The medication my Rhuemy Dr. put me on is called Hydroxychloroquine 200mg Twice a Day and Osteo Bi-flex Twice per Day too. (the Osteo Bi-flex is over the counter but it contains MSM and the Dr. said to take that too.)
Let me just tell you a couple of things that led up to the Rhuemy visit.
My right elbow hurt a couple of times it was no big deal.
Then I noticed a few weeks later, my elbow quit hurting but my right wrist was hurting a bit and my fingers seemed to tingle a bit. I went to a specialist who advised that I had carpel tunnel syndrome but we would just watch it for a bit.
My elbow quit hurting, my wrist and hand seemed to be fine..
A few weeks later, one night I told my husband that my right knee was hurting a bit and felt a little stiff. We regarded it as just "something that would pass" the next morning I woke to excruciating pain and insisted that my husband take me to the emergency room.
I got there and they drained my right knee (this with much pain) of a great deal of fluid.
I got some pain meds and went back to my orthopedic (he diagnosed my carp tun) and he said that I should see a rheumatologist.
I was advised that I was about 6-7 months out on being able to see one but I got the orders and set an appointment.
I thought it was a blessing because I was able to see this particular one in about 3 weeks. (which now I wonder why is he so easy to get to see when all others are 6-7 months out) anyway...
The Rheumy Dr. said that he didn't understand how only one joint hurt. He had really never seen this before, then he said it was prob a bacteria infection that the hospital missed. He gave me a shot for that and said it would take a couple of days or so to work. He also gave me some antibiotics.
My knees softball sized swelling went away and the pain subsided.
After the blood tests came back-
He appeared to be stumped again.
He advised that he tested for several things that mimic RA and other things that would indicate RA.
His final diagnosis was that I had proven to be negative for everything except RA.
So, now this is where he said I was a "Positive 8" and normal was "Negative 5". I don't know wht this means...
With this, he said that I had "RA".
I have some issues with the SED Rate:
My SED Rate was 7 in the emergency room but his blood tests came back at 14 (I accidently said it was 15 but its 14).
When I researched this on the computer it said that for a woman, normal was 0-30...
normal range for a
man is 0-15mm/hour
woman it is 0-30mm/hour
Newborn is 0-5mm/hour
So with the above info, am I normal or no is my biggest question.
Finally,
I have my OBGYN writing me orders and I am going to see a Female Rheumy Dr. in Baton Rouge Louisiana so I can get a second and try to get some answers...
My current Rheumy Dr. and his nurse seem to be not evasive, but never able to just flat out give me some answers.
I am hoping to goodness that I am one of the ones that got a Mis-Diagnosis, but I have a new found respect for those that have this condition..
Thx.
Natalie (Rednat)