Trying to Get Final Diagnosis

By johnhannah1960

1 min read

The specialist I’m seeing has mentioned that he feels I’ve got this painful autoimmune disease.

Experiencing PsA symptoms

I’ve been researching it and I’m seeing all the roads leading to it. The stiffness in the mornings, swelling of my joints, pain in my feet, weird rashes on my hands and wrists, and exhaustion.

On top of that, I’ve developed Type 2 Diabetes and had to start on insulin twice a day. I’m in pain all the time and I feel that my body is falling apart.

Waiting for official PsA diagnosis

I’ve yet to be given a final diagnosis but it all leads to psoriatic arthritis. I’ve had scans-a-million and blood tests but nothing is final yet.

Out of desperation, I’ve decided to join this site and hope for more information and support. One more thing I would like to mention is there are very few Rheumatologists near me. I travel 2-3 hours now to see someone who’s part of a teaching hospital - very frustrating.

Have a story to share? You can submit your PsA story here!

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Leanne Donaldson Moderator & Contributor
I am so sorry that you are dealing with so much at once <inline-mention user-id="3279065" username="johnhannah1960"/> You must be feeling very overwhelmed and understandably frustrated. But you are in the right place. We have such a supportive community here and quite a few people who also manage a range of co-morbidities including Type 2 Diabetes. In my experience, finding a good rheumatologist makes all the difference, it is definitely saddening that they are in such short supply. 2-3 hours is quite a long way to go for a doctor appointment but I know many people that drive hours, passing some closer by rheumys so they can see their preferred one. We hear you and are here for anything you may need! -Leanne, (Psoriatic-Arthritis.com Team Member)
1. tamkatt Member
 Johnhannah1960, I also am insulin dependent type 2 with PSA, and probably the most important thing you can do, find rheumatologist and endocrinologist that you feel listen to you and that you can work with, THEN , make sure they will work together for and with you! I'm so very lucky that not only are mine in same clinic but they share a patient lobby so I can see them one followed by other. They do share my information and their observations on how I'm doing. I truly feel blessed and so very fortunate in finding them. I've had good and bad doctors in these areas so don't hesitate to speak up if your needs are not being met. Good luck in your journey.
hilababy Member
Hello <inline-mention user-id="3279065" username="johnhannah1960"/> I was in the same boat you are, experiencing stiffness in the mornings, swelling of my joints, pain in my feet, weird rashes on my hands and wrists, and exhaustion. I was referred to a dermatologist first who gave me several ointments for the rashes on my hands, fingers and wrists. Nothing worked so this yahoo decided I should have five steroid injections in my middle finger tip and seven injections in my thumb tip. It hurt terribly and he said I needed to see a rheumatologist. So I went to my first and only appointment with this rheumatologist in January 2018 who looked at me, read my blood work and then told me I have NO markers for RA and what I had was psoriasis and OA and sent me back to the dermatologist for biopsies on my fingers and hands. I refused to go back because that individual kept trying to prescribe me the same ointment over and over. So I lived in misery for a while. I saw my hand surgeon in June 2019, and I was having a HORRIBLE flare up and took one look at the joint damage in my fingers and the rashes. He told me my hands and fingers did not have any nodes and crookedness when he fixed two trigger fingers the end of September 2017. He told me based on how quickly all this came on for me plus my age I had inflammatory erosive osteoarthritis and because of the skin issues/rashes, strongly believed I had psoriatic arthritis. I told him about my issues with the last rheumatologist and he said there is a new one with our group. I got a referral and saw her in October 2019 at which time based on all bloodwork and X-rays and MRIs on my hands/fingers/wrists and my feet - I have two issues. A dual diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis and inflammatory erosive osteoarthritis. I just wanted to kiss her. She put me on folic acid, Celebrex daily and methotrexate once a week. I was still having skin issues at my two month appointment so she put me on a biologic Humira, along with the other medications. The skin rashes have started to go away, some of the pain has been reduced. I still have morning stiffness and some swelling but the time to get up and start my day has gone from over an hour to between 30-45 minutes. She also told me in can take several months for the skin rashes to clear up. I am learning that I have to schedule my days, making only one or two outings, when needed. But if I am doing grocery shopping or a Costco trip that is the only outing I do that day because I am totally wiped out. I also learned about painsomnia where pain either wakes you up several times a night or it keeps you from falling asleep. I also learned that with psoriatic arthritis one could end up with diabetes, which my pcp has been monitoring me since 2017. I am considered pre-diabetic. Keep pushing to see a rheumatologist, if you’re not already. If it wouldn’t have been for my trigger fingers surgery the end of 2017 and then the same surgeon see me in June 2019, I would still be suffering. I wish you all the best and just know you are not alone. I joined this group for support and information.
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 It must have been a huge relief to finally get a diagnosis, <inline-mention user-id="3288170" username="hilababy"/>