Comments on: What Makes Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis So Difficult? http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/ Bringing information & encouragement to fight RA Thu, 24 May 2012 14:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Laura Reiter http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/comment-page-1/?show=comments-108097 Laura Reiter Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:00:27 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-so-difficult/#comment-108097 I truly appreciate what these patients went through.. I myself went through it. My first rheumy doc was very interested in my case, when I was positive and very active. but once I went negative... that was it! He acted as though my rheumatoid symptoms weren't strong enough to be bothered with me... and treated me as though my pain was in my head so to speak. I was so hurt!! I finally after giving him 3 trys and telling him that I didn't have any flares...decided to leave and go to a new rheumy doc... so far so good. I will have my 4th visit with him soon. He doesn't know I have Uveitis yet!! He knew about the red eyes, he was first to see them... gave me antibiotic drops. Cleared up, then came back! That's when a opthamologist treated with mega steriod drops!! He then told me if it came back he was getting to the bottom of it. What Autoimmune disease was causing the attack. Finally, someone believes me!! Too bad it had to come with a blast to my eyes.. :( I truly appreciate what these patients went through.. I myself went through it. My first rheumy doc was very interested in my case, when I was positive and very active. but once I went negative… that was it! He acted as though my rheumatoid symptoms weren’t strong enough to be bothered with me… and treated me as though my pain was in my head so to speak. I was so hurt!! I finally after giving him 3 trys and telling him that I didn’t have any flares…decided to leave and go to a new rheumy doc… so far so good. I will have my 4th visit with him soon. He doesn’t know I have Uveitis yet!! He knew about the red eyes, he was first to see them… gave me antibiotic drops. Cleared up, then came back! That’s when a opthamologist treated with mega steriod drops!! He then told me if it came back he was getting to the bottom of it. What Autoimmune disease was causing the attack. Finally, someone believes me!! Too bad it had to come with a blast to my eyes.. :(

]]> By: Kelly Young http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/comment-page-1/?show=comments-30132 Kelly Young Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:38:38 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-so-difficult/#comment-30132 Thanks for sharing that good news. Sounds like you have a good doc. I agree with her fully on this. That is so good you have someone now who understands it & can treat you. I know when others read your comment, it could help them. Info on the web: there are lots of different kinds of info. Some info from studies is only weeks or months old. Some is very old. What I'd be worried about would be relying on sites that are not updated frequently - and how would a patient know? Sometimes sites have errors - even hospital sites. We have to confirm information with more than 1 or 2 sources. It's a lot of work isn't it? Thanks for sharing that good news. Sounds like you have a good doc. I agree with her fully on this. That is so good you have someone now who understands it & can treat you. I know when others read your comment, it could help them.

Info on the web: there are lots of different kinds of info. Some info from studies is only weeks or months old. Some is very old. What I’d be worried about would be relying on sites that are not updated frequently – and how would a patient know? Sometimes sites have errors – even hospital sites. We have to confirm information with more than 1 or 2 sources. It’s a lot of work isn’t it?

]]> By: Stephanie http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/comment-page-1/?show=comments-30129 Stephanie Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:19:02 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-so-difficult/#comment-30129 Kelly, just a note to let all know that I have a new Rhuemy doc. She is very informative and has answered a lot of questions for me. One being about seronegative. She told me that while other indicators are say I have inflammation the RF test is still negative. But clinically I have RA. She has discovered that some of her sero negative patients have the worst cases of Ra. I found this interesting, because a lot of information on the net say that sero negative is usually not has bad, or have worse outcomes than a positive ra factor. I think this was very interesting. I have always heard that medical information on the web is at least 5 years old. Thanks Kelly for being there for so many. Warmly, Steph Kelly, just a note to let all know that I have a new Rhuemy doc. She is very informative and has answered a lot of questions for me. One being about seronegative. She told me that while other indicators are say I have inflammation the RF test is still negative. But clinically I have RA. She has discovered that some of her sero negative patients have the worst cases of Ra. I found this interesting, because a lot of information on the net say that sero negative is usually not has bad, or have worse outcomes than a positive ra factor. I think this was very interesting. I have always heard that medical information on the web is at least 5 years old.
Thanks Kelly for being there for so many.
Warmly, Steph

]]> By: Tweets that mention What Makes Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis So Difficult? | Reality check | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior -- Topsy.com http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/comment-page-1/?show=comments-26118 Tweets that mention What Makes Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis So Difficult? | Reality check | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior -- Topsy.com Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:49:01 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-so-difficult/#comment-26118 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mike Whitmore, Kelly Young: What Makes Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis So Difficult? http://bit.ly/7FLX6n #Ignorance #minimizing [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mike Whitmore, Kelly Young: What Makes Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis So Difficult? http://bit.ly/7FLX6n #Ignorance #minimizing [...]

]]> By: Lana Lane http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/comment-page-1/?show=comments-5965 Lana Lane Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:17:03 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-so-difficult/#comment-5965 I can't disagree with anything in the movie or in the comments. However, I would point out that it sounds like all these people are British and probably under their National Health Service. With my private insurance in the USA I didn't have most of their problems. I do understand the steps though: it's all in your head, doctor not hearing you, telling you to get in shape - I've been there, but was able to expedite things due to my insurance. I can’t disagree with anything in the movie or in the comments. However, I would point out that it sounds like all these people are British and probably under their National Health Service. With my private insurance in the USA I didn’t have most of their problems.
I do understand the steps though: it’s all in your head, doctor not hearing you, telling you to get in shape – I’ve been there, but was able to expedite things due to my insurance.

]]> By: Kelly http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/comment-page-1/?show=comments-275 Kelly Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:34:32 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-so-difficult/#comment-275 There are several good comments to this post which have been posted on the Facebook page for the blog. You might want to stop by there, too if you are interested seeing in more comments on this blog. There are several good comments to this post which have been posted on the Facebook page for the blog. You might want to stop by there, too if you are interested seeing in more comments on this blog.

]]> By: Shanna http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/comment-page-1/?show=comments-274 Shanna Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:03:53 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-so-difficult/#comment-274 This makes me so thankful for my family practice doctor. I went three weeks from my first appointment with him to my first appointment with my rheumatologist and subsequently starting my treatment plan. The onset of my symptoms to starting my meds was three months. I understand now how incredibly lucky I am! This makes me so thankful for my family practice doctor. I went three weeks from my first appointment with him to my first appointment with my rheumatologist and subsequently starting my treatment plan. The onset of my symptoms to starting my meds was three months. I understand now how incredibly lucky I am!

]]> By: andrew http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-difficult/comment-page-1/?show=comments-273 andrew Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:26:00 +0000 http://rawarrior.com/what-makes-diagnosing-rheumatoid-arthritis-so-difficult/#comment-273 These stories seem all too common. I want to back up even further and speak to the lack of knowledge by the general population (one of your purposes for your blog). I suspect that many people start suffering symptoms, especially if they come on over a period of time and don't see a doctor. While some people know about joint disfigurement, especially in the hands, most people don't know about other RA symptoms like fatigue, eye problems, tendon tears, etc. I thank God that once my symptoms starting coming all together, I was able to read about it and make an appointment with my internist. He quickly put the pieces together, order blood tests, and sent me to a rheumatologist who commented that the internist was a smart man. These stories seem all too common. I want to back up even further and speak to the lack of knowledge by the general population (one of your purposes for your blog). I suspect that many people start suffering symptoms, especially if they come on over a period of time and don't see a doctor. While some people know about joint disfigurement, especially in the hands, most people don't know about other RA symptoms like fatigue, eye problems, tendon tears, etc. I thank God that once my symptoms starting coming all together, I was able to read about it and make an appointment with my internist. He quickly put the pieces together, order blood tests, and sent me to a rheumatologist who commented that the internist was a smart man.

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