Last week I decided I needed to see the GP; this week I am close to changing my mind.....

[KatyMac]

I started a thread about needing to see the GP last week, here

So, the appointment is tomorrow I am a little concerned. I'd really rather not go

Make Persuade me?

Will I look really weird if I say my Mum has pernicious anaemia

Not at all, it can be hereditary. Usually diagnosed as an elderly persons problems sort of 60ish. Mine was diagnosed in my early 20s. Get the GP to check your levels as well as testing for intrinsic factor antibodies, as the test for intrinsic factor antibodies is unreliable. You can test negative but still have PA (pernicious anaemia). Doctors aren't very knowledgeable about PA, I've had a long fight to get my injection every month, its doesn't hurt much and its worth the discomfort for the benefits.

Don't put off going to the GP, its better to find out what's wrong than to sit at home worrying about it. As I said before go on the PA site and get informed before you go to the GP, its your health and you may have to fight to get some good treatment.

Please message me if you need any more info or anything.

I have to agree with the others who are a bit that your GP is not referring you to a rheumatologist or auto-immune specialist. You have the symptoms, and your bloods reflect that. Definitely make an appt now for 2 weeks time, take the meds in the mean time and see if they help, and if they have not, then insist on a referral. I really feel for you - being in pain and feeling grim is so debilitating. Your family clearly has significant auto-immune problems - mine is very similar and whenever I have gone through my family medical history with doctors they have been very quick to respond, given the hereditary nature of some of these conditions. I can't understand why your GP is not the same.

I have been looking back on MN & the first time I complained of these symptoms was 2005 - I have seen the GP about them at least 4 possibly 6 or 8 times since

I am obviously seen as an anxious & obsessive woman

I get to walk all around Norwich this afternoon, so I'm all drugged up

Time to change your GP.

You should definitely be referred to a rheumatologist now. It sounds like a classin AI condition, and the sooner treatment is started, the better.

Sorry for ignorance, but have you had fibromyalgia ruled out?

Apparently I'm not allowed a proper diagnosis until I am taking the maximum amount of anti-inflammatory tablets & co-codamol (I thought taking co-codamol all the time was thought to be 'bad')

My brother is furious, as he feels I need an anti-CCP test, his anti-CCP was the highest even seen in Europe

Has anyone ever mentioned fibromyalgia to you? I'm no expert, but your symptoms sound similar...

Just change your GP. There's no reason to stay with this one; s/he is clearly fobbing you off.

Only on here Tethersend

You see the idea of 8 co-codamol doesn't seem that bad tonight

4 co-codamol to enable a half mile walk, a short 45 minute wander round an exhibition, walk back to the car

That's crap isn't it?

Thanks twoistwiceasfun - I appreciate that

Katie , a lot of your symptoms sound like mine, I have Lupus, it took 18 months and lots of visits to the Drs before I was diagnosed.

Like you I felt like nobody believed me.

I got to the point that I felt I would never be out of pain.

Please ask your Doctor if it could be.

Thanks Shoshe, I'm trying to go down the non-specific auto-immune thing with the GP rather than RA/Lupus/Fibromyalgia; but I'm going to have to stamp my feet a bit I think

Was going to suggest Lupus too, from experience with my mother.

mollysfund.org/resources/what-to-expect/?gclid=CNut9MjruacCFUEb4QodClMZAw

Change your GP. You shouldn't have to wait til you're maxed out on tablets before getting a referal or further investigations made.

Have the obvious been ruled out - fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthrits - a combination of all these?

If not stamp your feet until they are.

I have fibromyalgia and recently been diagnosed with arthritis also and am finally on medication that is helping me live a normal life.

It only took a complete breakdown in the GP's room and 14 years of being in pain mind...good luck!

Nothing has been ruled out; in fact nothing has been discussed.

I have possibly missed the boat with referring to 'getting it sorted in the early stages' as it has been going on for so long. But I don't think just 'medicating' is the best idea

katy...if its any consolation istarted with my symptoms in 1997 and i am stll suffering and still waiting for rheumatologist to send his letter togp so that he can put me on plaquenil for all these CFS related symptoms.

The information is taken from MN; I have only put when I was actually bad enough to create a thread, not when I was rough & mentioned it on a thread about something else

Oct-05 pain in hands & feet - GP said Viral arthritis

Sep-06 Back pain/sciatica

May-08 Prominant & sore veins on hand

Jun-08 Stress, aching mucsles & joints, swollen hands & feet

Sep-08 hand is red & shiny and tight, then a foot the same

Jul-09 painful & swollen hands & feet, They have slowly got worse over the months & now I can't open jars/bottles & I am struggling to use scissors when I cut more than a few sheets of paper,actually swollen, sometimes they feel swollen & sometimes the veins are very sore & prominent

Dec-09 Brother diagnosed with RA

Sep-10 Leg cramps & pain in feet/hands

Oct-10 Bone pain, joint pain, hand & feet

Aug-10 Pain in hands & feet most of the time, kind of achy, they feel swollen even though they aren't. It's the main part of the hand/foot not the finger & toes and it's been for several years now.

Jan-11 Weakness & pain in my hands, pain in my feet

Feb-11 Swollen thumb (then 3 finger) Joints & Sciatica

1997 - goodness Alypaly; that is nearly as long ago when I was diagnosed with CFS (1995)

Your symptoms are the same as mine KatyMac....just had a letter from rheumatologist and he is suggesting that systemic sclerosis is looking greatly possible. Certain blood tests Scl 70, ANA and RF all positive.

Why does it take so long to be taken seriously.

Oh poor you

I wonder if they diagnose by exclusion - does this work? No, oh you haven't got that then, we'll try this