All i know is that prednisone is a from of steroids which can cause weigth gain.  The more weight added to your body the higher the risk of arthritis could also be related to obesity.  Most of my friends are seeking medical attention to this conditon some of them are women, they tried different ways to loose weight.  They even tried Bariatric procedures.

Hi Cathy,
have you been to your specialist recently?  Stress - of which you have had a lot of physical and mental over the past several months-can manifest in many ways including weird pains.   As you have experienced, it is dificult to get to the root of problems when they are in multiples, the inclination seems to be to treat the symptoms so a great doctor is awesome to have in your corner.

I wouldn't jump to a conclusion that  the RA you dread has jumped on the bandwagon.  I do believe symmetry is a hallmark of RA, and that doesn't sound like what you are describing.

Additionally, as your body is going thru these rapid changes, I would think the muscle and skeletal systems need to relearn how to keep you balanced and moving properly.  I am not trying to make light of what you are experiencing.

And while there are tons of things I don't know, I do know that your sweetie loves you dearly and he only wants you to be who you are, and you know that too - you can hold on to that!  :)
.

Hello everyone,

I had my DS in October.  I'm 42 years old.   I was doing really well until about 3 months out.  Suddenly I have become soooo exhausted.  I have some auto immune problems since childhood, mostly really high levels of viruses (EBV, HHV-6, CPN) that I was finally diagnosed with after 25 years of searching for a reason.  I work with an infectious disease doctor at Stanford on this.  I had exactly 6 months of feeling pretty good.  I thought WLS surgery would just make my life so much better.

My mother has R.A., and is very disabled from it and my grandmother had a sudden diabilitating onset of RA at 37 years old.   She took a boatload of aspirin to control the pain and died at the age of 46 from complications from too much aspirin.  My cousin on the same side was recently diagnosed with Lupus. 

I have been having some unexplained knee and neck/shoulder pain over the last 3 months and yesterday my index finger swelled up and became very painful.  I can barely bend it and the joint hurts.  I'm scared.  I just have this bad feeling that the family curse is catching up to me.  I have always told myself that I will NOT get it.  I know there are so many worse people out there but I feel like I can't catch a break.  I have been sick since I was 8 years old and there has never been a time that I have been ok.  As soon as I start losing weight, this comes on.  My 6 month labs were really great by the way. 

My mom suggested I start looking for a Rheumatologist right away since they tend to be hard to get appts with.  If anyone can recommend a good one in the South Bay/Bay Area.  I do have some baseline tests from 2005 when I developed Livedo Reticularis.  To make matters worse, I have been unemployed since 10/08 put on disability after surgery until this week (longer recovery needed with viruses) and that is running out and so is my unemployment.  So now I HAVE to find a job and quickly. 

The only positive I can see in this picture is that my joint pain is only on one side of my body for knee, neck/shoulder, and finger.  And I haven't been diagnosed yet.  Any words of help would be greatly appreciated.  I feel like my husband is going to wish he found a healthier wife. 

Cathy

I too was told I needed a total replacement. I am post OP RNY but gained most of it back and having blown knees doesnt help. I had several ortho surgeons tell me I had to wait 5 to 6 years as I am 39. I finally found one that said A partial would be something I can do. Then a co worker told me about a medication she used for RA swelling and pain. Voltaren Gel (not the oral as I had the RNY) WOW still hurts but so much less than before.

Hope it helps and good luck



Tifany