Patti,
Hoping your daughter is feeling better and the doctors have found some answers. Keeping your dearest daughter in my thoughts and prayers... Kathy

Thanks so much. Her medicine has been increased again and she is still not getting any relief. She moved out today to her own apartment which was bittersweet for me. I want her to get on with her life but I miss her already. So we are empty nesters.

Aw! My heart is breaking for you! I know what you mean about bittersweet... all ours moved back in! :eek:

Hope she does well 'out on her own' and I'll keep her in my prayers that she can find relief and a cure!

More Yorkies have always helped me through stressful times... (JK) :D

Thanks! LOL I can't afford another yorkie. I hear a lot of kids are moving back. I imagine once there gone awhile it's hard to have them move back in.

Is she seeing a rheumatologist? If so, they have probably given many blood tests. I would ask to make sure they had tested her thyroid levels. Hypothyroidism can give severe arthritic-like symptoms, pain in muscles and joints, unrelentling fatigue, and overall feeling lousy! It affects every cell in the body and symptoms can be as wide-spread as they are severe. Just a thought. Rheumatoid arthritis can be a very daunting condition too. Will add my prayers for her!

OMG patti tears come to my eyes as i read your post, she is so young and vibrant, please keep her home with you for now. i would want nothing but my mother if i was ill. there is so much hope with the condition, a friend who could not much walk now dances!!! lots of love to you and your family ((((patti)))

Thanks. Fidebra-That's a good idea. She is seeing a rheumatologist and tested positive for the RA marker. But she has put on a lot of weight in the past 1-2 years, is always tired and her blood pressure is high. She doesn't have a regular doctor but I will have the rheumatologist order the thyroid test. My Mom had hyperthyroidism. I didn't know it had the same symptoms. Thanks.

Make sure they do a complete thyroid panel, esp TSH. When I was first diagnosed, I could hardly get out of bed, my feet felt like they were breaking under my weight (I wasn't all that much overweight) as soon as they hit the floor, and could barely walk. FlDebra is right... thyroid plays a major part in all body system functions, metabolism, hair, nails and skin, energy, eyesight, etc.
Cholesterol will be high too in many cases. I never had a cholesterol problem in my life, then it came back at 278 :eek:! They said to change my diet... I said it's never been different, I eat low fat, whole wheat, veggies, fruits, very minimal sauces and gravies, minimal sweets (except when TSH is high I crave sweets and can eat a dozen doughnuts in less than 24 hours).

Normal TSH for people without Thyroid problems is 0.5 - 2.0. Old lab values say 3.0 - 8.0 is within normal limits. Recently there's been a change, but it is slow in being accepted throughout the labs in the States new values are more like 1.5 - 3.0 is WNL. I feel best at under 3.0, something I am constantly arguing with my doctors about. Last winter I gained weight and started retaining fluid in my legs and abdomen... doc said it was a symptom of thyroid:eek:... good news I'm now taking fluid pills... easier 30 lbs I ever lost! Of course I spend more time in the potty but I am slim and trim! (JK)