Last summer is when things started getting really bad as far as joint pain and swelling. I'd had some issues in my ankles and hips but they called it tendinitis or bursitis, always some sort of "itis!" I was getting frustrated with the fertility treatments and the fact that we still hadn't come up with answer as to why I had lost my babies. You probably don't remember but the cycle I got pregnant on, I ovulated prematurely and we didn't even do iui as the Re thought it was a hopeless cycle. Then, my eyes started acting up, went to a specialist and it was, surprising, iritis! Yet another "itis!" So, as I sat down the following week (a week before I found out I was pregnant) I told then RE i wanted to see a rheumy doc because I had been searching on line and suspected I had something else going on. Of course I had to wait something like 6 weeks to get the appointment. By the time I saw the rheumy, I was already pregnant and he diagnosed probably fibromyalgia and said to follow up with him after the baby(s).
When I lost the twins, I started hurting (physically) more and swelling. So, I called the rheumy and the first appt I had with him after losing the twins, he told me I just had fibro and was depressed. A month later, he couldn't deny the swelling and loss of joint function I was having and finally did the testing and diagnosed RA. Now, the rheumy doc has been treating me much better, don't know if he was just having a bad day or what!
My Gp, who is in internist, is wonderful. I hadn't seen her in a while because when you're doing fertility treatments, your RE becomes the primary. But I did go back to see her this spring, just for a routine call and some refills. I wish all dr's were as compassionate as my gp! She wouldn't treat the RA though because she admitted it was difficult to treat and she didn't know enough about it to feel that should could give me the best care. I'd rather have a dr who is honest any day!
-------------------- Taking it one day at a time.....
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