Newbie!

[Antonia39]

Hi everyone, I'm 39 and have 5 children 🙈 and I've just been referred to Addenbrookes rheumatology for further testing. I was initially told that a lump that I have under my collar bone was osteoarthritis, however, it's both sides and after a bit of thinking and a few things adding up I asked to be tested for RA. My bloods have come back with a positive result for ANA, so I've been referred.

I'm a pretty emotional tbh, but glad I'm might finally get some answers. It's not really a surprise as my mum has Wegners Granulosis which is a form if vasculitis and there's a fair bit of type 1 diabetes on my dads side!

I get raynauds disease, which has got much worse in the last year, I used to only get it in the winter but this year its been all the time. Does anyone have any good remedies or things to use to help, please?

[Winnie53]

Hi Antonia, I'm sorry you're in this situation. My advice would be to try and stay positive and trust in your rheumatology team. Treatments are so advanced today and everybody is different. I wish you well 🤗

[Antonia39 in reply to Winnie53]

Thank you, I will!

[Pognose123]

Hi! Hopefully your Addenbrooke’s team will be decent like my West Suffolk team 👍

I have a history of Raynaud’s and it’s my feet that have felt cold a lot. The classic - don’t let them get cold to start with is key. I have lots of socks and some thermal socks. Hands are harder especially if you are mum of 5!!! I started getting chilblains in my finger in right hand so decided I was to wear gloves even on mild weather days and that does help.

Hope your R.A. journey goes smoothly 👍

[Antonia39 in reply to Pognose123]

Thank you for your reply, as you say, it's tricky remembering gloves etc when time is short. I don't often get it in my feet, although I have random veins that swell up in my toes?!

[KittyJ]

I’ve been attending Addenbrookes rheumatology for 30 years now and have not had any problems. Try not to stress about getting a diagnosis, you may not have RA so don’t focus on that but if you do then early treatment can have very good results. Are the lumps the only symptoms you have?

[Antonia39 in reply to KittyJ]

No, I get pain and stiffness in my hands that lasts all day, pain in my hips, elbows, shoulders and chest. I have more lumps in my rib cartilidge further down. I get very tired and I suffer with skin boils too. I'm glad Addenbrookes are good 😊 thank you

[happytulip]

Addenbrookes are a centre of excellence for Lupus and their Rheumatology team is brilliant in my opinion. In my experience they are a very proactive team and have a big team of specialist nurses covering vasculitis, arthritis and lupus seperately so it's really individualised care.

[Gnarli]

While I wish sincerely that you don't have RA, it's not the end of the world if you do. You sound as though you have an excellent team to care for you. Wishing you well

[Monkeysmum]

Hi Antonia. Firstly wow to the 5 children, I only have 2 and I’m exhausted! I have Raynauds too - had it for years before the RD diagnosis, but seems to have got a lot worse since. I only started taking meds for Raynauds a couple of years ago, after a particularly bad winter left me with an ulcerated little toe tip (ouch!). So far I’ve tried Nifedipine which is the first one recommended by Rheums but gave me headaches and dizziness, so last winter changed to Amlodopine. Didn’t completely take away the attacks but seemed to reduce severity. Apparently if that one fails my next choice is Viagra!

Hope you get seen by Addenbrookes soon.