Confused & Frustrated

hali · Silver Member Joined: 15 Mar 2001 Posts: 270

Hello,

I am 33y/o & married. Last year I got a sharp pain in my right shoulder, which then went to my left shoulder then developed in my left & right elbows then all my other joints. I become very fatigue have lost weight, am irritable, I have to lay down for a while. My worst area now is in my fingers which I am unable to do hardly anything due to the pain & inflammation.

I saw my local Dr.which he put me on anti inflammatory tablets, celebrex, naprosyn, voltaren, just to name a few, they helped for a short term then started to irritate my stomach, & have no affect. I stopped taking them. Dr told me I have Seronegative Arthritis

Two months later I was sent to see a Rheumatologist and he checked me over thoughly & told me I have no evidence of arthritis. And just told me to take Panadeine for the pain.

My local GP was not sure what to do next as everything possible had been done, he was not listening to me properly when I was telling him I had developed more symptoms. (I think he was just waiting to retire as he did not care).

I saw another GP for a second opinion no help at all she looked over all my reports & blood tests & told me it might be something which I have to just learn to put up with (it's alright for her to say that she is not the one with the pain 24/7.) I did not go back

I went back to my Dr. at least he never said that to me. Januar this year my Dr. decided to put me onto Prednisone 5mg twice a day, they were helping with the pain (what a relief it was). Then he retired which I did not know, found that out when I rang to make an appointment as I was nearly out of tablets.

It's November, here I go again searching for another local GP. Found 1 he is nice he listened & took an interest in what I was saying.

*First he suggested that I go off Prednisone because of the harmful affects it can have on my body, so he weaned me off them as well as putting me on Plaquenil to see how I go. WOW was I going through a a rough patch felt like I was having withdrawal symptoms worse pain than ever CHRONIC That was just for 3 weeks went back Friday Sept 26. NOT THE BEST OF NEWS I RECEIVED. He has taken me off the tablets all together now & said to have an X-ray on my Left & Right hands as they are the worst & re-do the blood tests again. As I have only seen him 3 times now since he has seen no evidence of my fingers been inflammed he can't do really anything for me he stated "its just my word that I'm in pain & have inflammed fingers" it happens everytime I use my hands that my fingers become inflammed. I felt embarrassed & humiliated.

I have had the x-rays, blood tests will be done December. Dr. suggested I may need a review with my Rheumatologist

It will be interesting when I go back for the results.

I have had newer symptoms now sore throat & tired, being out in the sun I seem to have a flare up makes me tired & fingers flare up

Sorry this has been so so long winded as I thought I would post all the details in full now from beginning till now.

Take care ppl!!!

Angie · Newbie Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 1

dear hali, it really sounds to me like you might have fibromyalgia. i have a friend who had exactly the same symptoms as you and went to every dr. possible. she has finally found help with a neurologist and a pain management doctor. but BE CAREFUL i have been addicted to pain pills and received high quantities from a pain management doctor until recently. (this is probably why your GP treated you that way he probably thought you were a pill seeker) don't let yourself fall into that trap its easy but if you just take the medicine as prescribed you'll be fine you might also want to ask about trigger point injections they worked wonders for me! good luck

Confused & Frustrated

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