Hi my name is Helen and am new to this site ..in fact new to writing /blogging discussing or whatever you want to call it!!!
Was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia in 2011 then later with macular oedema and central retinal vein occlusion.
At present I am taking sulfasalazine, methotrexate, tramadol, neurontin, aspirin and citalopram. Was started on prednisolone two months ago as my rheumy suspected temporal arteritis but have recently been told its not so am being weaned off it gradually...of which i am very thankful as didnt need the extra weight I am now carrying!!! lol
My main problem I guess is how do I know as far as all my aches and pains are concerned (I am at the moment struggling with severe back hip and pelvic pain), are caused by fibro or the ra? I have had an mri and bone scan that have only determined is age related but am at the end of my tether with the steroids, pain, forgetfulness, etc., Please can you advise me and am really sorry for my rant
Welcome to the group Helen
I love rants i think it is very good for us to get things off our chest. I have lupus and arthristis so i keep a journal at the advice of my doctor and we go over it to see which meds need to be ajusted. Their are journals you can keep on line or on your phone now i just use a notebook and keep it wrote down.
thank you all for your welcome and replies to my message.. I think keeping a journal is a very good idea, as long as I can remember to use it!!! It is so encouraging to know that I am not alone in this but feel for all of us that we should be experiencing this thing called fibro. TinaW my mri came back and showed nothing more than age related problems although a previous scan had showed some signs of nerve problems. I too am now wondering if the back pain is part of the fibro and not RA but its so hard to know when its crippling me for best parts of the day and disturbs my sleep. It is one more thing to discuss with my rheumy. My other problem seems to be to know when to see my primary care practitioner as I seem to be leaving everything in rheumy's court. My GP is at present on maternity leave and not due back till end of May. It sounds offish but I dont have much faith in any of the other doctors to understand my dilemma ~ yes I do know that sounds like paranoia but have been fobbed off at almost every turn before. So what would everyone else do? Like me , wait till she comes back or take the plunge and go see another doctor and hope they will help?