Comments on: Hysterical Symptom Diagnosis, Part 2

By: emma gerrard

emma gerrard — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:08:29 +0000

My symptoms began at about 6 months old, they told my Mum I had colic (for 18 months), my mother was overanxious and when my younger brother was born I was jealous! Thank God that my Mother heard about RA and thought ‘that’s it!’. My Dad found a work friend whose Son had been diagnosed with RA and they gave us the name of the Paediatric Rheumatologist that diagnosed him. All the GP said to my Mum was ‘sorry’. He only recently retired from our surgery and was extremely careful with me after that but I never forgave him for the way he made my mother feel.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:32:44 +0000

@Kelly…I did read Part One…it was an amazing story…the sad thing is, that I believe stories like that are more common than we would like to believe…You want to be trusting of your doctors…but the sad thing is that you just can’t…and that is very scary…But this new group of Ortho Doc’s that I am going to I think are going to be fantastic…they are the cutting edge and very skilled and have a stellar reputation…so maybe just maybe I can put my faith into one more Doc…

By: Ruby

Ruby — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:04:32 +0000

Thank you so much. Aren’t we lucky to have this site and be able talk to each other about this It’s nice to have a place where you are understood!

By: Ruby

Ruby — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:54:33 +0000

Thank you Kelly, I hope so. And I haven’t looked at the onset section yet but I am going to check it out, thanks.

By: Noelle

Noelle — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 19:00:46 +0000

Thank you, Ruby. I totally understand what you were going through, what with the self-doubt and the questioning of all activities. My heart goes out to you.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:11:22 +0000

No, you are right & this is a serious issue. Especially if the patient has spine affected or larynx. Do they give you prednisone? Or can you have that post op?

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:09:40 +0000

Thanks for sharing, Susan. Isn’t it hard we have to go on and on like that looking for a good doc on top of the pain of the knee itself & the treatments…? Only choice we have I guess. “Gird up our loins” & spend more $$ and go again. Did you read part 1? I think it mentions my friend w/her broken hip & “normal” Xray?

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:04:55 +0000

Thank you for telling us what you went through to get a diagnosis, Ruby! :heart: Maybe someone reading will be encouraged to find help & not give up. Have you looked at the onset stories much? It seems like too many people have been through this. And I agree with what you told your friend – good advice.

By: Gale Domanico

Gale Domanico — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:17:07 +0000

I had Surgery on Monday & this has been a week of hell. I had breast reconstruction surgery, after my year of dealing with breast cancer & chemo. I am still not feeling right. I was diagnosed with RA when I was 5 years old. I am now 60. My RA has been flairing, since the chemo treatments, but after the reconstruction surgery, which was day surgery. My RA is “off the charts.” I do not think most surgeons are aware of how RA can Flare after surgery & do not know how to handle it.. It should be made as a mandatory course in medical school.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 15:25:36 +0000

Here is my long tale…During and Ice storm in 1998 (the same year I was dx with RA) I fell and hurt my leg and cannot walk. I go to ER with husband in wheel chair. Had x-rays they told me I did not break my leg but got crutches. After 6 weeks, I still could not bear weight and my regular MD was unfazed and told me to wait and calm down but finally I went to an Ortho doc who looked at my original xrays…and said oh look there is a fracture right there…I was stunned…then after 6-8 weeks in a brace…I still could not walk right and finally had a MRI which was never done…and found that a huge chunk of my knee cartilage was missing…I finally had Arthroscopic surgery. Over 3 months of suffering…and having Dr’s give you that “LOOK” when you complain…I finally had found out what was wrong… Fast forward a few years…My knee is still giving me a hard time..walking etc. New Ortho Doc #2 Had an MRI and he told me “oh you are not anywhere near having a knee replacement…(which by the way had never been suggested nor did I ask for one) and he sent me away with no solutions…and he said he would give me a shot if I wanted to go mountain climbing…when I had just told him I had trouble climbing stairs…Then several years later another ortho Doc #3…said the same thing to me after another MRI…Meanwhile I am losing function and I am so stiff I am afraid of falling. Then I get real brave and visti Ortho Doc #4 thinks I have a torn meniscus…and notes the missing cartilage..and sends me to Ortho Doc #5 who does Cartilage transplant surgery…well I get to Ortho Doc #5 and he said that I was in no WAY a candidate for cartilage transplantation…after all I have RA…(it was quite clear with Ortho Doc #4 that I had RA) Now on to Ortho Doc #6 to consult for Total knee replacement…so I finally at the end of the line…I have had it with Docs to don’t listen or hear your complaints…