Hello from Spain

332 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by sarie, Oct 27, 2008

sarie

Discussion Starter · Oct 24, 2008

Hi, Im Sarie/Sara or whatever you'd like to call me:wink2:

I am Engish but I have been living in Barcelona for the past 2 and a bit years. I am 23 years old.

When I was 19/20 (i can't remember) I went into hospital because all my joints had swollen up and I was unable to walk. A few years before I had swelling in my toes and my thumb joints.. I went to the dr's and they told me I should take ibruprofeno!!

So anyway whilst in hospital I saw a rhuemotologist and he diagnosed me with RA. A while later I moved here and got my self a good but grumpy rheumy here. He is quite good, but I have to admit I have not gone to all of my appointments. I guess I've tried to dig my head in the sand about it all.

About a month or so ago I got a horrid red rash under my right eye that has now spread to the other side. Its itchy and sore and looks horrid

So now my specialist is trying to test for lupus and trying to push that as a diagosis.
(I have been taking methotrexate and steroids before that, and some expensive meds called zamene and aveno-something (its not exactly that but I can't remember (spanish pharm names I think!!)

My other symptoms include; sore swollen joints, fatigue (where most days its really hard to actually get out of bed), Im quite depressed, I suffer from migraines, occasional chest pain, especially if im in bed, rash on my ankles, itchy head and falling hair

Im glad to have found somewhere to share and talk, its nice to know Im not the only one with these issues. My boyfriend gets a bit fed up of me missing work and school (i study fashion design at uni here in BCN). Also I cry alot and get paranoid and sad.I uess its hard to see someone you love like that everyday. what are you experiences with relationships. How do you push through these feelings and being so tired all the time. I don't want to give up and not do something.
Help and advice would be very welcome!

ps today I have an appointment with a dermo

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sarie

Discussion Starter · #2 · Oct 24, 2008

Oh and symptomswise;
I have terrible mouth and throat ulcers and my eyes feel pretty weird too.
Sorry about the spanglish, its early hahaha :rotfl::rotfl:

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sarie

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 27, 2008

Thank you everyone! Its really nice to know I can explain things and people say oh me too! Im not the only one who has these weird things.
The rash on my face is red and itchy but stings/burns alot. Its right under my right eye and a little under my left eye too. I went to the dermo the other day and they said that they need to see it when its really bad as it was hard for them to see it. It comes and goes.
I also got my bloodtests back and nothing out of the normal shows up, especially to indicate lupus. Or even anything to do with rheumatoid arthritis... Its highly frustrating but good at the same time. I just want to know what I actually have. Not sure if this is common with the bloodtests???
Katherine, how did you find it at first battling a foreign healthcare system? Do you find it harder to cope "away" from the UK?

I have been told I need to be stronger, by my boyfriends Mum. And then a long list of ailments after that, to be told Im young and shouldn't be complaining blah.

Anyway lovely to meet everyone!

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sarie

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 27, 2008

Hi Katherine,
Im currently on and off methotrexate (long story!) and have been for about a year or so.
I find the dr's and healthcare here really good, but sometimes due to language somethings get a bit lost. I want to know what my blood tests mean (the results are in catalan!), and I kind of just want some results as I feel I would be able to deal better. Im sure they are doing everything they can. My rhuemy here actually trained with my old one in the UK so I guess Im pretty lucky in that aspect. The reason I asked if you fealt thatyou were receiving the same amount of care is because I think some places test and do things in a different way. For example here they will only do a biopsy on my face when its got the rash, I think they won't start to think otherwise unless they have the evidence of the biopsy.. which for me is frustrating because as you said it could be years or whatever without something showing up¿! Ahhh its just annoying altogher I guess, haha complain over!

You sound as if you've had an interesting life btw!

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