arthritic changes!

Hi Matt

Oh poor you - that's all you need :roll: . The blood test will show if your ESR (Erythro Sedimentation Rate) is raised - if it is, that will be indicative of inflammation in your body ie. arthritis. The good news though is that the condition is treatable by various drugs. It's not fair is it - you've got enough to contend with.

We all suffer with aches and pains in all parts of our bodies, some have swelling, others don't. I haven't heard anyone mention any lumps though.

Try not to worry too much, as this will just make things worse. I know that's easier said than done.

Take care and speak again soon

Katie x

Hi Matt again

Sorry, have just re-read your posting and it was an x-ray you had, not a blood test (but you should have had another one of those done too). The x-ray will show any arthritic changes too.

My concentration and comprehension is not too good today!!!

Katie

well i had a blood test when the lumps first came up and they tested me for about everything and said that it was all normal!i saw a neurologist about 4 weeks ago who took more bloods but they havnt came back yet and my doctor said that if there normal they tend not to send them back in a hurry!its so strange i just dunno whats going on with my body anymore :?

Hey Matt

I too had swellings on my hands, but also on my feet when i first got diagnosed with ME, after many test they finnally diagnosed me with pressure/strain aurticaria, which is over sensativity to pressure or straining, i get bumps come up which are similair to heat rashes, even just putting my hand in my pocket can trigger it off, or picking something up can cause a strain in my muscle or tendon, so understand what your going through, along with coping with ME it can be hard, i did go on telfast for a while but my body soon got emune to it so it stopped working, now i just have to put up with it, but they did say it will wear off, id be surprised if you have got arthritus as your very young, so might be worth mentioning aurticaria to your doc,

Hope you get some answers soon

Jay

cheers jay thats put my mind at ease for the time being!lol its mad tho two years ago i was fit and healthy running on the treadmill and working out to stay healthy all the time then all this just happend out of the blue!Im started to sound so bitter as it gets worse for me haha

Hi Matt

That's really interesting what Jay has to say - sounds as if yours could be similar. If there had been any evidence of arthritis it would have shown up in your earlier blood samples, I'm sure. :?

We can all relate to you re. fitness levels of the past, Matt. I've got a drawer full of redundant gym gear and it really makes me want to cry when I open it. ) I used to be a champion spinner once upon a time - and folk used to tease me and say my trainers were surgically attached to me - I was always in gym gear!

This is such a strange illness - I was only thinking yesterday that I hadn't had a bad week and then I had a very long phonecall from and old friend (with marriage problems so I didn't feel I could hang up) and that has made me feel really unwell (dizzy, headachey and generally blurghhhhh ...). One flipping phonecall and I'm back to square one!! :roll:

Take care everyone and have a good (ish) weekend.

Katie

Katie, we are so alike. I have spent the best part of the day with daughter's best friend who has a lot of problems and I am her surrogate mum. I enjoyed the day and wanted to give her my full attention but now I am so exhausted mentally and physically that i cannot stop shaking and trembling and I am not cold.

I wish I had more resources to offer, especially as my son is also having problems and looks like he is heading for another breakdown,.

It just makes me feel such a failure, Alicia. People have always been able to come to me with their problems (especially when I was working), but like you I just don't have the resources even to listen to them now, let alone offer advice. It just totally wipes me out. And that is what is so very hard to explain to people. :?

Without wanting to bore you all again re. my daughters wedding day - I'm thinking of wearing a badge instead of the usual corsage, saying - please don't talk to me for too long!! Or something like that!! :zzz:

But you aren't a failure Katie, any more than I am. You are ill and it is not your choice.

I am sure you do what little you can, as I do, and in some cases more than you can and end up all bleurgh and meh.

Hi Matt what Katie :nurse: said about arthritis showing up in the x-ray and previous blood tests is true. Hope you get answers soon Lou Lou