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Not RA after all

Posted , 3 users are following.

constance.de
constance.de

Have had results from hospital now (not RA as my rheumy wanted me to believe)!  Bloods show rather active OA, Gout and Migratory Arthritis, plus the PMR, of course.  Not so bad as it sounds though. Gout and MA hit like a bomb, but they disappear after a few days, only to return in another part of the body at some later date.

I'm glad it's not bones.  I can cope with this I hope!!

Just thought I'd let you know.

Keep smiling.  C.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH constance.de

    Posted

    In a younger patient that MA might be a precursor of RA - but it's often 10 or 15 years before it does get there. 

    What are they going to manage it with? Have they suggested allopurinol for the gout to avoid more attacks?

    Bet you feel happier after that!

    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      Yes, I feel a lot happier.  I never quite believed the Rheumy.  He just 'looked' at my ankles, didn't even feel them - they are swollen, but still!  He then immediately gave me a prescription for Sulfasalazine.  Took 2, but was sick and felt giddy (I'd had enough of that lately)!

      I'm just glad it's not 'bones'.

    • EileenH
      EileenH constance.de

      Posted

      You know Constance - I think it may be time for a new rheumy?
    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      Not another one in Soest.  Nearest 30 kms away and has a six month waiting list.  There aren't enough Rheumies here in NRW.

      I did see another one about 2 years ago - told him I had PMR and he shoved a note to me with the initials MTX on it.  That was it!  After a one hour wait I was in there 3 minutes!!!😡  I've done with Rheumies, I'll just listen to my really excellent Doctor, and the "experts" on here.

      C. 💐

    • EileenH
      EileenH constance.de

      Posted

      Will your GP happily manage you? I had a superb GP when we lived in Germany and he would do most things perfectly happily. He was also very fussy who he referred you to - even preferred the district hospital in Forchheim to the Uni hospital in Erlangen! Quite rightly - the Uni couldn't diagnose Nat's appendicitis, sending her home on Friday after 4 days saying it definitely wasn't. On Saturday Forchheim were convinced enough that it was to bring the surgeon in on Sunday morning, would have been earlier if she'd got any worse. The appendix was just about to burst from the inside - luckily I'd been sceptical and called him when she had pain again and he ordered me to go to Forchheim! They were lovely - and her doctor there recognised her a couple of years later when he did a locum and remembered the histology which is how I know how close it came.
    • constance.de
      constance.de EileenH

      Posted

      My GP is great.  Listens to me, asks all sorts of questions, gives me any tablets I need, etc etc.  Will stick by him.  I'm really pleased I don't need to think about DMARDS any more.

       

  • Padada
    Padada constance.de

    Posted

    Speaking of DMARDS,  why don't they work for PMR?  They reduce cytokines and they reduce inflammation.  Have they ever been tried or used for PMR?  Just wondered after I read an article about drugs directed against cytokines.

       

    • constance.de
      constance.de Padada

      Posted

      Good question!  Eileen may be able to throw some light on this.
    • EileenH
      EileenH Padada

      Posted

      They have been tried - some doctors repeatedly try them in PMR. Rarely works. There were 3 clinical studies done using methotrexate as a steroid sparer. One said it helped, one said it didn't and one didn't know. 

      "Cytokines" is a general term and there is a whole range of them. DMARDs may reduce cytokines - but not necessarily the particular ones that cause the problems in PMR.

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