Rheumatoid Arthritis

Although my 1st visit with the new Rheumatologist didn't go well, I'm going to stick with him for a little bit. One main reason is that Rheumatologist are so hard to find and this one is less than a mile from my home. So as long as he is good I'm going to put up with a little rude bedside manor. However I am going to tell him to back off on my weight and there is no way I'm consider lapband surgery for a mere 70 pounds. I have took myself off the prednisone (was 5mgs a day) since the appointment and have already lose some weight. I'm not going back on the prednisone unless I have to.

I met my new Rheumatologist, he is not going to be my Rheumatologist for long. He kept going on about my weight and how being over weight can lead to being Diabetic and it runs in my family. Well I know lots of people who are very skinny and has Diabetes and I know many over weight people who don't have diabetes. Don't get me wrong I know diabetes is controlled well with good eating habits but I don't have Diabetes.. Plus the only reason I put on a few pounds is because they keep putting me on Prednisone. I still suppose to take 5mg a day... well I refuse to take any more of it. So today I called my family doctor and asked for another referral because the last one is going to work out. So far I haven't been asked for details but the Rhematologist talked very little about the RA and how it affects me and more about Diabetes that I don't have... maybe/hopefully never will. He even mention a lap band surgery... now I am 70 pounds over the ideal weight but I don't...

Its 2 am and I'm awake because I got an itchy side effect from my meds. Its happens sometimes so I took some benadryl and waiting for that to start working. Yesterday morning was horrid. It took 5 hours for my RA to stop hurting in the morning. My upper back is very sore the mussel cramp and hurt to touch. I used a heating pad off and on for the back, shoulder, and legs. The odd part is the pain shoot down my arms and they were shaking. I wanted nothing more but to climb into bed, but that wasn't an option. I made it through work however. I took a nice hot bath as soon as I got home. Which I could stayed there longer. My neck is sore right now with the itchiness so now fun right now either. I'm interested in either getting some kind of access to a pool or hot tub  or maybe I can get my doctor to get me in some aquatic therapy. I have an MRI schedule Monday at 7am. This should be early enough so I don't miss work. Doctors at the care today clinic want to make sure ...

Stress and Rheumatoid Arthritis are not a good combination. I have a stressful office job routing out tech's route. However, the job doesn't stress me out to the point it affects my health. I actually enjoy my work and look forward to learning and figuring out problems. However some of life's other stresses can really be a pain, really a big pain. Stress can affect even healthy people. Stress can cause stomach problems, sleepless nights, headaches, and depression. When you have Rheumatoid Arthritis you get to have the added fun of RA flares, mussels cramps, and exhaustion.  When life is stressful there are things you can do to help reduce your stress level. Water can be a huge help. One day I hope to have a hot tub, but taking a nice hot bath will work as well. A hot bath or using a hot tub is a great way to use heat to loosen up your mussels and give you time to just relax. Swimming is also a good way to ease mussels because the water takes the pressure off your bo...

I was working on filling out new paper work for the new Rheumatologist. I find the paperwork completely stupid. Why? The doctor is in the same building that my family doctor is in and the same office of the last Rheumatogist, who is leaving. I hate writing things out on paper, if I could type the info it would be faster and easier. Writing with pen and paper just hurts. Not to mention all of these questions are already in their files. They gave me one little line and ask me to list treatments. I really want to write "Sorry long list won't fit here!" and then I get to the question that ask "Last day you felt well?" Okay, I couldn't help myself anymore. I wrote "Good Question, This affects my life everyday."  I'm mean gee lets see I was diagnosed when I was 20 (I'm going to be 34 in June) and it does affect every single day of my life. It just something we have to live with. The next question wasn't much better. "List all med...

Now I have to say this was much less of a pain then I thought it would be. May 13th is my appointment with my new doctor. I was even able to switch days at work so I won't have to use personal time to see him. Hopefully this will last awhile. I like to stick with one doctor for awhile so we don't have to keep changing things. My husband, Richard, is start physical therapy tomorrow. There is something wrong with his back again. They are going to schedule MRI to get more information and he is being sent to an orthopedic. Sound like it may be time for another back surgery. This is a little scary but it worked out best last time. It just put a lot of stress on me, as I'm the only one working. We have heard from four doctors now that he needs disability, hopefully that will come through soon. We have been waiting almost six months now for an answer. Stress is a very interesting thing. I do my best to ignore and deal with it but I find it leave my shoulders feeling very tig...

Lately I haven't been 100% happy with my rheumatologist. She a great doctor but I keep getting the feeling she doesn't have time for me. Now I'm having a wonderful flare up. She called me in a prednisone again but I'm still having issues. Then my work schedule changed for June so I called to switch the next appointment date. When I called I found out she claims to be leaving June 20. I say claim because they said this twice last year. Well I'm tried of playing these games. So I have called my family doctor and asked for another referral. Now my insurance doesn't require a referral but for some reasons the doctor office does. Well it been almost a week and my family doctor's nurse has not returned my call, so I have made an appointment for Monday to see him. Beside I'm still enjoying this wonderful flare up anyhow. Finding a new doctor can be so stressful. I don't really want to drive far, but don't want to have to keep switching and I want so...