Went to the doc today

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Jennifer Massey-Howe - 05 Jun 2006 19:02 GMT

I went and saw my regular doc today and all the blood tests he sent me for
last week came back normal. He is sending me for the ANA and an Rheumatoid
arthritis factor. He has finally also gaven me a referal to see a
rheumatologist. I will keep you all informed of what is going. I am worse
swollen today then out of all the days and I still have to work tonight. I
have not taken the celebrex yet because it does not last long enough in my
system so will be taking it in the next few hours before going to work.
When I do take it it helps relieve some of the joint pain that I have been
having.

Jennifer

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ladylove77 - 05 Jun 2006 19:30 GMT

Jennifer, use that referral as soon as you can get an appointment.
Gwen

>I went and saw my regular doc today and all the blood tests he sent me for
>last week came back normal. He is sending me for the ANA and an Rheumatoid
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jennifer

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vickie b. - 06 Jun 2006 09:51 GMT

It's beg and plead if you must. I remember when I first went to the
rheumy. My internist made the appointment and he spent 45 minutes on
the line begging the rheumy to see me. The rheumy finally agreed to
see me but put me off for almost three monthes. My internist refused
to accept that and the rheumy saw me the next week! I really remember
his frustration!

Take care and Good luck,

Vickie B.

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Nann Bell - 06 Jun 2006 13:37 GMT

> I went and saw my regular doc today and all the blood tests he sent me for
> last week came back normal. He is sending me for the ANA and an Rheumatoid
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jennifer

Get in to see the RD ASAP. It is possible to have all your labwork be normal
but to still have significant swelling and inflammation in your joints - and
o have RA. I am one of those folks who really show inflammation in my
labwork despite the docs seeing it. I've even had RDs put it to me that way,
that I am obviously one of those folks who doesn't run an elevated sedrate.

Are you on Celebrex once/day? That is the way many primary care docs
prescribe it because it is supposed to last 24 hours. That isn't true for
everyone though. It only lasted 20 hours or so for me so I took it
twice/day. I don't know if you can talk your present doc into prescribing it
that way, but it might be worth a try. It helps with both getting through
the day and sleeping decently.

Oh, and if you can't get an appointment with an RD for some time, ask to be
put on their cancellation list. It's surprising how often folks cancel, even
on initial visits and that might get you in sooner.

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DeeTee and Bob Taggart - 07 Jun 2006 16:45 GMT

And for me it's the opposite. I don't look swollen, never have red joints,
have only very slightly warm joints and have yet to have a normal ESR or
CRP. Only if I don't take my meds the day I see the RD do I have enough
stiffness for them to feel it.

So you see, Jennifer - ya gotta get in to that rheumy!

DeeTee

>> I went and saw my regular doc today and all the blood tests he sent me
>> for
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> even
> on initial visits and that might get you in sooner.

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Harvey R. Stone - 07 Jun 2006 18:44 GMT

> And for me it's the opposite. I don't look swollen, never have red joints,
> have only very slightly warm joints and have yet to have a normal ESR or
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> DeeTee

I used to wonder about redness, swelling and such with a joint that is
bothering me. I noticed that when ever I would talk to my RD about a place
that was bothering me,,,, the first thing he would do is put his hand
there.... :::"""????
He was checking to see if the joint was hot or warmer than it should be.
I also realized that if it was hot enough,,,, I might get a steroid shot
there to put the fire out. I do not believe that they teach this kind of
doctoring but it is why we pay them the big bucks.

Harv

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Jennifer Massey-Howe - 06 Jun 2006 18:30 GMT

Welll, went calling around to the RA's today and the closest appointment I
could get was for July 20th, sigh. I go back to the primary on monday and
I'm going to request a wheelchair at this point that way I can spend time
with my kids away from home longer then an hour. If I stand or walk to long
it gets very very painful. With 4th of July coming I want to be able to
enjoy that time with the kids along with I want to take them to the Zoo and
the zoo here is an all day walk-a-thon. I'm more worried about being
active with them at this point it is summer and I don't want to keep them
cooped up. The oldest knows something is wrong as is. She will be 3 in
August. My youngest just turned a year old on Sunday.

Jennifer

>I went and saw my regular doc today and all the blood tests he sent me for
>last week came back normal. He is sending me for the ANA and an Rheumatoid
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jennifer

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Adelle - 07 Jun 2006 17:29 GMT

> Welll, went calling around to the RA's today and the closest appointment I
> could get was for July 20th, sigh. I go back to the primary on monday and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> to keep them cooped up. The oldest knows something is wrong as is. She
> will be 3 in August. My youngest just turned a year old on Sunday.

Hi!

Can't comment on time factors. I am near Boston, with such a huge number of
doctors that waits aren't too bad. Six or seven weeks seems long for here;
but could be an average or short time in parts of country with shortages of
speacialists.
You can ask to get on the cancellation list - that often shortens the wait.
But you have to be ready to take an appointment on short notice (like for
later that day or the next day).

Are you on any sort of anti-inflammatory - even an over the counter one? If
not, taking one might make it possible to do some stuff with the kids. Check
with your primary care physician.

Do you have a neighbore with a child old enough to be a mother's helper?
I've done that with a friend, bartering my evening childcare and cooking. It
might make the summer easier until the doc can help.

Adelle

> Jennifer
>
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>>
>> Jennifer

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