The Day We Received David’s Diagnosis
9 May
In February of 2008, David went for a physical. He had been having back problems since high school, and the doctors always prescribed muscle relaxers and back stretches. He’d started having aches and pains in his hands. He told the doctor about his grandfather’s rheumatoid arthritis and asked him to x-ray his back.
The doctor, praise God, listened to David. The x-ray showed a slight curve in David’s spine that hadn’t been there a few years before. The doctor also did some blood work which showed David had high levels of inflammation. Then he referred David to a rheumatologist.
David’s first appointment with the rheumatologist was at five o’clock in the morning. It took at least three hours. The rheumatologist interviewed us, asking David all sorts of questions. I was really glad I was there, first of all because David didn’t remember all of his family’s medical history. (Mother and father-in-law, I really do pay attention when you tell me about your siblings!) And second, because I had no idea that David had pain in his knees, elbows, wrists and hips. I couldn’t believe he’d never told me.
The rheumatologist then did a physical exam. He moved every joint, asking each time, “Does this hurt?” He sent David for x-rays. They x-rayed every joint in David’s body. I don’t even know that’s healthy. Then the rheumatologist came back with a diagnosis: Psoriatic Arthritis. He sent David for a bone scan. At that point David was glowing in the dark.
The rheumatologist said there was negligible damage to David’s joints, and the tiny curve in David’s spine wasn’t even worth trying to correct. It was Psoriatic Arthritis, and they’d caught it early. The rheumatologist thought that David should start taking Methotrexate, among other medications. He said that David’s arthritis would go into remission. He didn’t know if it would take a week, a month or a year, but he’d go into remission. He’d feel fine.
I remember calling David’s parents in the car afterwards while we drove home. They were much more upset than I was. I thought it was no big deal. We had a diagnosis. We had a plan. They were going to make David better. Everything was going to be fine.
Over the next year, David’s dosage of Methotrexate increased several times. The rheumatologist also gave David injections of Methotrexate directly in his back. David took anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers and stomach medicine and folic acid to counteract all side effects.
Still, David wasn’t getting better. Things weren’t okay.
We continue to wait for David’s arthritis to go into remission. The rheumatologist now wants David to take Humira, but at $1,500 a month with insurance, there’s no way we can afford it, but we make too much money to qualify for assistance.
We’re still hoping and praying. We’ve learned a lot over the past year. We’ve done research on arthritis and gotten quite an education. I’ve personally learned a lot since that early morning visit with the rheumatologist. I’ve become far more understanding and careful regarding David and his arthritis. I’ve learned to ask for and accept help when I need it.
I’ve seen breast cancer survivors get pink boxing gloves. I don’t know what color represents arthritis (or care giving), but I’m ready to be a survivor. I’m ready for our boxing gloves.
I’d say you’ve earned ‘em! I have R.A., too, and take Enbrel (like Humira, I think). Insurance is such a tough thing with expensive meds. I pray that God will provide Humira and whatever else David needs to go into remission.
~Cyndi