Friday, January 30, 2009 Emjaye asks

Q: Hurry up- and wait!!

I hear and read so much about how important it is to start treating RA immediately. Yet I am still waiting to get an appointment with a rheumatologist. My GP sees me every week or two, I take tylenol 3 and Tramacet for pain. They don't work. Before that, I was taking some anti inflammitory, which made me so nauseous my doc told me to stop. My life is falling apart around me; |Doc put me on disability, so I am at home all day. At first I was just so relieved I had insurance; but,4 mths later I am still waiting for a cheque. The insurance company is investigating, trying to prove that this is a pre-existing condition. My ex is taking me to court because I stopped paying child support. Not really stopped, just cut it in half; and not really me paying; my fiance. I am gaining weight, crying at the drop of a hat, and I know I am getting depressed. I dont want to take anti-depressants, I dont feel I have a chemical imbalance. I think that the fact that I am so limited in what I can do, that I have absolutely no say in what my life is, and that I am so sore I cant exercise and am gaining weight is what is making me depressed. And I think anybody in my shoes would feel the same. I am going to see the G|P again today, and I need a game plan. How can I tell him so that he listens that I need something more for pain? Is this normal? All this waiting? I had blood tests, and was negative for the RA factor. But doc is convinced that I have RA. Something needs to change; I am seriously losing it. |Do I have to break down in his office for him to take me seriously? Did I miss a step somewhere? It is unfathomable to me that a person should be in the amount of pain I am in, in this day and age, and not have some kind of pill to at least bring it down a notch or two. What is he waiting for?

I am in Canada, if that makes a difference, and this all started 5 months ago, in September.

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Answers (5)

mkmac4

1/31/09 3:19pm

Not sure what to tell you but what you are feeling is normal I guess. As for pain meds-NONE of them take the pain away. I've even had doctors tell me that. They just help you relax a bit which takes some of the pain away. Try and remain calm. Getting a diagnosis is hard and there is always alot of waiting to be done. Stop by this board and maybe more of us can help you.

http://momof479.proboards.com/index.cgi

OMGIHURT

2/ 6/09 12:57pm

Hi there, I know exactly how you feel, and understand how frustrating it is when you are suffering in pain and all the docs around you keep fobbing you off withh different ailments. I have only just been properly diagnosed with RA in November 08 after a couple of years back and forth, first they said it was a virus, then it was the menopause. But I stuck at it and in the end I think they got so fed up of seeing me that they sent me for every kind of blood test that they can do, and yipppeee! they got it right. Youv`e got to keep going back and make them listen to you! Please don`t give up, I know its a pain in th A**e but you will get there I promise. I am still waiting to see if my Methotrexate is working only had about 7 doses, but I have just changed my painkillers to Diclofenac for the inflammation, and Tramadol for the pain, which are working better at the moment.. Good luck, and DO NOT give in xx :-)

Emjaye

2/ 6/09 2:13pm

Thanks for the support, guys. I really do appreciate it. There's a second chapter to this, in some ways happy, with the good ol' frustrating part (of course).

I went to the Doc, waited for three hours ( I don't know if I mentioned that he is at a walk-in clinic; no appointments allowed). Three hours is actually pretty good; average wait is approx 5 hrs.

First thing he does, looks through my file, asked if I had seen the Rheumatologist yet. Ummmm, no. He asked why I was there, I said that I was finished the Tramacet. And, although they are marginally better than the T3's, I am still really sore for the majority of the day. I straight out asked him to prescribe a narcotic. Something. Anything to at least tide me over til I see the Rheumey. He said that the clinic had a no narcotic scrip policy. Did I know how much that stuff was worth on the street? No, I tell him. And unless somebody came at me with a gun, there was no freaking way I would sell a prescription that would make me feel 40 again instead of 80. They are highly addictive, he adds. So are Tramacet, I reply. And, I add, if they work, I really do NOT care. I read about addiction vs dependence. I would not become addicted. Then he told me that I should be seeing a family doctor instead of a walk in clinic. My jaw dropped. 5 mon ths ago, when he told me I had RA, he said that after the Rheumey confirmed the diagnosis, he would treat me.

Then he walked outta the room. I guess my appt was over. I really dont know what to think. This, to me, is just plain negligence!

I am looking for another doctor. In Calgary, that is not an easy task.

Thanks for listening.....

amjh

4/ 2/09 10:46am

I am wondering if you got any answers and how you are doing now? Your story is IDENTICAL to how I have felt for 4 weeks straight. I am taking Tramadol for pain, it is the only thing that has worked but I am taking more and more to make it through the day. I have 2 small children and my husband is on dialysis for kidney disease and awaiting a transplant. I have taken on twice as much because he can't do it and I am struggling to make it everyday. My hands hurt the worst and I think I have some swelling in fingers. My lower back aches, all of my joints ache, then it turns into a whole body ache. I also have a rash that moves from place to place, just general itchiness, small red bumps that look like an allergy. I have been to gyn. 2 times and internal medicine 2 times. Both think arthritis related but first blood test was negative. Waiting 6 weeks to get into see Rhuemo Dr. I have begged to get in sooner but I live in FL so they are all booked. I am losing it over the pain. I go online regularly researching every disease to see what it is I have and the best I can come up with is RA or Fibromyalgia.

Did you ever get any medicine for the pain that works? how about alternative therapy? I don't know whether to exercise or lay down or what!?!?

Angela

5/28/09 12:12pm

I wish I had a answer for you but don't. Your story sounds like mine. I can't get a doctor to prescribe any pain killers either. I am like you I have tried to explain how much pain I'm in and the naproxen and others that had been recommended just didn't help at all b ut that fell on deaf ears. Someone just told me about going to a pain management center said it might help. I haven't gone yet because if no money and no insurance but will as soon as I can. All I know is I can't give up no matter how bad I feel. I get depressed thinking about my limitations sometimes but things have got to change eventually. Hang in there and don't give up.

Q: Hurry up- and wait!!

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