Why do I get a different diagnosis each time?
I’m seeing a rheumatologist for my arthritis. I’m 21 years old and had a bone scan which showed inflammation in my wrists, fingers (DIP and MCP joints), shoulders, knees and hips.
Each appointment I’m told something new. I’ve had Sjogren’s, Fibromyalgia, Lupus and Sjogren’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren’s, Lupus, connective tissue disease, Sjogren’s and Psoriatic Arthritis (I don’t have Psoriasis). Every time I see a doctor they want change my diagnosis.
I have no idea what’s going on and I have more questions than answers!
I’m on Celebrex and Plaquenil and I also have Prednisone for emergency flare ups.
Why do they change it every single appointment??!!
Theorgeo… I’m going to take none of your advice. I don’t think religion is important in any of this. I don’t live in the USA. I am seeing qualified, registered rheumatologists. I do not make the appointments. My specialist asks to see me in 3 months, I come back then. I think you missed the point of this question.
those autoimmune disorders mentioned have a lot of things in common, and the symptoms are overlapping. The specific symptom doesn’t always show up, and there are sometimes cases that even with blood tests, the characteristic still isn’t specific to certain disease. Maybe your case really is a unique one and it’s hard to specify the diagnosis.
Here’s your problem…….”You keep going to the doctor”
Doctors really don’t care about you if you keep going back, they figure you’ll keep coming back and they can keep trying stuff out on you til something works…. So, what you have to do is actually find a Doctor ( get this)> that you can bond with…and you can look right in the eye with…..and say “I’m tired of being treated like__________________________< (this) and I want a doctor who will treat me like> (this)>____________________________and if you can’t do this please tell me up front!
So,.with this said,..either you are on SSI or SSDI or you have insurance or you’re going to an ER or a local clinic….My point is “you need to find a serious doctor and not some county wannabe volunteer clinician….and it might be a good idea to ask whoever it is “what religion they are” and see if they don’t answer with “catholic” or “7th day adventist”…which in either case…walk away….they are there to feel good aout themselves…not to make you feel any better.
I am so sorry that you have having to deal with such an autoimmune dyscrasia at such an early age. Itis clear that there is a pathological amount of inflammation in your joints. A provisional diagnosis is being assigned in order to assure that you receive the correct amount of surveillance you need to stay as optimally healthy as possible. A lupus diagnosis would afford you closer surveillance and more labwork as they would watch your kidneys and heart more closely than they may be able to, should you keep a simple RA diagnosis.
Tell yourself that you have “an autoimmune dyscrasia” that is uniquely your own. It can progress as they expect or even attain a lengthy remission in the future. Live your life and best you can and understand that the labelling of your syndrome in a country other than the US is about rationing of care. Label upgrades may permit the physician to see you more frequently and watch you more closely, which at times, is to your benefit.
We sit on the precipice of some exciting new treatment developments in autoimmune illness, so stay positive and hang in there. Best wishes.