"You've got a strong story."

I met my rheumatologist today. He listened to my tale of arthritic woe, and said affirming things like, "Yes, you make a strong case, you tell a strong story...especially with your Dad's history, it sounds like something inflammatory, it definitely sounds like something inflammatory." He seemed to be saying that I told a compelling story in favor of inflammation. My primary care guy just kept saying "There's definitely something rheumatological about you. Yes, you've definitely got something rheumatological going on." I suppose I was glad the specialist narrowed it down from there. There's something inflammatory about me, I guess? Or at least I tell a good inflammation story.

He told me I had a good story so many times I finally was like, "Thanks, I try to keep it interesting." He responded with something else about inflammation.

They took three tubes of blood and an x-ray of one hand, ordered a bunch of bloodwork (ANA, RF, CBC, CMP, CRP, CCP), and gave me four samples of what look like the world's biggest nicotine patches, but instead of dosing you with nicotine, they dose you with diclofenac (an anti-inflammatory). Each one is about as big as a paperback novel - they're a little ridiculous.

I was also given a little slip of paper that the Dr. pulled out of his pocket and handed to me. It reads:

Dr. Nami wants you to take these vitamins:

Fish Oil - 4 g daily
Vitamin D - 1000 I.U. daily
Glucosamine/Chondroitin - 1500/1200mg daily

I will try the fish oil after I try my elimination diet. Which I did not tell Dr. Nami about because if he had said, "There hasn't been any conclusive research into the connection between diet and arthritis," I'd have said, "Okay, so what?" And if he had said, "That sounds stupid, have an NSAID!" I would have said, "Um, no thanks." And if he had said, "That sounds great, have fun!" I'd have smiled cheerily and agreed.

I did not show him my spreadsheet, as he seemed happy enough to take my history out loud and I did not want to make him think I'm crazy yet.
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