Learning about your RA and what you can't see.

[Danna]

I wish I could add more pictures so that you can see what your body looks like in pet scans. I had to learn a lot so I understood better. I had a pet scan done this week looking for cancer. Everything looks bright and it can scare you like it did me. I learned how to read them and then what it meant. If you look at the word Coronal it means slicing pictures from front to back. So it you are standing there and slices are being cut off you, they need to a lot of slices. there is 71 slices in this series. This is slice 25. Looking at the hands below you see the hands red and lite up. It is not cancer, but all of the inflammation in my hands from RA. It is hard to see but if you look at the knees in my picture there is red around the joint as well. This is inflamed as well. Now I need to learn how to bring down this inflammation naturally so the pain eases up. The worse thing for me is I have trouble closing my hands and so it makes it hard to hold a hair brush and a fork or my dishes. I hope people with RA understands better what it looks like in your body. Have a good day. Danna

[stbernhard]

When I got RA, I couldn't hold anything that needed soe form of grip, but after a few month that got much better and I hope the same will happen for you. All the very best.

[ThyroidThora]

Thank you for posting the scan image, it's very interesting.

[nomoreheels]

You're brave appearing nude Dannia! Seriously though it is helpful seeing the inflammation your hands light up like Blackpool illuminations. I hope the need for the PET scan isn't realised & all's OK.

[Danna in reply to nomoreheels]

Actually I had on a pair of sweats, a t-shirt and sweater, I will know if everything is ok after my bone marrow tuesday and my lung biopsy next monday. Thank you

[nomoreheels in reply to Danna]

I thought you would have but they don't appear on the scan! Hoping all comes back negative for you, do let us know though.

[Danna in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank You I will.