I am being referred to a rheumatologist and want to check if my symptoms sound familiar to anyone?
The major problem I have struggled with is crazy fatigue for about 5 years now, originally I was told I was low in iron and that was the only explanation given even after I had been on iron pills about 5 times and not noticed it making a difference.
I then started getting pains and aches every where really, elbow, wrists, ankles, muscles and worst probably my knee which when stanidng would hurt and need stretching out. I got really low as just felt so drained and was diagnosed with depression as the cause but pushing through I feel like that was definitely a symptom not a cause.
The thing that makes me unsure is that I have no visible swelling and the joints are not tender to touch. The pain feels more in the bones than joints at times as well.
The pains are fairly brief and shooting but often, also dull throbs and the aches are almost constant. My ankles and wrists feel weak a lot of the time. But I feel like perhaps they aren't as bad as a lot of other people that suffer from RA.
Any opinions would be much appreciated if anyone has experienced the same.
Many diseases fit those descriptions, which is why you need a board certified rheumatologist to sort it out.
RA can feel like this at times.
Hi,
I'm sort of where you are, i've been to the rheumatologist twice now, no answers yet! i'm back again on weds so hoping to find out whats wrong with me.
I too get aches and pains, shooting, stabbing in hands, fingers, wrists, feet, ankles, knees, hips, elbows! i'm having alot of trouble with my first fingers now too. I don't have much swelling, no redness.my RA factor was neg. When i'm having pain in a particular area my bones are tender if i push on them. It comes and goes, sometimes my hands will be bad, another time it'll be my legs! I also have mouth ulcers constantly.
Not sure how helpful i've been but i know whats it's like to sit wondering whats going on with you!
Welcome
Low iron is often found in RA. Fatigue also can be a factor on RA. When mine started I remember it being aches and pains with little to no swelling. ..then the swelling in my hands raged on. I could not make a fist. Not even half a fist because of the swelling and pain. Then pain in my elbow. Now to my ankles and toes. I am 54 and I truley felt like a 90 year old. The stiffness in the morning was horrible had a heck of a time getting out of bed and the stiffness lasted for hours.
Hope u get your answer soon. I am now on injectable humira and prednisone. Good luck
Hi, I've had RA for 7 yrs now. When first diagnosed the RA factor was positive but I have never had swollen joints or signs of redness etc. I have stiffness and a variety of painful areas...elbows, ankle, wrists,toes, fingers etc, at different times. The tiredness when it hits bad is like nothing else. I call it feeling zonked! Its extreme tiredness and my head feels so heavy like a bowling ball and I have no option but to lie down and rest or go to sleep. From what I know and have read of RA I know there are people far worse than me because I can function well enough on a daily basis but sometimes I do get depressed and I think that is a symptom of RA...sometimes. When I saw my rheumatologist last he was pleased with how I was doing, said the meds were controlling it well and I could actually be in remission. That was amazing to hear..but...I still have the same pain and as you described sometimes the pain feels like its in the bones more than the joints. Good luck with getting a diagnosis and on the right treatment.
Thank you! It sounds very similar to what you have experienced then, I am being referred to the rheumatologist so hopefully be seeing him soon! x
It was definitely helpful! Thanks for replying 
I think this is quite interesting and perhaps from the responses you can gauge how RA a isn't at all straightforward. My feeling is that over time they will realise that RA is incredibly complex. Some people just get is very bad immediately - my dad just got hit with RA, lost a ton of weight and was ill from day 1, while I am told I have it, but I. AM feeling better every day and certainly nowhere near as bad as last month when the flare up peaked. Now I just feel as I always did - which is why you need proper blood tests to establish what is happening.
Rheumatologists specialise in all forms of arthritis currently I am undiagnosed but with fatigue, couple of week long episodes of joint soreness, that progresses to being unable to bend the joint, lots of tummy problems too, negative for ra factor. However they have found high inflammation in stools, so seeing gastrologist who said to keep my appointment with rheumatologist as I'd need their help too (very criptic but until he give diagnosis he won't tell me what he suspects) anyway getting to the point he spent a long time asking me about mouth ulcers, looking inside my mouth etc. just thinking if you have those coupled with any gut problems you may need to be referred to gastrologist as well, inflammation in the gut can cause arthritis, you can can get the inflammation in stool test from your GP so may not even need to be referred
Thanks everyone! One other thing - did anyone experience dizziness/fuzziness with the fatigue, hard to describe but a little like being tipsy? Also effects my concentration and memory at times. It might just all be to do with the fatigue.
That sucks, it could be a number of things. Only way to really find out is going to a rheumatologist. Could be RA, fibromyalgia alot of these autoimunne diseases have the same symptoms. Hope you find out soon so at least you get some comfort in knowing.
People with RA can become anaemic,as did my wife,with the symptoms you mention.Our GP prescribed iron pills,they didn't make one iota of difference.My wifes consultant said that she would be better if she flushed them down the loo.About twice a year she would have to get two units of blood packed with red cells.You should have your blood tested.
I get the fatigue and the dizziness and the inability to string a sentance together - last week I just had to be put to bed for a couple of days (over did it with Christmas stress). Today I over did it at hydrotherapy. One day I'll learn my limits!
Hi. I don't know if you have a diagnosis yet but when reading your symptoms they really hit home. I was diagnosed with Fybromyalgia just over a year ago. I have constant joint pain - mainly hands and feet - but the pain isn't actually in my joints, but in the surrounding tissues. Some days I struggle to do the basic tasks, but i'm determined to continue working so I struggle through it - avoiding strong pain killers so I can drive and focus. This unfortunately makes the fatigue worse and by Friday I crash and burn! I'm a stubborn soul and refuse to give in to it, but some days are very hard. I have found deep massage helps and I'm waiting for my first appointment to try acupuncture. Yoga also helps in strengthening my core. I could take Tramadol or even Gabapentin, but I'm very resistant to going down this road as I don't want to get in to a pain cycle and become reliant on such strong meds. I know I may one day have no choice, but at the moment I 'cope' of sorts. The reason I decided to comment was I was fobbed off for 6 years with such comments as 'it's all in your head' and 'your ligaments are too long' etc. I suffered thinking I actually was going mad. Stand your ground and don't let them fob you off if your bloods or X-Ray's show nothing. If they rule everything else out, then Fybro is likely. Good luck with your search for a diagnosis and I hope once you have it you feel much better! X
Very much fatigue but little satisfying sleep.
Cant work. Can't sit for too long, can't stand, can't get comfortable lying down. Asleep by 10 pm and up by 5:30 am most days. Never sleep right through.
The fatugue is definitely an RA thing. But it could be many others too.
The aches sound closer to rheumatism than RA. Rheumatisim affects the muscles and creates mejor aches, and flares with cold damp weather.
Sound familiar?
hi i have ra had for 1 yr am 43 started with being very very tired all time fuzzy head (tipsy feeling) lack concentration, few yrs later pain in fingers an one foot blood test positive ra now on sulfasalazine was on 4 tabs a day at 500mg each couldnt cope with way they made me feel so they reduced to 3 a day same feelings tired dizzy no concentration walking about like zombie so reduced myself to 2 a day an on paracetomol if still like that goin onto 1 a day till see rhymy doc in oct its so hard
All of these sound very familiar!
I have had issues with my eyes for years and a new eye doctor asked me if I had ever been checked for RA. He sent me for blood work and my ACE level was very high.
Going in next week for chest x-ray to check for other things.
But I also have shooting pains in my elbows and ankles and stay very tired all the time and have put in tons of weight.
Hi Donna,
What issues do you have with your eyes that you've connected to RA?
I've had RA for 11 years and eye problems for three, but I never realised they could be connected.