My Thoughts in Letters…

I was once again been out of blogging world because of being a budding entrepreneur (Delectably Baked) + work + family + church activities + my health.

Yes, this year I experienced the worst state of my health, having my 1st confinement (see my post here) and up until now experiencing pains (hands) and swelling (feet), going back to the doctor every now and then, countless lab exams and up until now no final diagnostic. I’ve changed doctors, went to different hospitals. lab exams were negative for ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), RF (Rheumatoid Factor), Anti CCP  (Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody), Urinalysis but my ANA ( Antinuclear Antibody Test) came out positive. I’ve searched the net about it and what I read about really disturbed me. I went to see my doctor to show him the result, but to no avail, he’s out already for the holidays and her secretary told me that his clinic will resumed on January (*sigh).

Yesterday, after experiencing the same pain that I had in my left hand to my right hand (BTW, the swelling in my right foot subsided already today), I went again to see another doctor (from Patient’s First, another HMO accredited). I told her my story, and even show her my lab results. After seeing the positive result and hearing my pain story, her heart goes with me and even advice me to go to the ER and that I should insist to the residents there for my doctor to be notified of my state even if he was in a vacation already.

I really salute the doctor who checked me last night. She answered my questions without hesitations and even free my mind of some worries. She told me that I might be suffering RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis). All my symptoms led to it, from the swelling of my left foot, pain in my left hand, swelling in my right foot and pain in my right hand. She told me that it may be  polyarthritis (since I experienced it on multiple points in my body). I show her the prescribed medicine that my doctor gave me and told her that it doesn’t help with the pain. She gave me another set of medicine and told me that it was the best that she can give me because other medicines can be given only by a specialist doctor (rheumatologist) .

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint but is common in the wrist and fingers. More women than men get rheumatoid arthritis. It often starts between ages 25 and 55. You might have the disease for only a short time, or symptoms might come and go. The severe form can last a lifetime.

Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis, the common arthritis that often comes with older age. RA can affect body parts besides joints, such as your eyes, mouth and lungs. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means the arthritis results from your immune system attacking your body’s own tissues.

No one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis. Genes, environment and hormones might contribute. Treatments include medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery. These can slow or stop joint damage and reduce pain and swelling. (*View Source).

I’m a bit relieved knowing these things than thinking that I might be having Lupus or any worse Autoimmune Diseases. Right now, I’m still having a hard time moving both my hands. cannot walk for a long time and intense pain causing me to almost cry every time it attacks. I’m relying on pain killer medicines that only lessen the pain a little bit. I’m praying that next year, I can overcome this. I’m still waiting for my doctor, but the doctor last night gave me a heads up that the medication process could take up to 6 months. I just hope that it won’t worsen and lead to more serious complications.

By GOD’s Grace, I know everything will be ok.

To sum up, here were the things that I came to understand after my checkup last night:

1. RA was an autoimmune disease. Meaning it just came off naturally. For my situation, my body thinks that my joints were a threat to me thus attacking them (my immune system against my joints).

2. It was not cause by my kneading/baking. It’s just a coincident that this happen on the midst of my baking/cake decorating stint.

3. It doesn’t come of with age. It was Osteoarthritis that adult people were experiencing. RA can be experience by people as young as 20.

4. It was not a lifestyle disease like gouty arthritis.

5. It’s not Lupus but they were both Autoimmune disease.

I’ll be updating my blog (*fingers crossed) about my progress so that everyone who’s having the same symptoms as mine would be enlighten. I still want to clear if this RA is also related to my CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome).

Happy Holidays everyone!

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