Rollercoaster of a Month

[MrsHellyG]

Thank you to everyone who commented on my kidney & NSAIDs post. Kidneys were given the ok, slightly inflamed but no damage. The aim was still to reduce NSAIDs but without an alternative, I was struggling and felt I wasn't getting the support. In the end I decided to change rheumatologist and so GP referred me. In the meantime I had a health check through my husbands work and this flagged my HDL cholesterol (good) as being low. This has been low for 2 years and I've tried to improve it with diet and exercise but this was the lowest it had been. Added it to my list of discussions with new rheumy. I also had a mammogram (my first) and unfortunately abnormalities have been found. I was quickly referred under the 2 week wait pathway and although it is likely to be enlarged lymph nodes due to infection or JIA I'm having further tests next week. I've also been referred to the genetic centre at John Radcliffe as there is a strong possibility of a genetic link.

Met new rheumy yesterday and I feel like a weight has been lifted. It felt like a partnership and so the plan is to go back onto hydroxychloroquine and start reducing the naproxen. I also had a depo-medrone as a boost.

I have been asked to consider statins as although my LDL cholesterol level is in range, the low HDL impacts it plus going through family history for the genetic centre, it seems there is a higher cardiovascular risk as my Grandad was diagnosed with Buergers disease...

All in all a rollercoaster of a month but definitely have the support & partnership to move forward...