tasteofdesire

So I just got home from the rheumatologist.

She went over the blood work and now she doesn't think it's RA. Now she says there's some protein in my blood that shouldn't be, and we need to do further tests. It could be simple inflammation, or it could be - and this is where I get freaked out - bone lesions or bone marrow "issues." First I had RA, now I don't, now it's potentially bone problems... and she says she's "not too worried" about it and that I don't need to get the tests done until as long as three months from now, but then I found out that NO ONE HAS EVEN DONE A BLOOD CELL COUNT ON ME. No one. Not even my GP. No one knows my white or red cell counts, so what that tells me: this could be nothing, like the rheumatologist thinks, or it could be flipping bone cancer. No one knows because no one is testing me for anything.

I also told her that I'd been hurting a lot more lately, during the day, and I can't take my medicine until I go to bed because it makes me sleepy. So her solution? Tylenol. Now, don't you think if Tylenol was all it took, that I WOULD JUST TAKE TYLENOL and not have to be on Rx medicine? But apparently, this is the "only" solution to the problem. No lifestyle change suggestions, no suggestions as to pain relief, just Tylenol. And as far as my hands reddening and swelling when I do menial tasks like making my bed? "It's the fibromyalgia." FM doesn't cause redness and swelling. It just DOESN'T. That was her response, and then she moved on as if I hadn't even said anything.

So at this point I am incredibly pissed off. No one can diagnose me, no one is running the right tests, no one can help me manage my pain in a way that works for me, and I think it's time for a second opinion.

In sum, I am not having a good day. I'm freaked out and pissed off and I don't know what to do first - scream or cry. I feel helpless again, and I hate feeling that. Any help is appreciated...