[Starznight]

Okay so the neuro wanted me tested for RA. Went to the lab, they pulled the blood... Labs are no where to be found... Went to PCP, had them pull the blood, got most of the results, but instead of an RA factor test, I got a Uric acid test... Good news I don't have gout . I do have a minor vit D deficiency, not uncommon with MS so I was expecting that. But I also do certainly have active inflammation. (Again, kind of a 'well duh') but the white blood count and increased neutrophils (almost double what they should be on the neutrophils) is consistent with RA, but also muscle spasisty (I take three different muscle relaxants throughout the day...again "well duh")

Has anyone else had issues with getting the wrong tests pulled, missing labs and just think it's silly sometimes with the labs they do pull on occasion? I mean joints are swollen, they know I have tendonosis, MS and a host of other issues that will show up on a CBC differential. So why bother with it? Especially when the doctor is going to hold my hand and explain gently what the tests mean is I'm still exactly where I was last time I saw them, but thanks to not getting the right tests drawn, they don't really have an answer for me.

Grrr....I might not be as disgruntled right now, but every time I see the PCP or the neuro they ask for a CBC with differential and every time it shows the same dang thing....everything is fine great and dandy except for the neutrophils which are elevated quite a bit. It gets tested about six times a year, and every two months shows the same thing (seven or eight times a year if I go to the ER for anything). And the same thing it shows is the same thing one would certainly expect it to show given MS, muscle spasms, possible seizure disorder and potential RA.

Gah! Impatient for answers, I'd love to know if I am seizing in my sleep, if I actually have RA on top of everything else, and honestly if at some point they can try to fix some of my issues. Like surgery for the back that spontaneously combusted over ten years ago, or maybe for the ankles, the knees, the neck, the shoulder, the hand.... Or if nothing else give me an answer so I know when I can push myself and to what point and when I just need to stop for a bit and rest.

I'm just so tired of doing the same thing everyday and going backwards rather than forward in terms of health. Sure MS is degenerative and backwards progression is expected, but honestly the muscle relaxants I'm currently taking are beginning to slide off from working and any stronger of relaxants could stop my heart. So do I try to force the muscles to a state of atrophy to weaken the spasms or should I look into Botox, surgery....lobotomy?

The current response from healthcare providers is....patience... My patience is snapping and fraying as quickly as the tendons in my ankles as they continue to waste my time with their silly CBC differential each visit...