Confused

[Alanek]

Hello to everyone. Having visited my GP twice. No Visible symptoms, only my verbal symptoms of moving, on off daily different locations. All joint weakness, mild pains in hands arms feet knees. Feeling flu like . Especially strange feeling like shiver up my body arms neck and head. Pressure on side of neck. Itchy skin. Cracking joints. All for 7weeks and counting. ANA and CCP blood negative. RF blood is 50. GP Couldnt diagnose me. Asked for referral for rheumatologist. Had NHS letter NO APPOINTMENTS FOR 30 WEEKS. What do I do now. Does my symptoms sound like Rheumatoid Arthritis???? Thank you for any thoughts

[oldtimer]

Could be all sorts of things at this stage, so the wait for an appointment may be a blessing in disguise if things change and become clearer.

It's a good idea to keep a record of what symptoms and signs are occurring. Obviously if there is a big change then you need to go back to the GP for further advice and possible tests.

On a minor point, lots of people seem to think that the cracking noise that joints make is significant, but it doesn't seem to be.

Fleeting joint pains might fit a palindromic rheumatism pattern better?

[helixhelix]

I couldn't tell you as it presents itself in such a variety of ways. So might be, might not. Not a whole lot of help!

Keep in touch with your GP, and ask for help if pain and/or inflammation increase. If joint swell then take photos. And as OT says, keep a diary as you'll forget.

If you can do appointments at short notice then keep phoning the hospital to ask for cancellations.

It's not acceptable that the NHS target is not being met, but sadly that's often the case now.