Information and opinions on health from tque at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/542556/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/542556/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/542556/index http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/135304/fi Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:16:45 -0400 tque I think maybe I do have fibromylagia- as well as probably having RA.  My skin hurts, the only thing that feels good on it is my nice cool down comforter.  Last night I stripped the top sheet off my bed, threw off all the blankets, and slept under the comforter.  The coolness didn't irritate the strange pain of my leg.   Today I spent most of the day fighting nausea.  I would rather have someone slug me in the face than... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/135304/fi http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/135189/ra Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:59:39 -0400 tque Well, I woke up this morning (thanks to the flexeril I can sleep now), and my hands are swollen, wrists hurt and palms are blood red.  I also have a lot of stiffness in hands, knees and ankles.  I have a lymph node on the left side of my neck that is swollen and painful today- the same as it was when I got the pluerisy, which I believe was an indicator of the RA.   So while I may very well have Fibromyalgia...I believe I also... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/135189/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134965/ra Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:35:07 -0400 tque Today was a busy day for me.  My oldest daughter, her husband and my two beautiful granddaughters came for a visit.   So I did some cleaning and I baked cookies, then I made dinner and spent a few hours just talking, enjoying the company and really having a great time.  They went home, and I loaded the dishwasher (today is my day to do dishes), and cleaned up a little more.   Now I realize the cost of a wonderful... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134965/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134696/ra Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:04:12 -0400 tque I just learned that Prednisone can alter blood test results.  So the blood work that was done was after a full course of Prednisone, so I am not believing the results.   Luckily my personal Doctor did blood work on 2/25/11, and I believe he did some of the same tests that my Rheumy did, so I will get those on Friday and make a comparison.   I believe I MAY have fibromyalgia, but I also believe I have RA, it may not be full... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134696/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134609/ra Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:20:09 -0400 tque So may or may not have RA.  I may or many not have fibromyalgia.  I may or may not be me anymore.    Seems like an awful lot of indecision lurking in the darkness.  So who decides if I am or if I am not?  Do I let my doctor tell me what chronic illness is causing all this chaos in my life, or do I go with my instinct and say "This is what is happening to me, and while some of it fits this thing, most of fits the... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134609/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134517/ra Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:28:29 -0400 tque Just returned from Dr.  All my blood is within normal range...all of it.   Doc says...probably fibromyalgia...not RA.  I am confused because my pain is not widespread, it is localized to both feet, both knees, both hands, both elbows, both jaws.   Yeah so I am reeling...after trying to so hard for two weeks to come to terms with an autoimmune disease I evidently don't have- to now face something that is even more... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134517/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134472/ra Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:54:28 -0400 tque Two weeks ago my first appointment with the rheumatologist went really well.  He diagnosed me with RA- just by my symptoms and the condition of my small joints.   Today I will get my blood results.  I am more scared now than I was two weeks ago, because the blood stuff makes it real.  And what if there are no markers?  No abnormal RA factors?  What if everything shows that I am just fine?   So...I'm... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134472/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134401/ra Sun, 20 Mar 2011 15:55:50 -0400 tque It's been almost two weeks since I found out I had (REALLY HAD) RA.  I kind of thought I did before, because with all the crazy symptoms, it was the only thing that fit.  I was HOPING I didn't, and some part of me still hopes that this is all just a strange misunderstanding and tomorrow when I go to the doctor he will say that I am fine.  OK...so the denial is still there...   I look at my hands and I don't see my... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134401/ra http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134262/2am Fri, 18 Mar 2011 03:36:21 -0400 tque I fantasize about sleep.  About deep, peaceful, uninterrupted sleep.  This time I stayed in bed trying to will myself to go back to sleep-well, obviously it didn't work.   I fall alseep just fine-it's staying that way that boggles my mind.  As exhausted as I am- you would think sleep would be a natural easy thing for me to do.  Restless, I am unable to just lie there.  My mind takes hold of the fact that I'm... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134262/2am http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134209/ra Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:00:27 -0400 tque I love a road trip.  I love to go when anyone goes anywhere.  I'm like a puppy that way, just show me keys and I'm standing at the door ready to roll.  The me before RA was a welcome passenger for any road trip.  My banter, my mp3 song list, my presence was appreciated.   Now they look at me with dread and find excuses.  There isn't room, or "are you sure you can handle it?"  Anytime I go... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/542556/134209/ra