Wednesday, February 3, 2010

I think we are getting close....

to a diagnosis!

I went to my new rheumatologist yesterday morning.  Wow.  After he took my medical history (in which he asked more questions than most job interviews I've been on), he did a very thorough exam.  Then he brought me back into his office to explain what he was thinking, give me some reading material, and let me know the plan of action.  I, then, had 7 vials of blood drawn, about a zillion x-rays (on the HARDEST table in the world-ouch!), and a bone density test.  Today I am going for a bone and joint scan.  I feel pretty confident that my doctor will figure something out with all of these test results.  I go back on the 19th and he will go over my results with me then.

For now, he is leaning toward Psoriatic Arthritis.  He put me on Arthrotec 75 twice a day and also another medicine (The name escapes me right now) to help counter potential stomach issues as Arthrotec is an NSAID.

My pain in my left foot/ankle/knee was horrendous last night.  It kept me up during the night for a while.  Hopefully this new drug will start working soon.  I'm really ready for the pain to be gone for a while. 

2 comments:

  1. Sounds like you have a good rheumatologist, Beth Anne. I hope that the Arthrotec and the other new med will give you some relief from the pain in the short term and that, as a diagnosis becomes more clear, subsequent meds and treatment will bring the disease under control. I'm happy for you!
    -Wren

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  2. I'm with Wren. Hope the time goes quickly for you.

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