Diagnosis Diary

Alison’s Diagnosis Diary

Feb 2011

I noticed a lump on the top knuckle on my left middle finger but was not unduly worried. My daughter suggested that I went to the doctor as she remembered Jordan (the glamour model) had a cancer scare with a similar lump. So I worried a bit then!

The doctor said he thought the lump was some form of arthritis but wanted me to get an appointment within 6 weeks, just in case it was anything nastier.

The first appointment I could get was with UCHL (University College Hospital London), which was not too bad of a journey from South East London but was in 3 months time. 

May 2011

By the time I got to the Rheumatology Department for my appointment, it had become obvious that there was something very wrong. 

I ached all over and my knee was very swollen and could hardly bend. The consultant sent me for blood tests and a full body scan. It was a shock when the results came back, I had arthritis almost everywhere apart from my spine – knees, hips, ankles, toes, wrists, elbows, shoulders and fingers. I was diagnosed as having Psoriatic Arthritis which I had never heard of. I was given a steroid injection and prescribed Sulphasalazine.

After an extremely bad reaction to the Sulphasalazine I was advised to stop taking it straight away and take Metatrexate but I had been reading everything I could about arthritis and wanted to attempt to control it with a diet lifestyle change. 

My doctor wasn’t convinced and my CRP was still quite high at 33.8 with the Sulphasalazine, but I was not in the mood to take more drugs just yet. CRP (C-Reactive Protein) is an indicator of inflammation found in the blood. A high CRP level signals general inflammation and could indicate anything from an infection to rheumatoid arthritis to heart disease. 

14 months on, I am drug-free and my CRP is 5.1. I eat a restricted diet but with my daughters help I actually enjoy it. She has written recipes which I find easy to follow and cooks wonderful dishes.