ETC.....

I had a diagnosis.
My husband and I had no clue what it meant or would mean. 
I went to the appointment with the Rheumatologist I was reccomended to see.  He was awful! He explained to me you see.... I was a big baby and needed to grow up and deal and understand pain was my lot in life and deal with it!  REALLY!  I was shaking listening to this crap!  HOw dare he?  I was sitting in his office staring at this man with my elbows flared so badly they looked like aliens would burst out at any minute!  He had to gall to yell at me and tell me to grow up!?  I went off.  Now you have to understand me a little here... I do not deal well with people getting in my face and putting me down or talking down to me at all!  So I told him he would never see me again and I also added a few other choice metaphors in the there for effect.  LOL!  So I left.  I didn't know what to do now.  Who to see or where to go for help.  My family doctor was giving me celebrex and prednisone only.  Wasn't helping at all!   


I got a name of a Rheumatologist out of Indianapolis who came to our town once a month to see patients.  He was highly reccomeneded on many lines.  I was scared to see him!  LOL!  I went anyway.  Of course!  I wanted to know what was happening to me and wanted to know how to get rid of the pain!  


Dr. Ski.  That is short for his name.  Very short! He had a very long name that was difficult to pronounce.  Now. I was diagnosed at 35.  I am now 37 at this point.  Two years into this and still haven't made any headway for treatment. No education either has been offered to me.  


Dr. Ski was wonderful.  Very smart and knew his stuff about RA!  
He sat me down, examined me and re did the blood work to make sure of the diagnosis.  Diagnosis correct.  Rheumatoid Arthritis.  


He informed me RA is an Auto Immune disease.  Huh?!  He went on and explained how my immune system has a flaw in it that is causing it to attack my body as if it's the enemy it needs to kill. He began me on methotrexate.  Not a fun drug.  Do you know methotrexate is one of the main drugs in Chemo therapy used for treating Cancer?  Yep.  Sure is.  So I was on Chemo!  He also started me on plaquinil,.  Wasn't enough.  Still having great pain and great flares.  


During this time with Dr. Ski. I began to feel ill.  Like stomach issue ill. I had no idea what it was and it was not fun either. 


I was in for a shock!  A shock that would rock my world!