Background of one episode of severe joint swelling and pain with some autoimmune features 2003, intermittent back hand and knee pain since which I ignored. Pericarditis in January, severe fatigue, forgetfulness, clumsiness, stiffness hearing deteriorating in the months after, until severe hand and feet swelling in may while moving house, completely floored. Suspected RhA because of pericarditis and symmetrical and no psoriasis but all bloods normal, (on nsaids at time) and mum had Psoriatic Arthritis (severe psoriasis) further severe flare end June massively swollen feet and fatigue duecto short trip to Paris, and demanded referral to rheumatology as afraid for my job and reputation at work ( falling asleep at desk, forgetting things, very slow because of hand pain)
Pain has progressed to severe neck pain, stiff loser back, groin pain, bilateral hand wrist and ankle and feet pain, severe thumb pain, ear pain, mild jaw pain and shoulder pain intermittently. Some hair loss, pyrexia sometimes, blurred vision.
Saw rheum and pretty sure its PsA, family hx and USS. So far bloods OK, ESR 10 high urate, lupus and RhA screen so far neg, some in progress. No xray report yet (hands feet chest) had an I'm steroid on Friday (disappointing effect so far) and to start mtx.
So that's my symptoms,
No psoriasis, symmetrical peripheral joints and neck sacral and hip pain and crushing fatigue.... Fingers crossed mtx agrees with me.
That's quite a list Celtica. I almost don't know what to say. I'm pleased you've written it all down and thrown it all out there, I'm glad you've started treatment, I'm hoping the steroid injection will kick in tonight or tomorrow. You've started a journey (a battle?) but I don't need to tell you that. And the early days are very, very often by far the worst.
Mtx agreed with me, so I've got everything crossed that it'll be the same for you. It all feels way too slow, it all feels too much ... then, gradually things start to change. I get the impression you have considerable fight in you and that surely helps even if we can't be positive and defiant all the time. If tears help - give 'em a go. But right now I can't help wondering whether oral steroids might be helpful - any thoughts from your rheumy on that score?
I don't have an appt to go back yet, I have only had one appt, it was thorough, but not with consultant but clinical fellow, he said I would hear from specialist nurse to start mtx (or sulphasalazine if I prefer - I darent risk it as my mum had severe allergic reaction to it and I can't be off sick) I thought I posted this in first symptoms forum!! Sorry :)
You've posted in the right place. And if I've got the wrong end of the stick it wouldn't be the first time. It's just that sometimes they give a short course of steroids right at the beginning (sometimes as well as the steroid injection) & I wondered whether that had been mentioned at all.
Celtica said:
I don't have an appt to go back yet, I have only had one appt, it was thorough, but not with consultant but clinical fellow, he said I would hear from specialist nurse to start mtx (or sulphasalazine if I prefer - I darent risk it as my mum had severe allergic reaction to it and I can't be off sick) I thought I posted this in first symptoms forum!! Sorry :)