Apparently, I’m Inflamed.

I’m on a new journey this year – one of trying to get healthy. It will probably be the hardest thing I ever attempt. I’ve lived with so many bad habits for so many years, I really need to start from scratch.

For readers who check in here once in a while, you have read that I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in May 2014.  By the grace of God, I found something that is helping: MSM (METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE.)  It’s a sulfur based natural supplement that helps ease a lot of ailments, but particularly inflammation.

After just one bottle’s worth, my muscle aches and soreness are greatly diminished. MSM does not claim to cure anything, and I don’t claim it will cure you if you are dealing with fibromyalgia. But, I’d certainly recommend trying it. I buy the Solaray brand (750 mg) because my nutritionist confirmed that it is a good and solid brand. I take one capsule in the morning and one at night.

I told #2 I needed to think about it.  When I returned to my PCP, he asked me if I would be open to going to Mayo Clinic for a clear diagnosis, either way.  Mayo Clinic is three hours north of me. I thought you had to be really sick, or have some puzzling disease to go to Mayo, but I was wrong. Anybody can make an appt. online, and go. 

I signed in to the Mayo Clinic website and made an appt. two months away, the soonest I could get in. The wait was fine with me, because, holy moley, I was going to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville!  I didn’t even realize we had one in Florida.  Thank you, Jesus.

My daughter and I drove to St. Augustine the night before my appt. and stayed with my son and his wife.  We got up the next morning at 5:30 and drove to Mayo, 50 minutes away.

We were so impressed with Mayo. Dr. Oliviera spent an hour with me, looking at all the test results I brought with me. RA cannot be diagnosed from one blood marker, he said, and suggested I not go back to rheumatologist #2. She was premature in her conclusion.

He then ordered blood work, joint X-rays, and some nerve testing on my wrists due to carpal tunnel issues. The next day, he discussed with me the results of everything.

1. I now had two more blood markers for RA, which put me closer to a diagnosis of RA.
2. My joints showed some osteoarthritis, but no swollen synovial membranes, the definitive symptom of RA.
3. The MRI on my wrists revealed some wearing down of two small bones, but not definitively from RA. He said it was OK to pursue surgery on the wrist that had severe carpal tunnel.
4. Upon a clinical exam, he (like the first two docs) did not see RA in my hands or feet (where it starts.)
5. On an “established diagnosis of RA” chart, I had 5 of 7 markers.

Hmm. So, did I have RA or not?

This is the question. Dr. Oliviera recommended starting meds for RA, because it seems I’m heading in that direction. However, he did say that these blood markers prove only a lot of inflammation – which can be caused by other things (but usually RA.) I asked if I could have three months to change my diet/lifestyle to see if I can reduce or eliminate this crazy inflammation. (From my blood work, I think I should look like a puffer fish.)

The doc said OK.

So that’s the journey I’ve started as of a week ago. I’m going to write about it here, because we are an inflammation nation, and maybe my journey will help someone else. All this inflammation has to be good for something.

What happened next….A WAKE-UP CALL