Rheumatologist Questions

What doctor should I see

43 year old female. No prior medical history. Three years ago I got a migraine that lasted for weeks behind my left eye. No history of migraines. I felt a shift in my health since then. I just feel like something isn’t right. A month or after that I started getting migrating joint pain. A deep achy feeling. Mostly in my elbows and knees sometimes in right ankle. Also extreme fatigue. I noticed it was worse the week before my period. I will hold on with one hand to the hallway walls when walking. A short time after all this started I was playing hide and seek with my son and I tried hiding under a desk. I immediately felt a sharp pain in my left upper abdomen/low chest. It felt like someone stabbed me with a knife. I started screaming and when I was able to wiggle free and stand up the pain just vanished. 10 out of 10 the worst pain I ever felt in my life. My husband thot I just strained a muscle. Time goes by and then I bend over in a sitting position to I pick something up and it happened again. I pop up and the pain goes away but it felt different. Like something was out of place or a mass sensation. It comes and goes like my fatigue and joint pain. At times there is a sensation of moving in my abdomen/chest with the pain. I saw multiple doctors. I initially thought the movement was a hiatal hernia but after my EGD I realized I was have muscle spasms in my lower chest area. I have a negative Ana. Negative for lupus and Lyme disease. My doctor sent me to a endocrinologist who said my blood showed no endocrine issue. I went to a GI doctor and they ruled out a hiatal hernia. I had rib X-rays chest X-rays left elbow X-rays CT chest and abdomen ultrasound and all were negative. I went to my obgyn and ruled out peri menopause. My GI doctor mentioned I should see a rheumatologist, neurologist or MSK doctor. I don’t know which I should try and see. I am not even sure if the chest spasms are related to the fatigue and joint pain or just a nerve issue. I have tried drinking more fluids and club soda. Any ideas on where I should go from here?

Female | 43 years old
Complaint duration: 3 years
Medications: None
Conditions: Fatigue, joint pain, muscle spasms

1 Answer

I agree you should see a rheumatologist to make sure you are not developing a seronegative arthritis. Blood tests are usually negative with this arthritis. If you have any vision change, you should also see an Ophthalmologist.