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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / April 2005Mystery injection and my story-long
Hi everyone, I need your help, I'm going to give the Reader's Digest condensed version of my story here. I've been really sick for a very long time: pain, fatigue, stiffness etc. My endo suggested a rheumatologist who diagnosed FM even though my primary prob was joint pain. Even when my joints swelled and I was in extreme pain she said nothing showed on the x-ray/bloodwork. The ortho also said the x-rays were fine but he suspected RA or lupus. This was all a few months ago, yesterday I saw a nationally known rheumatologist. He's supposed to be one of the best-I know people on here know of him. My endo said he was the best but my endo shares some patients with him and also has some complaints about him. I have a friend with lupus who was diagnosed by him (and said he was an outstanding doctor) but sees another doc in his practice because he's not responsive. I went to see him because I thought if anyone could finally give me a diagnosis it would be him-not with the idea of him being my permanent doc. So I was prepared for him and expected arrogance. He was not arrogant at all. On the downside he was detached, impersonal, unresponsive and did not want to explain anything (he doesn't work with patients either you do as he says or you find another doctor and that is not my style.) On the upside he was surprisingly sympathetic and understanding about my situation, took me seriously and is simply an amazing doctor. He really knew his stuff and quickly too. He said that the x-rays of my hands showed "changes" (!) and when I asked what if I had symptoms but nothing showing in the bloodwork (a past problem) then what and he said there were other ways to diagnose. He said he's 90% sure I have RA though there is a small chance it could be a mild case of lupus or OA. He did not want to discuss it until I see him again in 2 weeks. He gave me an injection saying only that I would feel "great" and it would help him in his diagnosis. This was at 1pm yesterday. For several hours after that I was so exhausted I couldn't walk, from then until bedtime I had a borderline migraine and a terrible stomachache and severe nausea and my heart raced all night-I slept about 3 hours. This morning I still have some stomach pain plus mild acid reflux (which I normally don't get) and my heart is still racing a little. Oh, and so far the joint pain is still there. What the heck do you think he gave me?? There's no point in calling the office, even if I do reach him I'll just be told that it's a normal side effect of whatever it is. But has anyone experienced this? What's your educated guess and is this how the medications are going to affect me? Thanks for reading this. I'm actually not complaining :) it's a relief to have a diagnosis. tej...@yahoo.com wrote: > Hi everyone, > I need your help, I'm going to give the Reader's Digest condensed [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > Thanks for reading this. I'm actually not complaining :) it's a relief > to have a diagnosis. Huh... Where were you injected? In a joint or in the shoulder or butt? Second, no reflection on you, but no one, I don't care who they are, is going to stick a needle full of anything into me without telling me what it is. Kind of difficult to say if anyone has had your reaction to something. I tend to feel like that after two tylenol. You might want to write down all this stuff (the headache, the stomach upset, the acid reflux), and keep a "diary" of how you feel each morning and evening. That way you have a two week journal to give him. Many people are sero-negative RA (where the bloodwork comes back negative). I was in the beginning of my RA. It isn't all that uncommon, and there are other ways to make a diagnosis. Personally, I wouldn't even *go* to a doctor that had that attitude of do it his way or leave. I pay them, they work for me, so they dang well better be willing to work WITH me. Just 'cause he's good, doesn't give him the right to think he's God. Smokie Darling (Annie) Annie, It was in my backside and no I wouldn't and won't be treated by a doctor like that. I went to him because the other rheumies were not able (or willing I think) to give me a diagnosis (and I'm to the point where I am unable to work more than 2 days a week and spend the rest of the days in bed) and I decided that I'd do everything he said towards that end (getting a diagnosis) without complaint. Believe me I've been through this before, the hell of getting sicker and sicker without a diagnosis and therefore treatment. So I'm biting the bullet for now. I have a nice list of doctors who will work with me and there is even a good one in his office but my symptoms are also not straightforward, I have some weird ones that don't fit and I need an expert. Just a guess but could have been a steroid injection in which case you could slowly start feeling a surge of energy and less joint pain. That will give some people a headache especially if you were tense etc. going into this examination. Kelly > Annie, > It was in my backside and no I wouldn't and won't be treated by a [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > good one in his office but my symptoms are also not straightforward, I > have some weird ones that don't fit and I need an expert. > Annie, > It was in my backside and no I wouldn't and won't be treated by a [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > good one in his office but my symptoms are also not straightforward, I > have some weird ones that don't fit and I need an expert. I know, it sounded harsh and I didn't mean it that way. I know what it's like to have no idea what is going on with yourself. I was serious about the journal/diary though. Just write down how you feel each morning and evening, even little things like the sniffles. It could help get the diagnosis nailed down. If the shot was steroids (as suggested by another), then you could start feeling a bit better (unless you are allergic, like I am, but you'd be in the hospital already). I've only ever had steroid shots into the joints myself, and never since my last "reaction" (6/2002), and before the reactions I noticed improvement almost immediately. Smokie Darling (Annie) - who should never post until she's had her *Full Pot* of coffee.... No offense taken :) And that's a good suggestion about keeping a list of symptoms-I've been doing it since '01. Sometimes I feel neurotic but it's amazing how off I am just relying on memory. I had a bad reaction to oral steroids but I'm also wondering if this wasn't just a shot of steroids since I was starving this morning. I pretty much have a diagnosis of RA but he's going to look at the bloodwork and see how I react to the shot (nothing so far but last time it took a few days) since I have some other weird symtoms like hearing loss, rashes etc. Ain't this fun?! Ok, next time I won't ask you anything till I've bought you a coffee... ;) > I know, it sounded harsh and I didn't mean it that way. I know what > it's like to have no idea what is going on with yourself. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Smokie Darling (Annie) - who should never post until she's had her > *Full Pot* of coffee.... tej...@yahoo.com wrote: > No offense taken :) And that's a good suggestion about keeping a list > of symptoms-I've been doing it since '01. Sometimes I feel neurotic but [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Ok, next time I won't ask you anything till I've bought you a coffee... > ;) Heh, heh, heh... I always have a pot of coffee on, and usually don't post until after several (3 or 4) cups, the low blood pressure doesn't help, but at least the coffee gets my BP up around 108/68 so I'm functional (BP on first awakening is 80/40, scares the snot out of nurses in the hospital, doncha know). I was a bit concerned that I'd forget what I wanted to say, so I have to figure out if I want to say what I'm thinking (when I'm thinking it) or wait until my brain completely wakes and risk forgetting what was going on. Ah well, so long as we semi-understand one another (since no one completely understands me <g>). Annie > > I know, it sounded harsh and I didn't mean it that way. I know what > > it's like to have no idea what is going on with yourself. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Smokie Darling (Annie) - who should never post until she's had her > > *Full Pot* of coffee.... I pretty much have a >diagnosis of RA but he's going to look at the bloodwork and see how I >react to the shot (nothing so far but last time it took a few days) >since I have some other weird symtoms like hearing loss, rashes etc. >Ain't this fun?! Look at the syptoms for Still's Disease and especially click on the link for pictures of the rash. Does this look like your rash? http://www.stillsdisease.org/still's_disease_info.htm Rose @}>->-- Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. RB Please remove "Ima" to reply. Thanks Rose for the link. I don't have the "spiking fevers" though I did have a low grade fever for years and years. The rash doesn't look much like mine, mine are more close together and small patches. Gosh, I love this group, the people here could be teaching GP's. There's far more knowledge than the average internist... Well for starters, no one, and I mean no one injects me with anything if I don't know what it is and why they are doing it. At least if I'm conscious. But having come this far with this guy I'd at least hang in for the follow up in two weeks. Two weeks is nothing in the scheme of things if you suspect some sort of arthritis. Jo > Hi everyone, > I need your help, I'm going to give the Reader's Digest condensed [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > Thanks for reading this. I'm actually not complaining :) it's a relief > to have a diagnosis. > Well for starters, no one, and I mean no one injects me with anything if I > don't know what it is and why they are doing it. At least if I'm conscious. I gotta agree with that. Should you have a severe reaction to the injection, it's best to know what the injection was, you know, so you can tell the emergency personnel in the ambulance or ER or whatever. There are other reasons as well, but that should be a reason that wins over even the most determined "do as I say" doctor. If doc doesn't have even that much concern for the patient, I'd worry. I do understand why you went to see this fellow to get the diagnostics all worked out and I hope he is able to get things nailed down more for you. Still, he should tell you what kind of injection he is giving you. Heck, from his viewpoint it's just good insulation against malpractice!  SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Well, ok I confess I am so hostile and untrusting towards doctors at this point I go in with a major attitude (which I've learned to hide-I finally figured out it gets me nowhere) Ok, ok, I didn't ask him what the injection was-so it's half my fault. I told him all my drug allergies. I brought in the little case of oral pred that I had taken before and he told me my rpior reaction was not an allergic one so I figure he gave me a steroid again. This is not my normal way with docs! Three days later I'm feeling better but not as good as when I took steroids in Jan. > Well, ok I confess I am so hostile and untrusting towards doctors at > this point I go in with a major attitude (which I've learned to hide-I [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > normal way with docs! Three days later I'm feeling better but not as > good as when I took steroids in Jan. Huh, more trusting than I am. I've told doctors my allergies (tylenol which induces violent vomiting, and injected morphine), and they say, "You can NOT be allergic to tylenol, it is NOT possible!" Whereby they order tylenol (without telling me in hospital), and then the nurses can't figure out why I'm hurling up everything that gets past my throat for the next 2 1/2 or 3 days. But I canNOT be allergice to tylenol. Smokie Darling (Annie) I have started saying, I *had a weird reaction* to stuff they say I cannot be allergic to--and because I felt so weird I do not want to take it again--I think barfing all over the doc's shoes can be a weird reaction--or maybe it could be a warranted reaction--but same the emesis for the doc's shoes and not the poor nurse's (can you tell what my former occupation is?) Alix > I have started saying, I *had a weird reaction* to stuff they say I cannot > be allergic to--and because I felt so weird I do not want to take it > again--I think barfing all over the doc's shoes can be a weird reaction--or > maybe it could be a warranted reaction--but same the emesis for the doc's > shoes and not the poor nurse's (can you tell what my former occupation is?) > Alix Awww, if I'd known what they were giving me, I would have warned them, but since no one saw fit to tell the cripple in the bed what the medicine was (and I was pretty doped up on morphine)... I did try to help them clean it up, between heaves. Smokie Darling (Annie) > This morning I still have some stomach pain plus >mild acid reflux (which I normally don't get) and my heart is still >racing a little. Oh, and so far the joint pain is still there. What the >heck do you think he gave me?? Probably it is a steroid like prednisone. The steroid act like your adrenal gland so feeling your heart race would not surprise me. Rheumatologists sometimes use it to help diagnose inflammatory conditions. These are not body building steroids (anabolic) they are just the opposite they are catabolic or corticosteroids. They help the body cope with trauma or inflammation and actually break down muscle mass. Prednisone should give you energy and if the joint problems are due to inflammation ie. your immune system, then they should work rapidly and give tremendous relief. It is not unusual to use it as a test. If the joint pain continues and you were given a corticosteroid it not likely to be inflammatory in nature (immune system related). Give it a couple days and see how you feel. -- MZ Visit my website: http://www.mzuschlag.com Mary, I just looked at your website-we're close in age I'll be 43 in June. It is really good to see how active you are-it gives me hope (and no excuses I guess). I love the Grand Canyon too-it's the most amazing place I've seen. I also love Sedona. I was wondering about the difference between steroids thanks for the info. |
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