New need advice please

I feel your pain. Are you from the uk? Nhs patient by any chance? Go back to your doctors and tell them everything you have mentioned. Write it all down before you go that way you wont forget. Ive got an appointment ext month to see the rheumatologist. I had bloods took which showed inflammation, xrays on my hands that showed signs of RA. They gave me 10% ibuprofen gel,naproxen and Zapain in the mean time while i wait. But had to take me off the naproxen because the forgot i had an ulcer. I am tired every day, always forgetting and generally feel like crap. I think its all linked. Did you not get prescribed anything from the rheumatologist? My doctor says they will be able to help me better as he doesnt know what else he can give me that wont affect my ulcer. Hang on in there and keep at your GP

HI Sarah

  No, you are not being lazy!!!  I have inflalmm. arthritis--basically RA without the bloodtest positive but extreme fatigue has been my issue for a long time--it started way before any pain symptoms.   Have minimun swelling and that is only in 1 finger but hands and now feet/ ankles hurt.   I believe you prob have RA.   I am on methotrexate and will start biologic at end of Nov.      I don't have much of a brain fog from what I can tell but I am generally too tiired to do the stuff I used to do

   Keep reading all you can here and other places on the disease.   You need to learn as much as  you can and get support from others.   Hope your pain is under control for now

hi Sarah.

you ask are you going mad and lazy, the answers are why yes! of course you are. were all mad with rheumatoid. it's a requirement for membership. look on the bright side. no more tedious explanations why your other half's tea tastes of nowt. saves a small fortune on non existent teabags. in summer even better. youll forget to switch kettle on which results in sitting with a cold cup of water. zero calories to boot. the tiredness is the result of months of searching for the teaspoons to stir your cold cup of water. but you can't quite remember if you are supposed to put something in it, hence the reason to stir. the need for eye test? to see if you need stronger glasses to find the teaspoons, kettle switch sugar etc. I digress. I'm a sufferer of RA 30 years.not the end of world. tiredness is par for the course. NO! your not lazy..or mad. but it helps. as for eye test.. certain meds ( hydroxy) can effect eyes. try not worry.easy I know. welcome to the club. all the best. take care, Ivan.

Thanks all for replies. Ivan reading your reply is the first time I have laughed in weeks. Sadly everything you said is how I feel! I have always been a bit dizzy but now I am completely dizzy.

I am from the UK. Never really had a problem with the NHS but not really been ill before. I just feel completely left and not really knowing what is wrong with me. I am guessing blood test showed something but I have phoned for results. Hospital said doctors got them. Doctors said hospital got them. I am not really in any pain but was given a steroid injection of some kind in September . I did go back to my doctors and try to explain but he couldn't get me out of his room quick enough and only to deal with rheumatoid doc. Which I have an appointment with on Saturday but on Tuesday got a letter saying that cancelled until December.

So I am sat here thinking I am going mad because most forums says pain and swelling (which I had but it's gone!). Now I just have a brain which does not work and I could sleep 20 hours a day.

So once you ve had the eye test you re going to have hydroxychloroquine? That s ok. They ll monitor you to see if it s enough to hold back the RA. It s important you let them know if hydro doesn't Work. it takes 3 months to work- 

Your symptoms are classic RA- joint pain, stiffness and fatigue. It s tough isn't it. My physio warned me it might take a year for rheumie to sort out best meds for me and it did just about take that. Everyone is different and responds differently to different meds.

i would just say hydroxy is a milder dmard. If it works- great but speak up if it doesn't after 3 months. The prednisolone helps but also masks symptoms. It s useful while you re waiting for the dmard to work, but should be tapered off at some point. It doesn't hold back the actual disease but is a wonderful help while you re waiting.

hope that is helpful. I asked loads of questions of my rheumy and read up a lot on NRAS. I think it helps in coming to terms with the diagnosis. All the best

Sarah you must be feeling very down and neglected, I know because we've all been there at one time or another. It took five years seeing various docs before they finally came to the RA decision for me with me thinking all that time that maybe it was me being lazy, getting old, working too hard etc. the amount of times I told my husband my tyres were flat or power steering gone in my car only to find next day it drove perfectly and they were OK! I felt a fool, lazy because sometimes I couldn't raise my arms to blow dry my hair. It's not you, it's this horrid disease, go with how your feeling and kick butt when you see these professionals. I took Hydroxycloroquine but it didn't do much for me. I keep a stash of prednisolone and Palexia pain relief if I need extra help for a few days, I'm on low dose Methotrexate (caused me liver problems on higher dose) and now on Cimzia biologic injection every fortnight. Feeling better than I have for a long time, so good in fact I started at the gym (and I'm now sat here with a frozen shoulder trying to do too much too soon) but get yourself a good Doctor and a good Rheumatologist, one that will listen and help, I have monthly blood tests and keep my own records of all results, scans, and meds, etc. so I can keep an eye on this disease. I also have free Skype apps with my Rheumy every so often, as She is a five hour drive away, and they are good too.

Keep pushing them, don't think your lazy, this is all real and you can get help, just don't let them push you away, and good luck.