Today's Doc's Appointment.

Woohoo! I think I might be getting somewhere! After a pretty bad week with a nasty flare up of joint pains, night sweats and heaven knows what else, my doctor has organised a load of tests. I think he was a little taken aback when he saw the new lumps on my hands and the swollen elbows.

I dunno what most of them are but this is the list exactly as my letter:

Vit B12 and folate, Bone(Ca, CCa Alb, Phos, ALP), Blood picture(includes FBC and Diff), Creation Kinase (CK), Vitamin D, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Fasting Glucose, Full Lipid Profile (Cho, Tri, HDL, LDL)(=Fasting), Liver (ALT, T, Bil, Alb, ALP), Rheumatoid Factor, TFT (for monitoring)=T4(=Not Stable), Serum U&E (Na, K, Urea, Creatinine).

I do hope I get a diagnosis at last. I just need to know what's wrong with me.

In the meantime, Just yay!!!! That's all!

[evey]

Well, It's certainly a step forward for gp to do blood tests when he has not done so before. I'm not familiar with these so maybe someone with knowledge of them will comment.

Best of luck.

[rosetrees]

Good start, but "flare up" and "joint pain" makes me think of a potential auto-immune connection. I don't see any antibodies in there. At least, I don't think there are.

[Hidden]

It's all Greek to me. I'm just hoping that some answers come out of it so that I can make headway back to some kind of normality. I have both RA and thyroid illnesses in my family and whilst I'd prefer not to have either of them, I do realise that the earlier they're diagnosed the more can be done. Who knows? It might be that the tests are negative. I'm clueless, but whatever it is has been creeping up on me for several years I think, just that I've always let the Docs fob me off until now when the lumps and bumps and stuff are staring us in the face. Thanks for replying to me, it's so good to be able to share.

Lots of love. Xx

[silverfox7]

When you get your results, you must ask GP for them, then please come back and post them. Don't forget the ranges, usually after in brackets, as different labs have different ranges. I'm sure many will be able to comment on them.

[Hidden]

Thank you, Silver fox, I will try to be more assertive and get them. My doctor is very nice, but he didn't give them to me last time I asked and I didn't push it.

Thanks again. Have a lovely day. Xx

[Stourie in reply to Hidden]

He really can't refuse you your results. They are yours and you shouldn't have to push it. Just say they are for your own records. Freedom of Information.

Jo xx

[Hidden]

Thank you, Joanna. I was thinking of keeping records anyway. They might be useful for my daughters somewhere down the line as well. Thank you for the advice. Xxx