Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hello,
I am 43 years old and was just told I have RA.. It started for me abut two years ago. With not having health care insurance I felt I could not do anything about this. This seems to come and go. It starts with me just not feeling well. Like I have a flu. Then my body hurts and I am so tired. My neck, shoulder, elbows, hands, knees and feet hurt. My skin hurts to the touch. My sister and cousin have Lupus. For the past two years it has come and gone. Sometimes lasting for a month or more. Now it has come back again. This time worse, and since now I have healthcare I went to me doctor. He ran blood work thinking this was Lupus. To my Surprise it came back positive RA.. So he ran the test again, once again it came back positive RA higher # this time. So I am kind of having a hard time with this.. I thought Lupus and I had myself ready for Lupus.. I am in shock. I am in pain too. My neck, hands, feet and hips are always in pain. I have a hard time walking to. I am so tired but have such a hard time sleeping because I just do not feel well. The doctor tried me on a few meds that made my tongue swell. I have an appt with a Rheumatoloest next month.. I read all over about how I may not even have RA.. So all of this confusese me. One more thing, Does anyone's ears ring? My ears ring all the time now. When i get sick my ears ring, that is one way I know this is starting again. Does this happen to anyone else? How about your skin, does it hurt to even touch it? My face has changed as well. My doctor thought it was a Lupus mask, but I tested negitive for Lupus..
So, what is wrong with me? I can not even take a walk without pain and so wiped out I have to lay down. Getting out of bed and doing the things I used to do is getting harder to do. But I have no red and hot joints.. My pain use to move all over my body, but not anymore. It is everywhere. One day my hips were in so much pain I could not walk. The next day it was better and could walk.. Does any of this sound like what you are going through? I feel like I am falling apart.. I cried for days and just said to myself, you have RA?
If anyone can help me to understand what is going on with my body or are going through this as well I would love to hear from you
Thanks
Susan

Good Morning Susan, things sound a bit rough for you. I know you pain & am in the process of an unknown diagnosis myself. Although, all is pointing to RA for your doctors, After reading your post, without a doubt you have reason for concern. With your family history & your ongoing problems I would be feeling the same way. You may very well have RA or Lupus with another condition called Fibromyalgia. It is not uncommon for patients wirh RA or Lupus to also have Fibromyalgia. This disorder causes widespread body pain, muscular pain, facial pain, headaches, fatigue... just to name a few symptoms. Look it up, maybe it will give you some insight. I have actually be given Fibromyalgia as my diagnosis witch I know I do not have. Unlike fibromyalgia, I experience joint pain, symmetrical most times, inflammation, immobility & I respond to Prednisone & NSADIS. I also do not have FM tender points. Needless to say I am going for a second opinion so I can get my life back. I have had 2 doctors tell me they do believe I have RA though, my PCP and a Sports Medicine doc. My lab work has been negative for the most part, but I did have one positive RF. Do yourself a favor, if you are unsatisfied with your diagnosis definately get a second opinion. Lupus & RA are something you want to treat as early as possible. I also have a cousin with Lupus ( has been in remission for many many years), a cousin with MS & a grandfather with RA. So I like you have a significant family history. I will be glad if I soon get a diagnosis & can move on with my life knowing exactly what I am dealing with. PLease take care & let me know of your progress. Also, did your doctor start you on any medications and are you noticing any improvement?
Take Care & Hope to hear from you soon, PamelaO.

My MD tested me for fibermyalga because my sister also has that too. I know there is no blood test for it, but he touched the pressure points and said this is not Fibermyalga. He said I have to do blood work and since I have not had blood work done in forever he tested everything. I said to him I need something for pain. He did give me..... I forget the name of it but it began with a L and it is new. He gave it to me to help me sleep. My tongue swelled. Then when I went back to see him after the test came back He explain to me that I test positive for RA and explain to me what it was. He said to me I am going to test it again just to make sure it was not a false positive. It wasn't and the #'s were higher this time. I also tested low for my thyroid. But since I was on the pill and had just stopped taking it he wanted to test that again. That just now came back low, so I have an under active thyroid. I am going through the change and that is why my GYN put me on the pill. I did not like the way it made me feel so I asked my MD if I could go off of it. I have Hot flashes, but that is ok, I can deal with that..
So while at my MD's I said to him what do I take for the pain? I do take Advil but it is not working very well. So he gave me Meloxicam. That made my tongue swell. So being in so much pain my Aunts went to the health food store and had them look up RA and what Natural stuff I can take. It has helped me so much. I take once a day Boswellia for the pain, and three times a day TriFlex. Now that has Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, and Vitamin D-3..
My sister found out through blood work she lacked vit D and had to go get some. She is shocked how much it has helped her body pain. From what she was told people with Lupus and RA lack Vit D and that is why she was in all that pain. The Doctor I am going to my MD really wanted me to see. The lady who took my blood at the lap also sees him, and could not say enough about this doctor. She said she has had RA for 8 years now, along with Firbermyalga, and maybe Lupus. She said everything this doctor has giver her so far has had bad side affects, so he set her out to get Natural products. He takes his time and really looks you over. She said he is wonderful! So I go on April 8th. My sister has not been so lucky. She has a good MD but went to a bad RA doctor, who tested her and said she has RA. Then when nothing was working on her he gave up on her! Her MD was so mad and well not be sending anyone else there.. Now she has a new doctor who ran all the blood test and so on and told her you do not have RA. You have Lupus and that is under control and Fibermyalga..
My MD told me this about RA and Lupus. They are sister dieses they are very much alike. He does know this by just looking at me. I have some kind of Degenerative tissues dieses. It is just what one, but he has no doubts at all I have one.. All I know is I am tired of feeling this way, and like you I want my life back. I would like to walk without pain.
You keep looking for the right Doctor for you. My sister has gone though many I can tell you that. She has been told about her Lupus for 15 years now, my cousin about 9 years. I guess I will know more when I see this doctor and have more test done.. Look up the Natural products I told you about and if you feel safe about trying it do it. I can say this. NO side affects and I can now more around much better. Without it I could not even get up off the sofa! I take them and Advil for now.
You take care, and we will both take this one day at at time. It is so nice to have someone who understands all of this..
Anytime you need to chat I am here..
warm hugs
Susan