Well after waiting almost 3 months to get into this specialist I have to say it was worth the wait!! She is awesome!! Dr. Betsy Shook is a bit younger then me and about 7 months pregnant. She was extremely patient with me, listened to ALL my symptoms and concerns and was very compassionate to what I have been going through for almost 3 years now...She told me that one way or another she will figure out what is wrong and do whatever is necessary to get a handle on it.

This is what we KNOW I have so far......

Pulmonary Fibrosis
Raynard's Syndrome

She suspects that I have several different things going on that are involving the immune system.

Scleroderma
Arturelgia (no clue what that is)
Fibromialga

I have been put on Methylprednisolone (Medrol) 16mg a day.

Blood work being done tomorrow and if anyone knows what these are testing for please let me know, cause I have no clue!

CRP
HLAB27
VENIPUNCTURE
CBC/DIFF/PLT
SED RATE
URINE R&M
CPK
T4
TSH
C3, C4
SSA/SSR
ENA
G6PD
ALDOLASE
ALPHA 1
ANTI TRYPSIN Ab
ESR

To me thats ALOT of blood being taking out of me!!!
I go back to the RA specialist in 4 weeks for results.
And she informed me that there is a Scleroderma research clinic in Pittsburgh that she will be sending me to as well.

Any help on the blood tests being done would be great!

Thanks for ALL the wonderful support on here, I finally feel a bit of hope to finding out whats been going on and getting some relief before i go completely crazy!!

Terri

Does anyone know what some of these blood tests are for?