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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / March 2008Here's my problem
I'm female 44, last summer I noticed my knuckles on both hands became red, slightly swollen and painful. As it wasn't particularly troublesome, I thought nothing of it. I began have occasional pains in my wrists I thought perhaps I may have sprained them so I wore a splint for a day (or a night) and it would go away. Since Christmas things began to get worse, the pains in my wrists became more frequent and I still could not account for how they had been caused. On a couple of afternoons (it always seems to happen in the pm) I noticed pains in the centre of my hands, so turning a door knob would hurt. One afternoon my jaw became displaced and chewing was painful and difficult for a few hours. I went to my GP when I developed a horrendous pain in my left shoulder that woke me up one night in January and which was so bad I was unable to get back to sleep even after taking a few ibuprofen. I thought I had dislocated my shoulder, and I know what I am talking about here because before I had it pinned, I had a dislocatable right shoulder. GP put me on Diclofenac and ran blood tests and X-ray of shoulder. X-ray was fine but apparently blood showed my RF and CRP were high (I don't know how high, I guess I should find out) so I have been referred to a rheumatologist my appointment is next month. I seem to respond well to the Diclo so the question is, should I stop taking it for a few days before my appointment so the rheumy can see my symptoms without it? What do you guys think? Happily so far my symptoms seem to be quite minor but I really would like them to stay that way. María Welcome Maria. Sorry you need to be here. No. Do not stop the diclofenac sodium. Your RD (rheumatologist) won't have any trouble diagnosing you. I strongly recommend that you start reading up on rheumatoid arthritis. That may not be what you have, but pretty muchall the inflammatory types of arthritis are similar enoughto RA that what you learn will be helpful anyway. The arthritis foundation website (http://www.arthritis.org) is a great place to start. Good luck, and feel free to ask any question you have. Walt > I'm female 44, last summer I noticed my knuckles on both hands became red, > slightly swollen and painful. As it wasn't particularly troublesome, I [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > María Hi Maria,,,,, I want to welcome you to ASA and I am very sorry that you do need to be here on a regular basis. You have a great doctor to put your problems all together and get you into the care of an RD because you need that. It took my doctor 5 years to do that. Always be open and giving with information with your RD. Little things are important in what they do. Here is a good site for information from an RD in South Africa to help you get the most from your RD. http://www.arthritis.co.za/drdoc2.htm Please remember that in this newsgroup we are in this together and we care about what takes place in our lives. Stress and tension are not our friend and making a persons life go as smooth as possible is a good thing. Harv > I'm female 44, last summer I noticed my knuckles on both hands became red, > slightly swollen and painful. As it wasn't particularly troublesome, I [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > María No. Continue taking it. DeeTee's 2 cents worth. > I'm female 44, last summer I noticed my knuckles on both hands became red, > slightly swollen and painful. As it wasn't particularly troublesome, I [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > María Agreeing with what everyone else said here.. welcome and hi.. I am not sure if anyone has warned you yet, but there are some here that like to steal chocolate..so watch your chocolate stash...(thats a ongoing joke). > I'm female 44, last summer I noticed my knuckles on both hands became red, > slightly swollen and painful. As it wasn't particularly troublesome, I [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > María <gentle snip> I am not sure if anyone has warned you yet, but there are some here that like to steal chocolate..so watch your chocolate stash... (thats a ongoing joke). -- that's what you think, rhonda. ha! when i first got here, more than 7 years ago, i suddenly lost 5 pounds overnight. you'd think losing 5 pounds overnight was cause to celebrate, wouldn't you. it wasn't that kind of 5 pounds; one of these rapscallions took my chocolate stash! however, there is a big vault in the asa clubhouse. so you have your chocolate stashed in a very secure place. kate (also, there are those afoot, in asa, who love jellybeans; so, be forewarned) >(also, there are those afoot, in asa, who >love jellybeans; so, be forewarned) Oh, yum, especially if they are spiced jelly beans!!! LOL!!! . . . . Donna . . . . 1.) ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS...... 2.) J.K.M.A. > >(also, there are those afoot, in asa, who > > >love jellybeans; so, be forewarned) > > Oh, yum, especially if they are spiced jelly beans!!! LOL!!! Spiced jelly beans? Do tell? Are they like the spice drops that Brachs used to make? Smokie Darling (Annie) PS Maria, welcome, sorry about the drifting topic, but I love jelly beans and I miss spice drops. As has been said, don't stop the diclofenac. Here's hoping that your RD and PCP will be able to get a quick handle on your inflammation, and also hoping it turns out *not* to be RA. SD (Annie) Yep, Annie, they are very similar to spiced gum drops which I also love a great deal!!! Oooooh, yum!!! You gotta try some when you get a chance. The spiced jelly beans can only be found around easter, but they are getting harder and harder to find, well, at least here in michigan anyways! . . . . Donna . . . . 1.) ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS...... 2.) J.K.M.A. > Yep, Annie, they are very similar to spiced gum drops which I also love > a great deal!!! > > Oooooh, yum!!! You gotta try some when you get a chance. The spiced > jelly beans can only be found around easter, but they are getting harder > and harder to find, well, at least here in michigan anyways! Hey, if I find any here, I'll let you know and maybe I'll be able to pick some up for you and ship them out? I can try anyway. My mother and I used to eat the Spice Drops, every day around 11:00ish (am). We'd play Trivial Pursuit (she changed the rules of the game so that she had an opportunity to beat me, I used to be a trivia hound). Around this time of year, I always miss her so much more (she passed in 1997 and I miss her more every day). Her birthday was 11 April, she'd have been 62 this year. Have to remind hubby to remind *me* to look for them. Smokie Darling (Annie) {{{{{{{{{{{ Annie }}}}}}}}}} Hey Annie, maybe we can become spiced gum drop buddies and eat gum drops together at a certain time! LOL....I know it's not even close to being the same as doing it with your mom, but hey, I'm game! Good luck finding spiced jelly beans, they are very hard to find anymore! . . . . Donna . . . . 1.) ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS...... 2.) J.K.M.A. > Good luck finding spiced jelly beans, they are very hard to find > anymore! > > . And this you tell me now, after having me all curious and having made a note for our next trip to the USA, LOL!! Aina the lurker in Norway >> Good luck finding spiced jelly beans, they are very hard to find >> anymore! [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Aina >the lurker in Norway Can you order online? I used to get Chocolate Straws in Chicago in the sixties. Have never seen them in CA so I checked and there were two online stores that carry them. Of course, I am now diabetic and didn't order any more temptations. -- BettyB -- www.flamingo-code.com "I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road." - Stephen Hawking >>> Good luck finding spiced jelly beans, they are very hard to find >>> anymore! [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > online stores that carry them. Of course, I am now diabetic and didn't > order any more temptations. I guess i could try to do so, but since I even don't know if I like them I think it would cost too much to get them shiped all the way to Europe. Aina the lurker in Norway > {{{{{{{{{{{ Annie }}}}}}}}}} > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Good luck finding spiced jelly beans, they are very hard to find > anymore! Didn't realize I was sounding so down... Thanks for the hug though, I appreciate it. Yeah, we can eat spiced gum drops (if/when I find *them* again!) 'together'. Guess I'd better find them first though, haven't seen any for a while. I'll be looking for the jelly beans next week (yeah, I know Easter will be over). Haven't been able to do much of anything, but hey, the flare may actually be letting up now. I'll let you know if I locate both the drops and the beans. SD (Annie) welcome to asa, maria! i'm glad you found your way to us, but sorry that you had the need to find us. hopefully, you'll feel comfortable enough to join us in our banter, rants, commisserations, hugs, laughter, information sharing, question asking and feelings of being part of this asa family. there is a lot of wisdom and knowledge amassed in this group and big hearts that share selflessly. as many have already said, stay on the meds until you are told otherwise by your physician. your rheumatologist will not only be able to diagnose your issues, despite the meds, but also, it will help him/her to know what is working/helping and what isn't for you. kate I'm female 44, last summer I noticed my knuckles on both hands became red, slightly swollen and painful. As it wasn't particularly troublesome, I thought nothing of it. I began have occasional pains in my wrists I thought perhaps I may have sprained them so I wore a splint for a day (or a night) and it would go away. Since Christmas things began to get worse, the pains in my wrists became more frequent and I still could not account for how they had been caused. On a couple of afternoons (it always seems to happen in the pm) I noticed pains in the centre of my hands, so turning a door knob would hurt. One afternoon my jaw became displaced and chewing was painful and difficult for a few hours. I went to my GP when I developed a horrendous pain in my left shoulder that woke me up one night in January and which was so bad I was unable to get back to sleep even after taking a few ibuprofen. I thought I had dislocated my shoulder, and I know what I am talking about here because before I had it pinned, I had a dislocatable right shoulder. GP put me on Diclofenac and ran blood tests and X-ray of shoulder. X-ray was fine but apparently blood showed my RF and CRP were high (I don't know how high, I guess I should find out) so I have been referred to a rheumatologist my appointment is next month. I seem to respond well to the Diclo so the question is, should I stop taking it for a few days before my appointment so the rheumy can see my symptoms without it? What do you guys think? Happily so far my symptoms seem to be quite minor but I really would like them to stay that way. María Thank you all for your kind responses. I am very touched. I hope I can make a positive contribution to this group. Love María PS Hands off my strawberry chocolate champagne truffles! According to all the information I have read, you shouldn't be having champagne while taking rheumy type medicines. :-) Welcome to the group. I'll let you have my chocolate as it gives me heartburn, bad.  SignatureNavy Take out the FISH to email me. > > Thank you all for your kind responses. I am very touched. I hope I can [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > PS Hands off my strawberry chocolate champagne truffles! "Maria" <pilar@hoskins.me.uk> wrote in message news:0OCdnaojQL-U1kfanZ2dnUVZ8uydnZ2d@bt.com... Thank you all for your kind responses. I am very touched. I hope I can make a positive contribution to this group. Love María PS Hands off my strawberry chocolate champagne truffles! now, you've got the right idea! just tell the sticky fingered critters that your truffles each have a case of champagne inside them. ;-)))) i'm sure you will make a positive contribution, maria. but you know what? just your presence on some of the threads is support enough.<smile> kate LouJean replied to Maria: > According to all the information I have read, you shouldn't be > having champagne while taking rheumy type medicines. :-) I asked my pharmacist and doctor about that (half of my prescriptions warn against alcohol). They replied that they are warning alcoholics (the 2-fisted, 6-pack a night drinker) and winos. One or two drinks - a can of beer or a glass of wine/champagne a week won't harm most people. Our lab tests would reveal any problem(s). ... Cats are like potato chips....You can't have just one! ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 > Being half Spanish, I'm sure you'll understand that I really > appreciate this information! Well, I'm happy that the information was helpful. "Everything in moderation" is a great adage. Joe N. ... Cats are like potato chips....You can't have just one! ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 Aina wrote: > I slowly added a glass of wine a week until I could have > 3-4 glasses with a meal if I wanted to. We need to warn newcomers that your experience with ONE medication may have worked with you. But when someone has 5, 6, 7 prescriptions all marked "Do not take with alcohol," or "MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS - ALCOHOL MAY INTENSITFY THIS EFFECT," they should be very cautious about consuming more that 1 drink a day. All we have to do it remember all the "stars" who OD'd on drugs and alcohol to be warned of the dangers. That's why I'm happy with 2 or 3 drinks a week - not a day. As I wrote in a previous post, "Everything in moderation" is a great adage to follow. ... Friends don't let friends get a dog! ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 Aina replied: > There seems to be more warnings on things in the USA than in > Europe, and I think that has something to do with the way people > seem to sue others more quickly in the USA. You brought out some very good points. Our tort system is in total disarray: (1) Lawyers seeking "victims" (ambulance chasers) (some have recently been convicted or pleaded guilty to a kickback scheme between themselves and "victims") (2) The peers on a jury who believe companies should pay through the nose because of a plaintiff's stupidity. (3) Review boards consisting of an accused's golf partners. (both legal system and medical system) ... Wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up. ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 Aina wrote: > I have seen those ambulance chasers on TV in the USA and it > did surprise me the first time. And our newspapers have told > some stories that amaze me, also the monetary compensations > people get, much more than I think most of them would ever > make working for a lifetime. I wonder if your newspapers, like ours, print only the filing of a lawsuit and fail to report the verdict/final outcome. Sometimes a jury awards less (sometimes more) than the "victim" sued for. Other times judges, either at the trial level or on appeal, will reduce the award. What really torques me are the idiots like the gal who burned herself in the crotch because she set a cup of HOT coffee between her legs. Or the guy who picked up a power mower, tried to use it as hedge trimmer, and severrd a leg. In those 2 cases cited, I blame the jury as much as lawyers. ... Religious backup.....pray nothing goes wrong. ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 > I'm female 44, last summer I noticed my knuckles on both hands became red, > slightly swollen and painful. As it wasn't particularly troublesome, I [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > María I am Ravi chandren from India,living in Tamil nadu.I am not a Docter and I don't know proper English.I discovered and giving one different type of herbal based treatment.Past 5 years i was giving this treatment FREELY to poor peoples on service basis. This only one treatment ,complete cured Psoriasis,Arthritis and psoriatic arthritis minimum 5 days treatment.More details please condact kamalisethu@yahoo.co.in or kamalisethu@gmail.co.in I am Ravi chandren - an internet spammer trying to empty your wallet - from India, ... Spamming is the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket. ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
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