We found the source of the inflammation! (and other things)

I called the rheumatologist on Thursday and they had a cancellation on Friday so I went the next afternoon. I wasn't very optimistic because I've had enough disappointment from lack of results that I'm starting to lower my expectations.

But I actually got results! The MRI showed that I have grade 2 sacroiliitis in my left sacroiliac joint. What that means is that there is inflammation between two of my pelvic bones on my left side. That doesn't really explain the pains in my hands and feet, though.

So we found the source of the inflammatory markers in my blood, but not quite the answer. She decided that we should change medications to try to figure out the joint pain in my hands and feet. So I have a new medication to take. She prescribed me some steroids for the next 20 days, starting with four pills a day and reducing by one pill every 5 days. She also told me to stop taking the anti-inflammatory because the steroids should take care of the pain and both medications can cause stomach pain and nausea.  I need to get a blood test in about a week and then we'll see what medication she wants me to keep taking. I might change again but the medicine she was thinking about has a lot of side effects so she wants to be sure.

I've changed my medicine but it's only been a couple days so it's hard to tell if the pain is less in my hands/feet yet. It seems like they're feeling better and my lower back is hurting more, but it's hard to tell at this point.

On a somewhat side note, before prescribing the steroids, she asked if I was thinking of having kids soon. Obviously some medications aren't suitable for that. I told her it would be at least a few years and asked her if whatever disease I have is likely to impact fertility. She said probably not as long as we start working now on figuring out what it is and controlling it.

Then I went home and read over the report of the MRI. They said that they incidentally discovered that I may have polycystic ovarian syndrome in my right ovary and that I should follow up clinically. My rheumatologist said nothing about it, so I'm glad that I got a copy of the report for my records. I'll follow up with my GP soon. I've also read up on it online and the symptoms seem to be consistent with my experiences. But I just saw the word 'infertility' everywhere and that made me worry. Rohan and I want to have kids someday and adoption is a long and difficult process and we're against doing in vitro.

But I'm glad that I have this time now to work on finding my diagnosis with the autoimmune disease and if I have polycystic ovarian syndrome before we try to have kids. I've had enough medical problems that I don't want the possibility of being infertile to sneak up on me in the future as well. I'm also glad for medicare so that I don't have to pay for all of these tests to find out what's wrong. So thank you tax payers of Australia!