA (psoriatic arthritis) and other things since 1990. Happy to help when I can :-)
  • theresak
    theresak Member Posts: 1,998
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm glad you've got your appointment out of the way, Kirsty - and that you have a follow-up, in case you have further questions/issues. Hopefully the MRI result may make things clearer.

    Has the consultant prescribed hydroxychloroquine for the hypermobility? It's just I take that alongside my humira for my RA. Make sure you have your eyes tested before starting the hydroxychloroquine - it can affect your sight. You should also have an Amler chart to check your vision each month.

    Tezz x
  • kirst74
    kirst74 Member Posts: 72
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi all,
    Thanks for kind words.
    Consultant mentioned getting an eye test, but not before starting medication! She did mention the potential of affecting sight.

    I was in and out of appointment in 15 minutes and when she was talking about the medication a colleague entered the room, there went the train of thought....

    Did not say it was or not inflammatory of some kind. She mentioned the hyper mobility. All my research today (recognised sites of course NHS etc) said that the standard treatments for that is analgesia/physio - but consultant said that the hydroxy would possibly help with the stiffness/joints/exhaustion as well as the anti-inflammatory medication, that's why I am confused!

    kirstyxx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I don't think she believes it's in your head partly because she wants to see you again and partly because she has prescribed hydroxychloroquine. Hydroxy is a DMARD albeit a very mild one. I've taken it for years along with methotrexate for my RA.

    Rheumatologists don't normally treat OA. I think that, by prescribing the hydroxy and wanting to see you again, she feels you have some form of inflammatory arthritis even though it's not RA. They can be elusive little beasts to put names to. Some on here go for years with a diagnosis of 'inflammatory arthritis' until something else makes it clear which kind they have.

    You should have the eye test though I've never had the chart that Tezz mentions. Are you taking two tablets daily? That's the usual starting dose.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • kirst74
    kirst74 Member Posts: 72
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, hope everyone is okay. My starter dose is 200 for a week then up to 400. So we will see!! Will organise a test asap. Have a nice day all,

    Kirstyxx
  • theresak
    theresak Member Posts: 1,998
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Kirsty, you need the eye test BEFORE starting the hydroxy so your optician has a "base-line" against which to measure any changes.

    The Amler chart is a grid on a white background with a black dot in the centre. You check one at a time, covering the other, to see if there are any "blind spots."

    You have to use a high SPF too, while on the Hydroxy.
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