Flare Up...

Pretty positive I am having another flare up. All signs point to yes. Warm hands that feel on fire, some pain in my hands, swollen hands, pain right under my hip that is tender, and a new (incredibly) vtender spot right by my knee. Things throb. 

I want to cry. I wish I had answers. I want to know what to do to I make myself healthy again. 

Complete 180

The rheumatology appointment on Thursday went superb! The new rheumatologist (definitely sticking with him!) is so awesome. He answered my questions, went though test results with me, explained things to me. Sadly, he said I am having pain in all the right places, so he isn't ruling out anything yet. I told him that I feel something is there, even though I am not liking for a diagnosis. But I know my body, and I know what I have experienced in the last few months is not normal. They took 8 more vials of blood, because he is wanting more in depth tests ran. He said it could take 6-7 months for something to show up. I'm already past the 6 month mark. I told him I was worried about having RA, since my grandmother has it. He said I should be worried, since I run a higher risk of it. 

Since then, my hands have been incredibly warm. I finally realized last night that it's the inflammation. It's in my right femur now as well. It was in both femurs last night, but it has been on the right side off and on since early August. It's almost as if it's gradually coming on more and more. This morning, the pain and discomfort was so bad, I was in tears. I hate that. The arthritis Tylenol didn't necessarily take the pain and discomfort completely away last night, but it did dull it a lot. 

I just knew from the first minute the new rheumatologist stepped in the room and shook my hand that I would like him. He didn't brush off my concerns and fears. He listened to me, he didn't belittle me or sound condescending. He didn't tell me that I didn't need to worry about this, or blow me off. I wish all doctors listened to their patients, calmed their fears instead of telling them there is nothing to worry about. Sometimes, patients just need someone to talk to. I'm dealing with the pain the way I can right now, by resting when things hurt. 

Nervous and Anxious...

Tomorrow, I go back to the rheumatologist. I'm really nervous and anxious about it. I have had pain in my hands a lot in the past month. So much in fact that when the rheumatologist office called to reschedule 2 weeks ago, I knew I couldn't put it off until November. One of the joints between my knuckles has been tender off and on the past month. It makes me wince in pain. At times, I have felt like someone was hitting the back of my hand against cinder blocks. 

The swelling in my hands is down a little the past 2 days. It could be because I have been working out again. Or just a fluke. I don't know for sure. I have felt good, aside from so e hand pain. I did take a break from working out tonight, because I had a headache and I was slightly tired. 

I don't know what this rheumatologist is like, but I truly do hope he is better than the last one. I just want some answers to questions I have. I have so many questions that I feel I have a right to get answers to. I may not like the answers, but at least I would have them. It's been about a month since I last researched  y symptoms. I've had to not think about it. 

I am truly hoping tomorrow is good.