I dread going to my rheumatologist for my check-ups.

Right now, I see her once every three months. About a week before my appointment, I begin to feel apprehensive… The same feeling when you were called to the principal’s office in school. The “oh no, I’m not gonna like this” feeling.

Why do I get this way?

Its simple… The last three times I’ve been there, I came home with bad news. 🙁

Six months ago, I had to get a steroid shot in a thumb joint, almost passed out, and couldn’t use the thumb on my right hand for 7-10 days… And I’m right-handed.

Three months ago, I went to my check-up about a week after I saw the eye doctor, who informed me that my eyes were severely dry & I had lost a certain range of vision as a result. At the rheumy, I was diagnosed with tendinitis in my hips, she added another medication, and I was put on a drastic exercise restriction (no walking at the store, no bending, limited housework, etc) and rotating hot & cold wraps. I obeyed and was a good little RA patient for 10 weeks… Until I felt better and was bored laying around the house and overdid it with housework. Ugh! I was then back at square one with the tendinitis.

Then, last week, was my most recent check-up. The doctor explained to me that the tendinitis isn’t going away as it is part of my progression of the disease, she added an oral NSAID, signed the paperwork for my first handicap parking placard, forbade me from vacuuming and most other housework, but did allow me to start water therapy up again (thankfully).

[Read more…]