Questioning Symptoms

By holtk

1 min read

I am 49 and started having a few random symptoms in my early 30s, but hit a full wall of symptoms around 42. My PCP said autoimmune disorder but then changed my diagnosis to depression when my ANA was normal. My CRP was 25, but no one shared that with me and I trusted and listened to their advice and treatment for a year.

I am a nurse and started questioning my symptoms and treatment plan and finally got a Rheumatology appointment which diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, and by then I knew it was more serious so I kept fighting for my rights and my voice to be heard.

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Eileen14700 Moderator
I must admit <inline-mention user-id="3288341" username="holtk"/> , it's a bit upsetting that even nurses need to fight to be heard! Thanks for sharing your experience, it really proves that patients are their own best advocates. You don't mention it here, how long did it take to finally get diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis? -Eileen, <a href='http://Psoriatic-Arthritis.com' target='_blank'>Psoriatic-Arthritis.com</a> Team
1. holtk Member
 EileenB, thank you. It took over 5 years. It is crazy, how autoimmune diseases are so misunderstood, as well as us as patients. I hope you are doing well today and have a wonderful restful night. Kathi
bonnyrn Member
Being an RN, I have had to fight too. I have KNOWN something was wrong for 10 years. I think we can see a connection where other patients don’t. I had been sent to neurologists 3 times in search of MS when I knew it wasn’t MS. Finally, approx 2 years ago, I literally woke up to a myriad of symptoms I never experienced before as in low grade fever, pain from head to toe and these broken open lesions on my back! I went to my rheumy and told her I have psoriatic arthritis and she still didn’t believe me! I then went to a dermatologist who confirmed psoriasis and my rheumy finally believed me that PsA was my diagnosis along with Lupus due to suddenly positive labs.
1. akennedy Member
 There are so many autoimmune diseases! Doctors need to start listening and paying more attention to what we are actually saying. They don’t know what we go through on a daily basis.
2. holtk Member
 BonnieRN, I'm so sorry it took you so long to be diagnosed as well. I am so disappointed in our medical field and their lack of compassion as well as knowledge regarding autoimmune disorders. I was so miserable and sick I wanted to die at times. Thank the lord, I was diagnosed when I was and was started on medication that has given me some relief. Hope you are feeling well today. Thank you for sharing with me.

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