So today is my long awaited appt. Since I have no idea what's going on with me, I hope I'll be able to tell if this a good Rheum. or not !!

Today my fingers are so swollen they look like saugages. My feet are not fitting in my shoes. My knees also seem to be swollen and I"m walking really slow as if I'm 90 years old instead of only 34.

My boss at works tends to think they'll just run more tests !! I will be so upset ! How many more tests !!

I've had ......ANA, Sed rate, The RA test, complete blood work up, liver/kidney function, thyroid, x-rays .............what else is there?

I just want answers NOW and am sick of test after test, after test then waiting a week for the results, to find out they are perfectly fine and then need more tests !!!

Arrgghhh........

Hang in there. It does take some time to get results and relief. Believe me, I know. I have been fighting an RA flare for the last 9 months, ups and downs, but finally I am getting some relief. A good rheumy makes all the difference. I hope you can find one that really cares and is passionate about your problems. I think I have finally found one. The meds are scary with all the side effects, but getting relief and slowing down the progression of the nasty disease is sometimes worth taking the risk. I am 46 and I know what you mean about feeling like 90. Sometime I think I have forgotten how I am supposed to feel at 46. But when the meds kick in and you feel good, well.... it all comes back.

Again, hang in there, and hope all goes well with your Dr.'s visit. Let us know what you find out.

I'm really not sure how it went. I left there still feeling confused. She said I have 7 inflamed joints and feels like we should treat this like inflammatory arthritis. She have me 6 WEEKS worth of prednisone .....5mg, 3 x per day for 3 weeks and the 1 1/2 tablets ...PO QD (what does that mean?)

I don't want to take predisone !! I know the relief should be worth it, right? However, I've just lost 60 lbs within the past year and am SO AFRAID of it coming right back !! Is this considered high dose? Or does it not matter what the dose is, does it always have weight gain? Also, why do you have to be weened off steriods?

She also gave me Plaquenil (spell?) at 200 mg, PO BID (what's that mean). She said it takes awhile for the plaquenil to be in your system.

I don't think I feel any better, I really still feel like I don't have a diagnosis ....do I? She wants to see me back in 6 weeks and before then, around week 5, have another ANA, sed rate a C Protein, and testing for Hep B & C.

Hi thesedays,

I am not really up on the all the meds and symptoms of RA, but... I think that she gave you the Pred., so it will give immediate relief (as in days) and to take, until the Plaquenil starts to work. One works faster than the other, so that is why you are taking both, I think (for now), til your next dr. visit. Perhaps others can tell you more and maybe there is another drug you could take besides prednisone?! I am not sure.

I am puffed up at the moment from Prednisone. Weight gain and water weight too. I am just going to have to exercise more, if I feel like it and not eat fattening things, at all!!! Sorry, if I have not helped much, hang in there.

Wannabe

Thanks wannabe. I've been reading other posts on here regarding prednisone and saw a mention of 15 mg being a REALLY high dose.

I'll be taking 5mg pills 3 x per day ........so that's 15mg per day ....Is this considered a high dose? The after 3 weeks dropping down to 1 1/2 pills per day.

How long have you been taking your prednisone?

thesedays,

PO means to take by moutn and QD means once every day. The other more common ones are:

BID which means twice a day
PRN which means as needed (such as for pain medications)
QID means 4 times a day
TID means 3 times a day

Hope this helps.

Hope you get some answers soon and feel better

15 mg prednisone isn't too horrible and it's not for very long. Just be aware that it may give you the munchies and make sure you have healthy stuff on hand. You have to be weaned off steroids because your body quits producing them while you are on prednisone. Weaning gives your body a chance to start making them again. If you quit cold turkey, it can cause serious problems. I am currently on 20 mg a day while waiting for meds to arrive in the mail...I will wean off in another day or 2.

Inflammatory arthritis is a valid diagnosis. It just means that your doctor isn't 100% sure which kind you have. The plaquenil should help the joints a lot, but it takes 8-12 weeks for it to work. You will need to get checked by an opthamologist every 6 months while you are taking it. Hang in there.