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Date: 19.04.2011
From: sarah

Subject: new to this

Hi I am new at this and any advice and help would be very much appreciated,i feel alittle lost. I have been seeing a rheumy for a year in May this year and still don't know what type of arthritis it is. I was put on sulafalazine and naproxen and had to come off them due to side affects. At the begining of April I was put on plaquenil.i have had an xray on my right foot showing moderate hallux valgus deformity,and my left foot is not as bad as my right.my thumb and finger(next to it) are very painful at the joints.ive been seeing an occupational theripist for the past 2 weeks,putting my hands in wax and doing hand excercises and they have made me a splint for my right hand.for the past 9 months or more i have felt quite unwell on and off,no energy(my get up and go as got up and gone!)it was my doctor who told me i have arthritis and the occupational therpist said from the letter she had received from my rheumy that it is inflammatory arthritis.when i saw my rheumy in april he ask as soon as i went in hows your arthritis?its the first time hes said it to me what it is.ive tried to cut a long story short.:)
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Date: 19.04.2011
From: KayJay

Subject: Re: new to this

Hi there I was mis diagnosed with Inflammatory Arthritis and I was given Plaquenil. It didn't make me feel any better so the Rheumy said to have an Isope Scan which proved it wasn't IA but Osteo Arthritis [ which I've had for years ] and Fibromyalgia. I think what made them think it was IA at first was that I have a high Rhuematoid Factor in blood tests. Bascially the Rheumy said that if the Plaquenil didn't work then it's not IA. HOWEVER he also said there was nothing he could give me for Fibromyalgia which the GP disagreed with and prescribed me Gabapentin. I feel tons better on that.I also have hallux valgus on both feet.

I should ask the Rheumy stragiht out what kind of Arthritis you have and are there any more tests you can have if they don't know. Good Luck ;0)
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Date: 19.04.2011
From: Patricia

Subject: Re: new to this

Hi Sarah. Sorry to hear you feel unwell. Inflammatory Arthritis seems a very unpredictable illness that's for sure. Like you, I was first seen by my rheumatologist a year in May. I was firstly put on 30mg of prednisolone (steroids)and morphine because I was in excruciating pain in almost every joint. I was then given sulfasalazine which i reacted to badly as you did and am now on Hydroxychloroquine (plaquenil)/orencia)also like you. I do not have the rheumatoid factor in my blood but am definitely being treated for inflammatory arthritis. The Hydroxy does seem to be working a little because I am now down to 10mg of steroid which I couldn't have done before. It has helped with the terrible fatigue. I still get really tired and my joints are still swollen and sore but not quite as much. It seems there is no quick fix. Apparently, it takes up to six months to take effect fully so hang in there if you can. Could you phone your rheumy nurse to ask what kind of arthritis you are being treated for? At least that would put your mind at rest. Take care..x
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Date: 19.04.2011
From: sarah

Subject: Re: new to this

thankyou for your kind words,i will ask again,but be abit firmer this time!take care.:)
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Date: 19.04.2011
From: cookie

Subject: Re: new to this

Hi sarah hope your ok hon i think your right in saying you have to be a bit more assertive it doesnt always come easily to us when dealing with docs i do somtimes think rheumy nurses explain things a bit better. Remember its still early days for you to get your head round all of this you will like most people with chronic illness become an expert yourself xxx
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Date: 22.04.2011
From: mads

Subject: Re: new to this

hi sarah hope you have got sorted by now but i just wanted to let you know that your post echoed exactly what i felt a little while ago and after taking advice (from here) i listed all my questions - the first one being what do i have - i got a great response particularly from the rheumy nurse
all the best
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Date: 23.04.2011
From: sarah

Subject: Re: new to this

thanks again everyone,for given me all the advice. i will let you know how i get on. i do feel now that ive got friends who understand me.:)xx
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