Until very recently, I have always considered myself a rather healthy person. Overall, I eat fairly well, I get exercise, I'm conscious about choices that surround my physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
I say until recently, because on April 5, I was unable to twist the lid off the dishwasher detergent. And I kept dropping things. All. The. Time.
One morning a few days later, I woke up and my fingers were so stiff it was difficult to turn off my alarm on my phone. A warm shower helped, but I still had difficulty typing at work, and turning doorknobs was almost out the of the question. Then my fingers began to ache when I used them (and you don't think about how much you use your hands until it hurts to do anything). Then it was downright painful to do everything from buttoning my jeans to squeezing the shampoo bottle. Probably about a 6-7 on the scale.
Made an appointment, but the next one wasn't for over a week, and I had to get time off (sometimes having a full-time job makes things more difficult).And then I made the mistake of using a symptom checker to get an idea of what it could be - BAD IDEA. I decided that I either had Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), or some other life-long, incurable, disfiguring disease.
With that in mind, I muddled through until the appointment, learning to avoid certain actions and modify others (ibuprofen didn't really help at all). My doctor was satisfyingly concerned, which made me feel justified in making an appointment. She poked and prodded my hands and knees and other joints, ordered X-Rays of my hands, and I think I had half a gallon of blood drawn for tests. Until the results came back, she prescribed a stronger anti-inflammatory to see if that would help.
Took those for 5 days, they didn't really help. What did help was completely changing my diet. The hubby and I started a program called Whole30: a month of strict paleo, and then some. Until May 14, we cannot have any grains, dairy, sugar, legumes, alcohol, or soy (it's a legume, but it's in everything so they specify). You can read more about Whole30 here. After a few days of this radical change, my joint pain seemed to cut in half.
Probably at a 3-4. It was a nice change. My joints still hurt, and they still have some stiffness, but at least I can move them now. I'm able to get through the day without a huge amount of pain, but I still have some, so it's still pretty worrying.
When the test results finally came in -- it seemed like they took forever -- everything was within normal range except my TSH numbers and the X-Rays. I was asked to return as soon as possible to repeat the thyroid test, and she submitted a referral for me to see a rheumatologist.
*in a melodramatic voice* It's the R-word, it has to be RA! *end melodrama*
I went back and was a pin cushion again about a week after the first draw and scheduled an appointment for the following week with the rheumatologist. Unfortunately, I had to drive all the way to South Baltimore for this appointment, which was kind of yucky. I don't like going up there because of the traffic.
The appointment day came, and I went. Surprisingly, my blood pressure was rather low considering how many jerks almost hit me on the way to the appointment. (Just kidding, it's always low.) This second doctor seemed just as concerned and spent a solid 45 mins in the exam room with me, discussing various symptoms and going through my history. It's wonderful to have doctors that will listen to you. He was also wearing this tie. It says Jesus Loves You and that makes me happy.
He finally boiled it down to 4 things that he thought were most likely: a viral infection (that would be great!!), psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis. That last one is a mouth full. Obviously, a viral infection would be wonderful and relatively easily fixed. A dose of tapered steroids will help me heal if it is, and it will give him information concerning the others if not. I don't have psoriasis, at least not yet, so psoriatic arthritis is less likely. RA is still in, but the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) actually fit better to what I'm experiencing.
To help narrow it down, he ordered further tests: more X-Rays, more blood work, and the steroids.
Good thing I'm not playing sports. I'm also really glad that I didn't pass out because I have had blood drawn 3 times in the last 3 weeks. It's not fun and I would not suggest anyone do that. I do have a lovely bruise though.
As I said in the beginning, I consider myself a fairly healthy human being. I with my body would catch up to that thought as I await the 3rd round of test results and whether or not I need to medicate for round 2. It's been a strange and eventful month.
On a happier note, my mom did come visit me and we were able to see the cherry blossoms in DC!
Oh, and a panda. That was fun. :)
