Becki's RA Journey... my story p1

Reading your story breaks my heart!  It sound way too familiar!  My fight for a diagnosis and some relief took years.  Years of me knowing something was wrong.  I kept telling everybody that something was wrong, and all I got were doctors telling me nothing was wrong, until I got so bad that I couldn't walk.  It's so frusterating isn't it, when you can't get anyone to listen or to take you seriously?  But you know your body the best, and when you feel something is wrong it usually is.  Keep up your fight for a diagnosis.  If I hadn't kept going I would be in a wheelchair right now.  If you don't feel this rheumatologist is taking you seriously, then find another one.  I know that it's hard, and so much work on your part, but when you finally find someone who will listen and take you seriously they may be the one to give you your life back as well!  I am including a link to my introduction blog.  I feel that we have had quite a few of the same experiences in our journey for a diagnosis and for someone to help us and take us seriously.

http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/9937/20686/mom

Don't give up, even when it's hard to keep going.  Feel free to vent, ask questions, or just cry out words.  We are all here for you.  Good luck, and best wishes!

Tell me more about this chest pain please.  I too have had this as a reoccuring issue for years, even before any obvious RA symptoms.  Also had the ER admissions with Cardiologists just shaking their heads and my kids sitting there looking scared.  Best explanation so far is "asthma" which I do have, but sharp sudden pain doesn't sound like any common symptom of asthma I've ever heard.  My Rheumy doesn't seem to think much of it or at least isn't sure what to make of it.  Is this a possible RA thing?  What did you find out about it?

Hi, Your story sounds exactly like mine.  It took a year before I was diagnosed with RA after a simple blood test.  I was also told to see someone in psychiatry as it might be "in my head".  I was so angry that I walked out of the doctors office and never went back.  Now, 15 years later I am coping with the disease to the best of my ability.  I work at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and have excellent care thank goodness.  Hang in there.