Dragoness
07-29-2008, 03:21 PM
Hi, I'm new here but I am short on time so I can't post an intro right now.
Without writing a novel I will give you the details.
I am 29 with 3 children, since I was 16 I have had a lot of strange symptoms. The symptoms were mostly neurological in nature. Pain in the major joints (shoulders, hips), severe migraines, vertigo, eye problems, loss of balance, memory problems, fatigue, weakness etc. I don't have insurance so I never got answers. Due to my medical history I have a hard time getting (affording) insurance.
I have been seeing some doctors at the local clinic who are finally taking me seriously and I have been having lots of tests run. We are fairly certain I have Multiple Sclerosis, but the bombshell came when the doctor told me is also fairly certain I have something autoimmune as well (joint pain etc.)
I had a battery of tests run at 18 and 24, and again a few months ago. The first two sets of tests I THOUGHT looked for RA and were negative. The last set of tests I told them I have previous negative RA, HIV, Lupus, and Lyme tests, so they were more specialized and didn't look for RA or the other things. At this point the only things that can be ruled out for 100% certain are cancer and HIV.
So now we come to my questions about RA
1. A friend who lives in NYC is currently undergoing a dx for something autoimmune as well and she claims that her doctor told her that in some younger adults in their early 20's the tests for RA can in fact be negative and not show up positive (if they have it) until the late 20's or even early 30's. I have no idea if there is any truth to this.
2. Last week after a day at the beach I noticed the toe next to my big toe on my right foot was swollen and painful in the joint. Like I stubbed it or jammed it, but I could not recall any injuries and neither could my mommy-friend who was with me all day and she's very observant. Over the next few days the swelling from the joint and up towards my foot continued and with joint area turning pinkish and eventually light purplish. Now the swelling is about 80% gone and so is the discoloration, but the pain is still there.
Then last night I noticed the same thing started in my big toe, painful joint, no real swelling yet but if it happens like the other that should start by tonight.
Does this sound at all like something RA related? Should I be retested?
Without writing a novel I will give you the details.
I am 29 with 3 children, since I was 16 I have had a lot of strange symptoms. The symptoms were mostly neurological in nature. Pain in the major joints (shoulders, hips), severe migraines, vertigo, eye problems, loss of balance, memory problems, fatigue, weakness etc. I don't have insurance so I never got answers. Due to my medical history I have a hard time getting (affording) insurance.
I have been seeing some doctors at the local clinic who are finally taking me seriously and I have been having lots of tests run. We are fairly certain I have Multiple Sclerosis, but the bombshell came when the doctor told me is also fairly certain I have something autoimmune as well (joint pain etc.)
I had a battery of tests run at 18 and 24, and again a few months ago. The first two sets of tests I THOUGHT looked for RA and were negative. The last set of tests I told them I have previous negative RA, HIV, Lupus, and Lyme tests, so they were more specialized and didn't look for RA or the other things. At this point the only things that can be ruled out for 100% certain are cancer and HIV.
So now we come to my questions about RA
1. A friend who lives in NYC is currently undergoing a dx for something autoimmune as well and she claims that her doctor told her that in some younger adults in their early 20's the tests for RA can in fact be negative and not show up positive (if they have it) until the late 20's or even early 30's. I have no idea if there is any truth to this.
2. Last week after a day at the beach I noticed the toe next to my big toe on my right foot was swollen and painful in the joint. Like I stubbed it or jammed it, but I could not recall any injuries and neither could my mommy-friend who was with me all day and she's very observant. Over the next few days the swelling from the joint and up towards my foot continued and with joint area turning pinkish and eventually light purplish. Now the swelling is about 80% gone and so is the discoloration, but the pain is still there.
Then last night I noticed the same thing started in my big toe, painful joint, no real swelling yet but if it happens like the other that should start by tonight.
Does this sound at all like something RA related? Should I be retested?