Am new on NRAS Site....

[joe69]

Evening folks....

It's late on a Wednesday night, and I still can't believe that I have RA. I was given the news this morning by a stand in GP. It's seemingly been on my file for months...

I am very shocked in deed. I new my back condition was getting worse, but I certainly didn't expect this news.

I am currently on a few sites of HealthUnlocked.

Thanks

Joe

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Joe & welcome to us here. I'm sorry you've need to join our mostly happy band lol but even more sorry that you appear to have been a filed & forgotten case. It's shameful, really it is, particularly as the earlier RD is diagnosed & treatment is started the better & the delay probably won't have helped you. Was any reason given as to how this could have happened or was is simply a case of the locum needing to gen up on your history & happened upon the results? Whatever, I certainly hope you are being fast tracked to a Rheumatologist to have further tests to confirm & start your treatment.

I hope you find the site helpful & ask away if you have any concerns, there's always someone on who can help or share experiences.

[ShellyWelly]

Hi Joe.

Welcome! Sorry to hear you heard the news of your diagnosis in that way. This community is brilliant though, highly supportive, so you're now in good hands

[masymae]

Hi, I am sorry for you, I too was diagnosed three weeks ago and I am still in shock. I cannot believe it either. I started of with pains in my foot and couldn't walk for a month, I thought I must have sprained my ankle, then my hip started hurting so I went to the doctors only to find out this news from a blood test and hospital appointment. I am now taking methotrexate and a folic acid tablet, the hospital said for two years. I feel a lot better at moment and can walk on my foot again, but I feel really scared every day of what might come. I hope it all goes well for you.

[helixhelix]

This is really another awful example of poor practice! Did the locum explain what precisely was meant by "a diagnosis of RA"? As it's rare to get a definite diagnosis from a GP and without seeing a rheumatologist, so is is just that you've had blood tests that show it's a possibility? Like coffalot's post just before yours, a positive RF test is not 100% reliable. I hope once you've got your breath back you're going to follow all this up, as whatever it is you need to know and need to have a treatment plan. especially as If it's your back that is the main pain then could well be one of the forms of inflammatory arthritis like AS.

[Hidden]

Hi and ditto to what everyone here has said about the way you were told this news and also about it needing to be confirmed and properly diagnosed by a rheumatologist - unless one of your other conditions (you mentioned being on other HU communities) has taken you to one already perhaps and this was their lousy way of confirming?

As Helihelix says it is very unusual to have RA in the spine. My rheumatologist said that it doesn't usually affect the back until possibly in the very late stages but other conditions such as Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis do. It usually affects the smallest joints such as hands and feet first. Not that the treatments vary that much but the right physiotherapy and exercise play a very important role in managing the latter I believe. Good luck getting this addressed and I hope you will let us know how you are.

[lainee]

Welcome Joe, I too am sorry to hear you found out in this way. I hope you now receive the treatment and advice you deserve. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

[JuneRose]

I'm sorry to hear you were advised in such a way. Stay positive and make sure you have been referred to rheumatology x

[Hidden]

Hi Joe,

Sorry to hear that you've had this news. I hope you will find this community helpful and you can find more information about RA on our website nras.org.uk

We also have a helpline team who are here to answer and questions and give you some support at this time. Do give us a call on 0800 298 7650 (Mon-Fri, 9,30-4.30) if this would be helpful for you.

Take care,

Ruth Grosart

NRAS Digital Media Coordinator & HU Admin

[Jeanabelle60]

joe, this is never a good diagnosis but to get it like that is just awful. the thing now is to push hard to see a Rheumatoligist asap.....your GP practice seems a bit easy going, to say the least, don't delay and don't take any excuses....get to a Rheumatoligist where you will get the help you need. once you start on meds you should find a difference. with luck Methatraxate will work for you and you can get your life back. however Joe, you will need to know from the beginning that there is no 'one fix for all' with this disease. your rheumy team will look after you well and will be doing everything they can to help you and control your pain. keep in touch joe and all the best of luck. X

[joe69]

Thanks for the comments, much appreciated. Firstly once my own gp is back from Holiday I will make a appointment to see him.

Then hopefully get things sorted.

Maybe the gp yesterday thought I had been told. Suppose I will know soon, once my original gp gets back.

Thanks

Joe

[mille]

HI Joe, Has the doctor written to the hospital to make you an appointment for you with a rheumatologist. I find it a bit strange that he has diagnosed you with RA. It is unusual to get in RA in your back. It is usually the finger joints that are first affected. RA is usually diagnosed with blood tests and a clinical examination and it would need to be confirmed by a rheumatologist. Blood results can be elevated for a number of reasons and if the pain is mainly coming from your back I would think it most unlikely it is RA. Hope it's not.

[Jora]

I was sorry to read this and can empathise. I initially saw a locum too who failed to refer me to the hospital. In desperation I had a one-off private appointment and at least that led to the full gamut of blood tests and speeded up the process once I was seen by the NHS. As others have said, it is important to start treatment asap to curtail the disease process. I trust that the GP is now aware of the urgency, as set out in NICE guidelines.

On a more positive note, you will find that this is a wonderfully supportive community. Jo

[joe69]

Thanks for your comments, much appreciated.

I will see my proper GP when he gets back from his hols.

Before he left on is holiday, he did get a blood test done so maybe something was found from this, so unsure. Suppose all will come clean when my gp gets back.

Thanks

Joe