Update on my tests following my first rheumatology appointment.

[Happy321]

Hello everyone, just an update to some of my tests that I’ve had done since my appointment with the rheumatologist. I’ve had 2 letters from the consultant regarding a couple of the blood test results. I have a vitamin D deficiency so I’m now on 50,000 units of vit D once a week for 8 weeks and then I will have to take a maintenance dose to keep my levels up and the rheumatologist will assess it regularly. 1 blood test has come back as positive or coeliac disease ( which would explain stomach issues that I’ve had for years) my level on the antibody test was 53, anything over 30 is a strong positive apparently. So I have to get my doctor to refer me to a gastroenterologist.

Ive not had the rest of the blood test results and I’m still waiting for a date for my follow up appointment, I’ve spoken to his secretary and they are overrun at the moment and are organising extra appointment slots so could be a wait till I see him. I asked about the other blood test results and she said the consultant will discuss them with me at my appointment ,they have sent the blood results to my gp.

I’ve had my heart scan the results have been sent to the consultant, yesterday I had the ultrasound test of my hands and feet. I’ve got chronic synovitis in both hands in the middle and bottom knuckles, on my right hand the tendons in my ring and little finger are thickened. Which explains why they are so sore.

My feet have synovitis is some of my toes, with oesteoarthritis and bunions on both big toes.

Hopefully now all the tests have been completed, he will send me an appointment date so that I can find out what’s causing it.

Thank you for reading if you got this far. Have a good day, looks like it’s going to be a sunny day here so I will be sitting in the garden chilling.

[Amy_Lee]

I am very sorry to know that you have more than just RA. I cannot imagine how you can cope with that really.

Amy

[summer32 in reply to Amy_Lee]

Your consultants are being very thorough with those tests, NHS is over run, under staffed and under funded I'm afraid x

[Happy321 in reply to summer32]

Yes the consultant is being thorough with the tests he requested and I agree with you that the nhs is overrun. The doctors, nurses consultants and all the other staff needed to run a hospital work very hard with long hours.

[Happy321 in reply to Amy_Lee]

Thank you for your reply, at the moment I just want some answers to why I feel the way I do most of the time. Hopefully the rest of the test results don’t show up anything else.

[medway-lady]

I've had similar with B12 injections and Celioc but it's been good as I feel so much better now . Thank goodness for great RA consultants.

[Happy321]

Did you have coeliac diagnosis prior to your RA diagnosis , was it picked up through your original testing

[medway-lady in reply to Happy321]

Yes but did'nt actually know it. It was done as part of a whole shed load of auto immune blood tests. Came back as having Pernicous Aememia as well, which then treated made a huge difference to energy levels. I was also tested for Lupus and when added up I have a few Auto Immune Diseases. Never mind all are treated and Celioc is propably more of an inconvience at times than a problem. The camera was not good though so ask for sedation, its much better. And sedation is quite nice. lol x