I’m so glad it’s Friday! This has been a long, stressful week. In bad news, my ankles and feet are still in rough shape and are very swollen and painful. I wound up going to the ER Tuesday night because I was kind of freaking out and didn’t want to wait for a doctor appointment. Thankfully all of the blood/urine tests came back normal. The doctor told me that she thinks I just have a random case of edema and she prescribed a diuretic for me to take for a week (Lasix). Today is Day 2 of taking the water pill and I don’t notice anything different. I also don’t feel like I’m having to go to the bathroom more often. So now I’m afraid that the swelling is from the RA. My rheumatologist’s nurse is supposed to be calling me back today about this. When I talked to her a few hours ago and explained what was going on, she didn’t seem to think that my swollen feet/ankles are from the RA. But who knows, right? Most of the time with this disease I can never get a certain answer or diagnosis which DRIVES ME CRAZY. It’s so maddening. I really hope this swelling problem gets sorted soon because I feel like I’m really on the verge of not being able to handle it. What that means, exactly, I don’t know – but I’m close to it.
In good news, my new glasses came in a couple days ago (which I am sporting in the above photo). They’re different than my old frames and a bit bigger, but I think I really like them. Change is hard for me sometimes – arthritis flare-ups, new illnesses, new jobs, new glasses. Stress! I keep trying to tell myself that change can be good. I probably look even more like a librarian in these specs, but that’s fine with me. Librarians are pretty awesome.
Ok, I better get back to “work.” Happy weekend!
Inflamed: Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis 
Hi Angela :) I love the new glasses, you look so pretty! I swell a lot also, but have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism..have you had your thyroid checked recently? There is such a thing as being subclinical or in dr speak being within normal limits of the reference range..you can be at the very upward normal limit, and unless you ask specifically if it could be subclinical hypothyroidism they won’t treat.. just a thought! Hope you have a great weekend :) Annamarie
Hi Annamarie,
Thanks for your comment. I actually see an endocrinologist for a thyroid issue (I have a cyst on the right side that’s benign). My TSH has always been in the normal range, except for a weird incident last September. I wrote about all of that stuff in this blog actually. I don’t really think I’m hypo. I was put on levothyroxine by my primary doctor and then wound up having hyper symptoms after my TSH dropped considerably.
Thanks for the glasses compliment! :)
I really hope that it all becomes well!! Amen!
Me too. Thank you!
Hi Sweetie! I Know it’s Been 2 Years Since You Posted This But I Wanted To Share A Bit Of Wisdom. I’ve Been diagnosed With RA As Well, Due To A Genetic Disease That I Have Called Spondylo Arthropathy, And My Ankles Swell Almost Every Morning. I Have An Amazing Rheumatologist In Dallas TX, His Name Is Dr. Don Cheatum. He’s One Off The Top 3 Dr’s In His Field. He sent Me To Have A Bone Scan And That Shows Exactly Where All Of The Arthritis Is Located. No Confusion, No Wondering. If You Can Get Your Dr To Send You To Get One It’ll Be Life Changing. I Hope Things Have Gotten Easier For You In The Past 2 Years! But Whether Easier Or Not, That’s Life! Thanks For Sharing Yours With Us!
Big Hugs!
Rebecca Day