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[CLKD]

On a Sunday  ……….

As an aside - when Mum was in A&E recently she was told that X-rays are taken 24/7  -  apparently the ones taken here are read in Oz over-night and there's are read here over-night  ……...

[pj44]

Thank you all. I have the nodules on left and right fingers nearest my thumb. My daughter has RA diagnosed when she was 23. Poor girl is in agony everyday. I feel so sad for her. I dont have the pain too much at the moment. Thou sometimes i can pick something heavy up and my fingers kinda freeze and stick like it which is dangerous. As you say you have to get on with it.
 

[CLKD]

No you don't have to get on with it!  What support does your daughter get?  Is her pain relief monitored so that she gets 'extra' during flair ups, i.e. gold injections?

[pj44]

She has been given meds but they have not helped her. She has not been back to doctors for some years. I keep telling her that there my be different meds she could take now. But she just says whats the point.

[Taz2]

My dad had RA and I would say pj that you should really try to get your daughter to go back to the GP. Treatment is really important especially if she is to avoid major problems in the future. She does need to be monitored especially her heart health. She's probably among the twenty percent or so who have mild symptoms.

Hope you get on ok yourself.

Taz x 

[pj44]

her RA us very bad she us in constant pain. She us with me now and she said she is going to wait until she is my age 53 for the hard drugs. Had xray.

[Claireylou]

Hi pj,

I'm glad that you got through X-Ray ok. Hopefully now things will start to move forward for you xx

[CLKD]

That's young age for you  - but why not go for relief now?  I can understand where she's at but new drugs might well come onto the market as she ages  - Life isn't a practice 

[pj44]

Well been to doctors. Not sure what i have two of the blood tests were normal. The 3 one was not but she said only slightly. Got to have another blood test for uric acid. Also i need to have carpal tunal tests. I had the letter come and you have to ring within 5 days or you have to be refered by doctor again. I thought i'm not going as hospital you have to go to is about 45 min away not long i know but with my panic attacks its out of my comfort zone also daughter said i would have to swallow some liquid stuff so it shows up better and i don't want to do that. So i ripped up letter.i did tell doctor that letter had come and i did not want to go. She seemed to think u dont have to take liquid.has anyone had the carpal tunnal screening test?

[CLKD]

Have you got carpal tunnel syndrome?  This is characteristically common in pregnancy so is hormone related. Most usual sign is of tingling in the fingers and at night, the patient finds hanging the hands over the edge  of the bed helps.

Unless you go to the Hospital you won't find out what is wrong.  Can you take someone with you?  What does your daughter know about these tests, dye is rarely swallowed  …… that's a barium meal !  and totally un-related to CTSyndrome.  Dyes are injected for various conditions for diagnostic purposes usually when one requires an X-ray.

Give the Dept a ring and ask what the tests are likely to be and how long it will last. 

[honeybun]

I'm not great with hospitals but if you want to find out what is wrong and how to make it better then you have to be brave and go.

Can't think what you would have to swallow for carpal tunnel. Years ago I did a barium swallow but that was for acid reflux.
I would do what CLKD suggested and call to see what it involves. You might be pleasantly surprised and be able to cope just fine. No worse than an Xray.


Honeyb
x

[CLKD]

Unless diagnostic techniques have altered a lot since I left the NHS in 1983  - as an orthopaedic secretary I saw a lot! I held a lot of hands for scared patients, sat by bedsides ……

[honeybun]

There is nothing nicer than having someone with you even for minor stuff.


Honeyb
x

[CLKD]

I agree.  DH always came with me to the Appts when I had breast treatment.  When I was very ill with depression he would sit in the waiting room then collect me from the car when the GP called my name.  He would shop for me, walk  my dog ……..

I've held the hands of great big farmers who shake with fright at the thought of an injection.  I've stayed back to explain in 'lay man's talk' what the Doctors were telling the patient  ……

Having someone not related can help if the news is likely to mean on-going treatment etc..  I can remember how shocked we felt after diagnosis, how full our heads were of questions etc.. 

[pj44]

About 10 years ago i was told i had carpal tunnal as my thumb was numb but i did nothing about it. I was not sent for any tests. It just got better. I do have numbness in my little fingers and you can touch the end of finger u feel nothing.over the years that has happened on other fingers but usually it goes away. Last year in the winter if i picked up something heavy eg kettle or saucepan handle my right hand would frezze in like claw postion and go numb it was only for a few seconds but was worrying as i lost strengh it happened while holding boiling water. But it only happened 2.