Hi, going to see rheumy again on wedensday and need your help. I accept I have fibro but have always felt something else was going on. My previous rheumy felt I had undifferenciated connective tissue disease(spelling?) and that RA,lupus or something similar was going to show up in bloods at some stage. Sadly he died, and while the new rheumy is good he is not as easy to talk to and I feel that he thinks the previous rheumy was wrong. I have appt on wednesday and I am going to write down every symptom and show it too him. My own doctor also feels something is going on and has just run tests for lymes I will
have the results tomorrow.
What I would like answers on is are any of the following
symptoms not due to fibro.
Severe joint pain in neck,shoulders elbows,hands,hips knees and feet.
Stiffness in the mornings lasting for about 1hour
Reflux
Sensitivity to light both artificial and sunlight
Migraines and headaches that can last days
Anemia iron pills have not been effective am now on iron injections
Fatigue
Muscle spasms mainly in upper back
Costochondritis
Pins and needles and a feeling that something is crawling under my skin
Stabbing pains that can have me yelp out loud, only last for a second but very severe pain.
Cognitive impairment, forget things, can't remember words on occasions
ESR and CRP sometimes raised but not always
Any help here would be appreciated, sometimes I feel like I am going mad.
I'm sure there are lots of people on here more qualified than I to answer as I have only been diagnosed about 2 weeks. But I did want to say that I have all of the above symptoms and discussed all of the above symptoms with my rheumatologist except the labs. The anemia. I have only ever been anemic during pregnancy, which is pretty normal. The only lab that was abnormal for me was Vitamin D being low, which is normal too, I guess. I THINK most of the other stuff is pretty normal for fibro as far as what I have read and talked to my doctor about. Hope this helps.
The Following User Says Thank You to Elmbabies3 For This Useful Post: Agenda (10-01-2012)
The pain in the joints could be arthritis. Reflux don't think it'd be linked to fibromyalgia. I deal with the cognitive issues, migraines, sensitivity to light and sound, stiffness in the morning, but I'm sure it's due to arthritis. Good luck at your appt. Let us know what the doc says.
The Following User Says Thank You to mom477 For This Useful Post: Agenda (10-01-2012)
please tell your doctor to do a blood test for sjogrens. the joint pain got my attention and the light sensitivity. any doc can order this test. does not have to be a rheumy.
peace,
blue
__________________
life does not wait for one to get back on their feet.
The Following User Says Thank You to bluelakelady For This Useful Post: Agenda (10-01-2012)
There are many symptoms on your list more suggestive of lupus than FM. I would ask your rheum to re-run all the usual battery of tests to R/O connective tissue disease, including anti-DNA and anti-Smith and anti RNP antibodies. DNA and Smith are specific to lupus, and RNP is usually positive in mixed connective tissue disease. All your symptoms could fit with lupus. FM does not cause anemia, sun sensitivity, migraines, and the pain is usually more diffuse, not so specific to joints with stiffness. An SSA and SSB test would be good as well. A urine test might show something not seen in FM. I hope you get more answers, as I agree with your old rheumy.
The Following User Says Thank You to ladybud For This Useful Post: Agenda (10-01-2012)
Osteoarthritis 
