Hello, this is my first post here, I have suffered for years with cronic joint pain, fatigue and restless squirming0ant-hills-in-the-joints discomfort at night. It comes and goes, my weight can shift 2 to 6 pounds in a day. Its in my knees, ankles, hips knuckles elbow lower and upper back. I have had three blood test in 20 years all negative. But then I read about Tina the Sole Surviror II winner- (I am a big survivor fan) and discovered that her blood work came back negative. Is that a common thing. This summer has been the worst- it is only maybe the fourth or fifth time I have suffered from chronic pain in mutilple joints and sheer exhaustion for weeks on end. This week I got a mild gut virus and wound up sleeping an hour at work before I could even drive the 10 minutes home. Now normally a gut virus would be uncomfortable but because of the chronic fatigue it just knocked me out. I was begining to wonder about mono- though I dont have a sore throat,or MD and then I read the article about Tina- I just simple accepted that it wasnt arthritis scince the blood work came back negative and I hate seeing doctors about this. When I was a teen there were several days when I couldnt get out of bed- the doctor yelled at me, told me it was all in my head and that it would be a hardship to my insurance less parents if I continued to complain so I just kept it to my self and hpbbled through it. I wonder if I should pursue it now because I also didnt realize there was medicationa that can help keep it under control especially in the begining. Do you guys think I am way out in left feild or do these symptoms sound like they should be pursued? -meme

Of course you should pursue it. Depending on your insurance, you may have to go see a primary-care physician to have some initial blood work done, or you can make an appt with a rheumatologist directly.

A lot of us had negative bloodwork - then positive - then negative again, etc. It's not uncommon.

In addition to RA, there are a lot of other things that the doctor needs to investigate. It would be helpful for you to keep a log of symptoms/occurances, temperatures, details of how you're feeling...

If you feel that something isn't "right", then investigate it. Doctors should NEVER yell at you - you are PAYING them for service. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience but most doctors are not jerks. If you do have an autoimmune disorder, it's important that you develop a partnership with a good doctor that you feel comfortable with.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Of course you should! Make an appointment with a Rheumatologist and dont stop going until you find a good doctor who you trust and who will treat you! There are meds that can help! Why live with Chronic Pain if you dont have to? Trust me, I waited 10 months before I went and I am so thankful I did. To be able to walk normally without pain and to be able to open my own bottles of soda is such a blessing for me now because before I couldnt. It was winning its battle with me, but now Im starting to take control. You should to! Many people have tested negative for RA and yet still have it. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis. You may or may not have this one. Talk to a rheumatologist. You'll feel so much better afterwards!!

Meg

One more note real fast.... just remember you dont ever have to live in pain. If the doctor you see tells you its in your head, get another opinion until you find a good doctor who will treat you happily for your pain. You have to live with the quality of your life, not the doctor. I wish you the best!!

Meg

Hello

Having read several of the postings here it is obvious there is a common trend to suffer from chronic tiredness. I am currently taking 12.5g of Vioxx a day (I want to keep it as little as possible) but on some days have taken 25g when I have found it necessary and it makes me incredibly drousey. Perhaps where possible you can take a smaller doses?????? I am seeing my Dr. tomorrow to start a course of treatment with Sulphalazine - has anyone taken this - what is it like. I am keen to start a family next year and worried about any affects - does anyone know/ offer any advice? I am 29.

Thanks for all your replies and support- the part I am most curious about is the cronic sensation of seeming to have "ant hills" in my joints when I am trying to sleep. I frequently take Ibupropren just to make me relax enough to sleep. I am very sensitive to medicine so it works for me but as soon as it wears off I am awake (this has been a problem for years and years and way before I ever started meds for adhd.). I have ADHD and take dextrostrat during the day which eliminates the sensation of drowsiness and fatigue I used to battle with daily- a pleasant side effect of the medicine and has increased my abitlity to sleep at night significantly- from sheer exhaustion, however I always assumed the joint issue was related to the hyperactivity and my meds doctor just told me that there is no connection between adhd and joint issues even the 'ant hill' sensation- It also happens when I am awake, and sitting or laying still. As I mentioned one or the other of my joints is perpetually swollen and throbbing, at one point i had braces on my knees (they just swell up if I walk on uneven ground and throb for days until I rest and take lots of ibupropen), ankles(broke one and sprained the other one of them), elbows and wrists (now I have had surgery on both wrists for carpol tunnel and I just dont lift anything heavy if I can help it- not necessarily a great choice I gather)and said to my doc I think something is wrong- thats when i had the last blood test for arthritis which as I mentioned came back negative again and it wasnt until I read the article about Tina that I had a clue that the blood tests might not be accurate. Does anybody else have the ant hill sensation? -meme also my daughter at age fifteen is exhibiting the same joint issues i did if not worse- elbow pops out of joint while she is sleeping and her knees constantly give out. I am 280# it is a constant weight battle and she is 180# but very active- roller skates three times a week ect.