If is a two letter word for futility

• 1/4/2007 - Great news, hopefully

I have had arthritis ever since I was a child and have just learnt to live with it. When I was 24, I was formally diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis, which is linked to the skin condition psoriasis and is a nasty, degenerative, progressive form of arthritis. Usually sufferers end up with joint replacements and also on massive amounts of drugs to get through day to day life.

Lately, after some bad medication choices, I have started realising that my current rheumatologist, who I have had for 12 years now, just wasn't keeping up to date.

The medications he has had me on are old and don't prevent damage, they just really reduce the inflammation.

Anyway, because of that and also some niggly doubts of my own, I had an appt with a new rheumy yesterday.

Now, whenever I have seen my old rheumy in the past or my GP, they always ask how my psoriasis is. And I always tell them, I don't get psoriasis. I had it once, about 15 years ago, but that was it.

I was also always told that some patients don't get psoriasis, just the arthritis. This just didn't seem to ring true though. So, when I saw the new guy yesterday, that was the first thing I said.

Anyway, at the end of the 90 minute appointment, I said to him "So, do you think I have PsA?"

He said, No! He said that sure, some people start with the arthritis only, but usually they end up with the skin condition three or four years later. Well, I have had arthritis since I was about 10 years old, I'm now 36. Talking to mum, she can even remember me having problems with my fingers when I was about 5 years old.

So, the new rheumy actually thinks I may have a juvenile inflammatory arthritis that has lingered into adulthood.

The bestest, most fabulous news about that, is if he is right, then that means I don't have PsA, which, as said before is a degenerative, progressive disease.

Maybe I am now leaping to conclusions, but that would also tell me that the damage being done to my joints isn't progressive, which means I won't end up crippled or needing massive amounts of drugs to deal with everyday life.

So, I'm off to have an absolute heap of blood tests done and xrays and am booked back in to see him in five weeks time.

Wow!

• 1/4/2007 - 5 weeks of eXpectation

Posted by LJMatthews2

enjoy the blood tests and Xrays. Your smile must be beaming and I bet you could leap over the moon right now. big smiles with you.

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• 1/4/2007 - Always get more than one opinion

Posted by rrpl

Your story is a testiment to the fact that you should always get more than one diagnosis. Particularly for anything potentially serious.

When I was just twelve I went to have my eyes checked because I was getting eye strain from my studies. I was prescribed glasses. If my father had of accepted this, I would have had to wear glasses all of the rest of my life. Instead my father got me to a specialist for a second opinion. This time the verdict was different, my eyes just needed some rest. I have spent all of my life without the need for glasses due to that second opinion.

I hope everything works out well for you in the future.

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