health crap
(Too lazy to retype all the info, this is from an email to my bf
as well as a posting at myspace.)
I saw my rheumatologist yesterday.
Initially, I made an appointment by the advice of a
consulting nurse when I called about a strange bump on the back of my hand.
I was worried it could be a nodule. Well, after all the neck pain this past
week, and then the onset (return) of the pain in my ankles (and later last
night my wrists), I figured I would have some more stuff to tell him
about. He was not too worried about the bump on my hand which might just be
a strange little bone difference in comparison to my other hand (though he
did comment that a knuckle on my right hand sticks out more than the one on
the left.) BUT when I told him about my neck and foot/ankle pain, he was
very curious and stated, "Well, these symptoms are compatible with the onset
of Rheumatoid Arthritis." He had me do some more blood work - a retake of my
Rheumatoid Factor, as well as a test he said they didn't have access to this
past year (for some reason?). It's called CPP and is supposed to be a bit
better at detecting RA. Anyway, I am so fatigued and so uncomfortable. I
hope this passes. Oh yeah, and he prescribed a medication which I am nervous
about taking because I hate meds altogether. It's called Piroxicam. It's
supposed to be a stronger type of ibuprofen, taken just once daily. I took
one tonight, but I am not supposed to feel the effects for a few more days
after I start taking them. Hmm, well, at least they're not "serious" meds .
. . yet. Hopefully I won't need anything stronger than this. We'll see. For
now, I am just feeling so whiny. My feet are sore, my wrists are sore,
and so on. He said that when there is inflammation in the
body (of someone w/RA), the body acts as though it has the flu. I wonder if
straining (and therefore causing inflammation in) my neck confused my body
into reacting this way and then set off my symptoms. The fatigue I feel is
not unlike when I have the flu. It's annoying. It's different from just
feeling tired from missing sleep.
as well as a posting at myspace.)
I saw my rheumatologist yesterday.
Initially, I made an appointment by the advice of a
consulting nurse when I called about a strange bump on the back of my hand.
I was worried it could be a nodule. Well, after all the neck pain this past
week, and then the onset (return) of the pain in my ankles (and later last
night my wrists), I figured I would have some more stuff to tell him
about. He was not too worried about the bump on my hand which might just be
a strange little bone difference in comparison to my other hand (though he
did comment that a knuckle on my right hand sticks out more than the one on
the left.) BUT when I told him about my neck and foot/ankle pain, he was
very curious and stated, "Well, these symptoms are compatible with the onset
of Rheumatoid Arthritis." He had me do some more blood work - a retake of my
Rheumatoid Factor, as well as a test he said they didn't have access to this
past year (for some reason?). It's called CPP and is supposed to be a bit
better at detecting RA. Anyway, I am so fatigued and so uncomfortable. I
hope this passes. Oh yeah, and he prescribed a medication which I am nervous
about taking because I hate meds altogether. It's called Piroxicam. It's
supposed to be a stronger type of ibuprofen, taken just once daily. I took
one tonight, but I am not supposed to feel the effects for a few more days
after I start taking them. Hmm, well, at least they're not "serious" meds .
. . yet. Hopefully I won't need anything stronger than this. We'll see. For
now, I am just feeling so whiny. My feet are sore, my wrists are sore,
and so on. He said that when there is inflammation in the
body (of someone w/RA), the body acts as though it has the flu. I wonder if
straining (and therefore causing inflammation in) my neck confused my body
into reacting this way and then set off my symptoms. The fatigue I feel is
not unlike when I have the flu. It's annoying. It's different from just
feeling tired from missing sleep.