thal b, hep c and arthritis? or lupus? or something else?

[rucafox]

I have thalassemia b-, hepatitis c, and horrible arthritis pain. my mom thinks the arthritis pain is lupus, my grandma thinks it's rheumatoid arthritis.  I think they're both wrong. i'm only 29 years old and have 3 kids. I can't keep hurting like this, I can't sleep, can't get up sometimes. I'm at a "healthy" 125 lbs... what could be wrong with me? the 650 mg acetometaphen don't work and neither do the 500mg naproxens... take between 8 and 10 acets and 5 or 6 naps every single day. my husband is giving me crap now about my liver which I KNOW i KNOW i shouldn't take them cuz they don't even help. what can I do? i already get cortizone shots in my feet for my bunions and hammertoes... at 29 I know gross :( but i need help, what can I do? and what can I ask my doctor to perscribe me? I can't keep feeling this aweful it's like i got beat up in my joints with a crowbar they feel broken both sides! does it sound like lupus? or arthritis?

[Tuckamore]

Hello Rucafox,

Welcome to MedHelp's Pain Management Forum. I am very glad that you found us and took the time to post and respond.

If I understand beta thalassemia it belongs to a group of blood disorder syndromes that are classified as hereditary genetic disorders. It often coincides with other deficiencies. It frequently causes  anemia but should not cause pain...just fatigue. It's my guess that due to your impaired production of hemoglobin it may leave you more susceptible to autoimmune conditions. But I know very little about this condition.

Add Hep C and "horrible arthritis" to the mix and it isn't any wonder that you have chronic pain. My heart goes out to you. Certainly no one would wish you ill because you have contracted Hep C. ... It can happen to anyone. My heart goes out to you.

The best suggestion I can offer is to just keep at your physician to find a diagnosis or a reason for your unmanaged pain. If he/she is not willing or able to discover one...then please seek a second opinion...and a third .... or fourth if needed.

If your physicians determines your pain is due to your current diagnosis then please request a referral to a PMP....that is if your PCP will not properly treat your chronic pain. Be assertive as you deserve to be as comfortable as possible.  

I hope that you will remain active in our community and let us know how you are doing. We gladly offer you our support. I'll look forward to hearing from you. Best of luck in your search.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[rucafox]

crap I just typed a long respnse and accidentally pressed backpage

um... I've tried the therapy after my second child then quit after a month then got preg again. i'd love to try therapy again...
that's why they think it's some auto immune thing tho because i quit so soon and my system was weak...?
I dunno tho. my chest has sharp pains, this rash on my leg has been there since last july and my bones feel like they're made of... something stiff and painful. i hope they can figure it out for me tho i feel like my body's betraying me
and yeah yeah it's my fault for catching hep c but damn i got 3 kids and ahusband and i'd hate to break their heart by dying on them. :(

[GSDgirl]

Hi, I'm very new to this forum myself.  I don't know what thalassemia b is but I also had Hep C.  I treated and cleared the live virus but will always carry the antibodies.  For a year or 2 before I was diagnosed I always had the "flu" symptoms but actually it was the hep C causing a lot of my problems

Have you considered treating the hep?  It is hard but doable.

Now my diagnosis is Fibromyalgia.  Good Luck

[mellie4]

I just want to second Sherry's words.  I've had osteoarthritis from a young age, and had a joint replacement in my hand.  It's also almost everywhere else as well.  I have other pain issues as well, but I just want you not give up and keep searching until you get your diagnosis.  So man women get dismissed, especially when you're young.  A lot of women get told it's in your head or you're stressed.  You know your own body better than anyone.  It's hard to have to keep searching but don't give up.  Eventually you will find the right doctor or doctors to treat you and you will ALWAYS find support here.  Without this forum, I would have given up.

See if you can be put on a cancelation list and maybe you can get in sooner than three weeks.  Just a thought, but sometimes it works.  Best of luck.  (I have 4 kids and I know how hard it is to sometimes just get through the day with little kids.)

[rucafox]

wow ur so kind!  I didn't htink anyone would actually read that but i'll make this quick My appt is almost 3 wks away and i'll find out something i'm not leavcing unless i do i'm tired of them saying it's just the flu or having a baby or what not... it's NOT i can feel it in my bones... literally. :S ttyl gotat gho lay down

[namnam46]

Hi rucafos\x,

First I want to welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know that we are glad you found this Forum. I want to let you know that there are NO Doctors on this Forum only CP - Chronic Pain - Patients that help each other with our OWN expertise and experiences that we have developed through our OWN CP Issues.

I'm so VERY sorry that you are having to suffer with all of this TERRIBLE pain at such an EARLY age!!  I KNOW EXACTLY what you are going through as I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in my left hip at the age of 27.  It's a LOUSY diagnosis when you are SOOOO young.  :{

The FIRST thing that you have to do is go to your Doctor and tell him how you are feeling and let him set up tests so that you can get a diagnosis.  Without a diagnosis you will more than likely your Doctor will not be able, OR willing, to give you anything more than you have been taking.  :{  SO get the diagnosis so that you can begin to get that MUCH needed pain relief that are do DESERVING of!!! :}

When you get your diagnosis - it is NEVER wise for YOU to ask your Doctor for ANYTHING - ALWAYS let him/her PRESCRIBE what he/she want s you to take.  HOPEFULLY, {depending on the diagnosis} he will send you to a PM {Pain Management} Doctor!! :}

PLEASE keep us updated as to what you find out as we are VERY concerned about you and want to be assured that you are receiving the pain treatment that you need. :}

Looking forward to your NEXT update..........Sherry