I haven't said much about this, but back last winter I started having some major issues with the joints in my jaw, hands and feet. Not all of them but there were several knuckles/joints that developed knots on them and the were very painful early in the morning.
Went to the Dr and he did some blood work in March, which he said showed that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis? Scared the crap out of me and I immediately went looking for a Rheumatologist. Found out there was only ONE in town and the earliest appointment he would give me was December 22nd 2016? WTF? So I called my Dr back and told them what I had found out and they tried to get me an appointment at UVA, but, they put me on a waiting list with no promise of when I could be seen?
So here I sat with what I was told was a debilitating disease and NO Dr in site to offer treatment??
So I started loading up on NSAIDs, Tylenol and Tramadol to ease the pain and finally decided to look at some other cities. A Google search located a Rheumatology Clinic about 70 miles away in Danville, Va so I rolled the dice and called them. Lucky for me they had just started seeing new patients a week or so earlier and I got an appointment for the 23rd of May. Additional blood work done by the Rheumatologist office came back that I actually have Lupus erythematosus educed Poly Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. WOW?? Or more like WTF?? Looking back I could see that I'd actually had some of the symptoms for about 2 years before it was diagnosed.
So the Dr started me on Plaquenil and Prednisone to see if my system would tolerate those. Two weeks later I was off the Plaquenil and back to square one because I was having vision issues. Another blood test and the Dr put me on a stronger DMARD called Methotrexate (MTX) along with Folic Acid. I about had a heart attack when I looked at the possible side effects but hey, I had to do something, so here I sit now into my 4th week on that and so far no major side effects. Have another appointment for September 14th for more blood work and while I'm somewhat better I'm still not in full remission so I'm guessing he's going to up the dose of that MTX and I hope I don't loose my hair, which is one of many possible side effects.
Ennywho, at least I waited until I was 70 years old to get sick and since I'm in pretty good health otherwise, they say I could still live a somewhat normal life from here on out. Either way, this is the hand I've been dealt and I'll have to deal with it regardless.
So now you guys know what's going on here at my house.
Went to the Dr and he did some blood work in March, which he said showed that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis? Scared the crap out of me and I immediately went looking for a Rheumatologist. Found out there was only ONE in town and the earliest appointment he would give me was December 22nd 2016? WTF? So I called my Dr back and told them what I had found out and they tried to get me an appointment at UVA, but, they put me on a waiting list with no promise of when I could be seen?
So here I sat with what I was told was a debilitating disease and NO Dr in site to offer treatment??
So I started loading up on NSAIDs, Tylenol and Tramadol to ease the pain and finally decided to look at some other cities. A Google search located a Rheumatology Clinic about 70 miles away in Danville, Va so I rolled the dice and called them. Lucky for me they had just started seeing new patients a week or so earlier and I got an appointment for the 23rd of May. Additional blood work done by the Rheumatologist office came back that I actually have Lupus erythematosus educed Poly Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. WOW?? Or more like WTF?? Looking back I could see that I'd actually had some of the symptoms for about 2 years before it was diagnosed.
So the Dr started me on Plaquenil and Prednisone to see if my system would tolerate those. Two weeks later I was off the Plaquenil and back to square one because I was having vision issues. Another blood test and the Dr put me on a stronger DMARD called Methotrexate (MTX) along with Folic Acid. I about had a heart attack when I looked at the possible side effects but hey, I had to do something, so here I sit now into my 4th week on that and so far no major side effects. Have another appointment for September 14th for more blood work and while I'm somewhat better I'm still not in full remission so I'm guessing he's going to up the dose of that MTX and I hope I don't loose my hair, which is one of many possible side effects.
Ennywho, at least I waited until I was 70 years old to get sick and since I'm in pretty good health otherwise, they say I could still live a somewhat normal life from here on out. Either way, this is the hand I've been dealt and I'll have to deal with it regardless.
So now you guys know what's going on here at my house.
Right now I'm seeing some pain relief but I can still tell that the joints in my hands are swollen when I clinch my fists. Also have problems with joints in my left foot but it's not making me cripple at this point.
