rheumatoid

I had a 18.7 for the RA factor last March. My new Doctor would like more tests this week. I am a Type I diabetic, diagnosed with Raynauds, Sjorgens, RA, Lupus and Valley Fever in 1998.  I had a post partum cardiomyopathy after giving birth to my son 11 years ago.  I am always fatigued, tired and have a difficult time sleeping through the evening. I was sent to a another Rheumatologist and she diagnosed Fibromyalgia and prescibed Nortriptolyn, while the MD prescribed Vicodin. In the pase I have been treated with methotrexate, plaquenil, celebrex, naproxen, predisone and vicodin, along with difulcan for the Valley Fever.  I am now seeing a new Doctor at Kaiser and he is going to be testing for all of these dieseases again.  I feel like a hypochondriac and he thinks I'm crazy.  I am tired of feeling so tired and I never have any energy.  I have had numerous nodules taken off of both hands in the last three years and they always come back.  He isn't given me any meds to treat the RA, besides Vicodin, and he has lowered the dose for that.  I asked for an antidepressant because of the anxiety I have from the pain and discomfort.  I also am taking four meds for my hypertension, blood pressure and cholesterol. I excercise three days per week, but ache so bad after my work outs. Any suggestions?  I am very depresses.


This discussion is related to rheumatoid factor.

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rheumatoid factor is 18.7

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fibromyalgia

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lupus

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raynauds

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sjorgens

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pain management

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tired

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fatigued

1 Member voted

[carolanivey]

Yikes. It sounds to me like too many doctors are treating you for separate issues, and they aren't communicating with each other.

I hope you always carry a complete list of medications, dosages, and who prescribed them and for what reason. How long you've been taking them, etc.

Your new doctor seems like he has a good plan - go back to square one and start fresh. BP and cholesterol meds are famous for causing fatigue and joint/muscle pain, so these could be the cause for at least some of your discomfort.

I understand your depression and anxiety, but the medications for these conditions are nothing to mess around with and IMO could only add to your muddled list of symptoms just when your new doctor is trying to sort things out. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds need to be prescribed by a specialist and very, VERY carefully monitored.

Pain and depression are like the chicken and the egg. One worsens the other, and around and around it goes until you're not sure which is causing what.

My suggestion would be to let go of the notion that you think you're a hypochondriac, and that your doctor thinks you're crazy. (I'm pretty sure he does not - did he actually say that to you or are you projecting?) Work with your doctor as a partner. Write your questions and concerns down before you go in for an appointment and check them off as they're answered. Keep a daily diary of your pain and fatigue level so you and your doctor have something to look at as you determine, as a team, what treatments are working for you and what are not.

A diary may also help ease your anxiety, as you begin to figure out patterns in your symptoms. Rather than telling your doctor "I'm tired all the time", you can both look at your diary, see when your fatigue was worse and when it was better, look at when and how you took your meds that day, what activities you did that day, how you slept the previous night. Writing things down will give you a sense of control - a great anxiety buster. :)

A therapist could help you deal with your anxiety, hopefully without resorting to meds, but if they're necessary, make sure your Kaiser doc knows what you're taking, who prescribed it and why.

Hang in there!