Health Boards
Wed-30-05-2012, 10:12 AM
Hi Guys,
Just thought I'd pop a quick post this morning. I saw my rheumatologist yesterday morning and after some initial visual checks he did some ultrasound scans of my painful joints... Both the consultant and the student Dr who were meeting with me were horrified at the amount of inflammation and fluid around my joints and tendons in my wrists.
So, I am finally (after 20 years of joint pain) a confirmed case of Psoriatic Arthritis!! You have no idea how much relief I felt on getting the diagnosis, I cried with joy because I have proof that the pain etc. wasn't all in my head for all these years.
He's prescribed me Methotrexate (MTX) so had to go for chest x-rays after my appointment, I am assuming to confirm that I have no TB lesions in my chest, and I should be starting the tablets in the next couple of weeks once my GP gets a letter from my consultant.
I know some of you guys are on MTX for the same condition and I wondered if you could tell me how effective you find it to be, how long it took to kick in and be effective and if the side effects wear off over time (if you experienced any)...
I had some steroid injections into my worst joints yesterday and woke up this morning completely pain free (well, except where the Dr hit a vein giving me the injection) for the first time since early August last year. I feel wonderful, I could make a cup of tea this morning without having to use 2 hands to lift the kettle.
Now I just have to do some research to see if I can continue with my career in medical microbiology given my new "immunocompromised" status. Would be gutted to have to give it up, am jobseeking atm after being made redundant earlier this month and have a number of applications in for med micro roles...
Thanks for all your help in advance.
Krissie
Just thought I'd pop a quick post this morning. I saw my rheumatologist yesterday morning and after some initial visual checks he did some ultrasound scans of my painful joints... Both the consultant and the student Dr who were meeting with me were horrified at the amount of inflammation and fluid around my joints and tendons in my wrists.
So, I am finally (after 20 years of joint pain) a confirmed case of Psoriatic Arthritis!! You have no idea how much relief I felt on getting the diagnosis, I cried with joy because I have proof that the pain etc. wasn't all in my head for all these years.
He's prescribed me Methotrexate (MTX) so had to go for chest x-rays after my appointment, I am assuming to confirm that I have no TB lesions in my chest, and I should be starting the tablets in the next couple of weeks once my GP gets a letter from my consultant.
I know some of you guys are on MTX for the same condition and I wondered if you could tell me how effective you find it to be, how long it took to kick in and be effective and if the side effects wear off over time (if you experienced any)...
I had some steroid injections into my worst joints yesterday and woke up this morning completely pain free (well, except where the Dr hit a vein giving me the injection) for the first time since early August last year. I feel wonderful, I could make a cup of tea this morning without having to use 2 hands to lift the kettle.
Now I just have to do some research to see if I can continue with my career in medical microbiology given my new "immunocompromised" status. Would be gutted to have to give it up, am jobseeking atm after being made redundant earlier this month and have a number of applications in for med micro roles...
Thanks for all your help in advance.
Krissie