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About Amelia Yaussy
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer questions about systemic scleroderma and live and internet resources to help you cope with this disease. I have personal experince with scleroderma, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and Sjogren's Syndrome.

Experience
I am a systemic scleroderma patient (12 years) and have been active in support online for nearly the same amount of time. I proposed the Usenet newsgroup alt.support.scleroderma and own the website ihavescleroderma.com.

Organizations
I am a board member and volunteer for the Scleroderma Foundation, Ohio Chapter.

Publications
Arthritis Today, Sept 1997, "A guide to the internet"

Education/Credentials
International Webmasters Association, Web Technologies Certification

Awards and Honors
Volunteer of the Year, Scleroderma Foundation, 2004; Advocacy Appreciation Award, Scleroderma Foundation, 2005

   

You are here:  Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Rheumatology (including Arthritis)

Questions Answered By Expert  Amelia Yaussy 
In Category  Rheumatology (including Arthritis)

SubjectDate Asked

Please Help Me!!!8/21/2008
  Q: I work in a retail store and have rheumatoid arthritis in my feet real bad. I am trying to find a ...
  A: I've known of people with scleroderma losing padding on the bottoms of their feet using these - ...
Scleroderma and raynaud's7/15/2008
  Q: I'm now 23 and was diagnosed at age 21 with Hashimoto's thyroid disorder. By that winter I started ...
  A: I'm so sorry you're going through this, but I think you already know you need to continue to pursue ...
unusual ana pattern6/25/2008
  Q: I recently had testing for ANAs, and the results were 1:320, which I understand is relatively low, ...
  A: The only thing I can suggest is taking your file to another neurologist to see what s/he thinks. ...
unusual ana pattern6/24/2008
  Q: I recently had testing for ANAs, and the results were 1:320, which I understand is relatively low, ...
  A: At 1:320, your ANA is positive, but without signs and symptoms that point to scleroderma it's pretty ...
RA and Fibromyalgia6/5/2008
  Q: I was diagnosed about 9 months ago with Fibro. I was also tested for RA (which my mother had) and ...
  A: I don't know if your test results show a chance of RA, but here's the good news. You should be ...
mctd6/2/2008
  Q: I have a mctd which is causing me great complications. What is the best course of action in dealing ...
  A: I'm sorry you're having to deal with these complications. I encourage you to find a rheumatologist ...
scleroderma spreading5/30/2008
  Q: What are the chances of my localized,(linear), scleroderma becoming systemic? I was dignosed 35 ...
  A: The experts I've heard, read, and talked to say localized scleroderma doesn't "turn into" systemic. ...
Just discouraged...4/29/2008
  Q: Amelia...thanks for listening...I am just very discouraged today...I don't mean to complain, but I ...
  A: Tina, so sorry about your situation. I do know folks with multiple autoimmune diseases and, ...
lower arm/hand pain- Fibromyalgia?4/26/2008
  Q: I am a otherwise healthy 48 year old, slim built woman, and I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia ...
  A: There is a common osteoarthritis in the base of the thumbs - my mom with fibromyalgia has it and ...
scleroderma4/13/2008
  Q: I tested positively for ANA two times, so this time my doctor continued with testing to see what ...
  A: Joint pain in scleroderma/fibromyalgia for me is always bilateral - if one wrist hurts, they both ...
scleroderma4/13/2008
  Q: I tested positively for ANA two times, so this time my doctor continued with testing to see what ...
  A: Here's what the American College of Rheumatology says - "As discussed above, most patients with a ...
leg pain4/7/2008
  Q: My legs feel like cement is holding down. It hurts to pick something off the floor or to sit in a ...
  A: Did your doctor say what type of arthritis? If it's osteoarthritis, you're doing the right thing by ...
scleroderma CREST mctd?3/24/2008
  Q: 9 months ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but subsequent unanswered symptoms including ...
  A: Angie, yes, you are pursuing the right course. Sometimes it takes someone especially experienced ...
crests syndrome2/17/2008
  Q: I don't know if you can help me or not but I thought I would give you a try! My 56 year old sister ...
  A: I'm hoping you live within a reasonable distance of one of the scleroderma treatment centers on the ...
leg pain2/10/2008
  Q: I am a 50 year old female. About 3 years ago I noticed what I think is arthritis in my hands. I ...
  A: There are so many possibilities. I know it's tough when you own your own business to find the time ...
Scleroderma2/8/2008
  Q: My good friend has had the disease for about 13 years, she's 64 and was told she's in "end stage". ...
  A: Yes, she should see a scleroderma specialist. A scleroderma specialist sees hundreds of patients ...
hi ana levels2/1/2008
  Q: my dr did a blood test to see if ihad arthritis and what kind plus xrays. he called and said i was ...
  A: Your doctor didn't send you to a rheumatologist because of positive ANAs - he sent you because of ...
RF positive1/29/2008
  Q: For the past two years I have suffered extreme fatigue with painful joint all over the body, this ...
  A: I'm not sure why your RF would be positive at 19.7. It depends on the range that lab uses, and ...
morphea1/17/2008
  Q: Amelia - I was recently diagnosed with Morphea. I've had spots for years and finally found a ...
  A: There is a scleroderma specialist (rheumatologist) at the Cleveland Clinic and the Medical ...
preserving successful treatment for chronic non-cancer pain sufferer1/11/2008
  Q: I saw in your bio that you have personal experience with FM, Sjogren's, OA, etc. You know how ...
  A: Not being a lawyer, I have no idea how binding her Dr/Patient agreement is (or even _what_ it is.) ...
ANA levels in bloodwork1/4/2008
  Q: My Doctor referred me to a Rheumatologist after having bloodwork done during my annual exam. She ...
  A: You're not mentioning any symptoms that may have caused your doctor to test for antinuclear ...
LUPUS / Autoimmune Disease1/4/2008
  Q: Post our honey moon in July 2007, my wife has broken out into a rash on her body, has severe joint ...
  A: I'm so sorry your wife is in pain. I hope you can find relief soon. You can always find a ...
fibromyalgia12/16/2007
  Q: I am a 52 year old woman,with a fairly active lifestyle. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 5 years ...
  A: This was really interesting to look into. Recent studies I see are divided about whether or not the ...
Scleroderma Odds11/25/2007
  Q: What are the odds that I might have scleroderma? History: Raynauds for approx.10 yrs but recent ...
  A: Trigeminal neuralgia is, rarely, a nerve involvement in scleroderma, but of course, it occurs on its ...
Scleroderma Odds11/24/2007
  Q: What are the odds that I might have scleroderma? History: Raynauds for approx.10 yrs but recent ...
  A: There are about 303 million people in the US and between 75,000-100,000 people with systemic ...
lupus like symptoms, but ANA neg10/26/2007
  Q: I am a 28 yr old female who has been experiencing strange symptoms for the past year and a half. It ...
  A: Your negative ANA does support the idea that it's not an autoimmune disease - for now. But that ...
Fibromyalgia, MS...or other?10/19/2007
  Q: I have had symptoms for some 6 months following a bad flu episode. My muscles (mainly legs) become ...
  A: I understand your anxiety - nothing is more frightening than knowing something is wrong but having ...
Hips10/15/2007
  Q: I have just started a degree course in Contemporary Dance and for the first time in my life my hips ...
  A: I'm not sure what you mean by "clicking," but if you're feeling discomfort during dance in a degree ...
Knuckle Pain/hand Pain10/8/2007
  Q: First let me state I cook for a living.. Second.. I've been diagnosed with Tendonitis/Bursitis in my ...
  A: An MRI of the spine won't tell you if you have arthritis in the hands. Osteoarthritis is more ...
rheumatoid arthritus10/1/2007
  Q: I HAVE SUFFERED FROM RA FOR ABOUT 6=7 YEARS, CAN YOU SUFFER FROM OESTEOARTHRITUS AS WELL AS ...
  A: The Arthritis Foundation has a good brochure about the differences between rheumatoid arthritis and ...
Arthritis and glocosomine9/24/2007
  Q: My wife has severe pain from Ankylosing Spondilitis and wanted to try glocosomine but found the ...
  A: I don't know of any information on using glucosamine for ankylosing spondylitis. It's an ...
Arthritis9/14/2007
  Q: Can you be diagnosed with arthritis from an e-ray of the area? In other words can a doctor see ...
  A: You mean an x-ray? Yes! This can show narrowing of the space between joints in osteoarthritis, ...
Arthritis9/10/2007
  Q: I am 48-healthy woman. Exercise daily, work full-time, great husband and I'm an equesterian. Thin ...
  A: Your complaints aren't vague. Vasculitis can be secondary to autoimmune disease, and your newer ...
Fibromyalgia8/6/2007
  Q: Ok.. I have been sick forEVER!! Since they couldn't find anything wrong with me after about 8 years ...
  A: I'm so sorry for all the pain and trouble you're going through. Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of ...
IPL and scleroderma7/25/2007
  Q: I have overlap connective tissue disease, including CREST. My symptoms are not severe and the ...
  A: Take this for what it's worth - I'm not a doctor and I've never had IPL. You don't say, but I ...
elevated CPK level, not sure which7/11/2007
  Q: As part of an in depth physical at the Mayo Clinic to determine the cause of my year+ exhaustion, ...
  A: Sounds like the retest is a good idea, since elevated CPK levels can occur in a lot of conditions. ...
Inflammation of bones in foot6/30/2007
  Q: Yaussy, I think I have some form of arthritis in my foot. Inside the ball of my foot. It's ...
  A: See your doctor for a complete diagnosis of your pain and to discuss the use of anti-inflammatories. ...
scleroderma6/18/2007
  Q: I am a 28 year old female with anxiety. i am scared I have scleroderma, but I dont know if it is ...
  A: 95% of systemic scleroderma patients have Raynaud's phenomenon. This isn't just tingling or ...
osteo/arthritis6/6/2007
  Q: I'm female,51yrs, overweight, smoker, finished menopause about 6yrs ago. I have Arthritis in a few ...
  A: I'm so sorry you're in pain. Your doctor should be able to determine if the pain is related to the ...
Damp Living Conditions5/13/2007
  Q: Living in a totally underground basement which is damp and humid in the weather conditions of nyc, ...
  A: I can't imagine any way that dampness would cause cartilage inside a joint to break down, which is ...
scleroderma5/3/2007
  Q: I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet, but it seems I have a lot of the symptoms for the last 7 ...
  A: In my case, reflux was first, then Raynaud's. Raynaud's was in Nov, followed by swelling and ...
back and joint pain5/3/2007
  Q: I am 18 years old, about 5ft 8in tall, 133 lbs, in graet athletic shape however, I have had severe ...
  A: I'm sorry you're in pain. If you were diagnosed with osetoarthritis, it's not something you grow ...
scleroderma5/3/2007
  Q: I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet, but it seems I have a lot of the symptoms for the last 7 ...
  A: Only about 2-4% of people with systemic scleroderma don't have Raynaud's, but it does happen, and ...
Sunburn and Joint Pain5/2/2007
  Q: I am 50 years old and have arthritis. It usually doesn't give me too much trouble unless I overwork ...
  A: Hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease, like lupus, and it's not uncommon to have AI diseases group ...
Sunburn and Joint Pain5/1/2007
  Q: I am 50 years old and have arthritis. It usually doesn't give me too much trouble unless I overwork ...
  A: What sort of arthritis do you have? The only connection I can think of with osteoarthritis is that ...
arthritis5/1/2007
  Q: i am 55yr old and have had few mild eposodes of arthritis in my life. like stiffness in the knees ...
  A: I'm so sorry you're in pain. Waking up at night from pain is not normal. You should see your ...
Is it Arthritis?3/12/2007
  Q: I have terrible pain in both wrist and knees and the movement is getting stiffer and more painful. A ...
  A: I'm sorry you're in pain. Continue to work with your doctor to rule out other diseases that cause ...
Cycling and Arthritis of Hip2/6/2007
  Q: I have early arthritis of the hip. I am starting to cycle again and wonder if this will agravate or ...
  A: Keith, I have arthritis in the hips, too, and had a difficult time finding the right exercise. I ...
Lab tes2/3/2007
  Q: I have been trying to find information about a lab test I had draw. My Rheumatologist has been ...
  A: This website explains ANA blood tests, used for diagnosing autoimmune diseases. There's an ...
joint pain1/23/2007
  Q: Is there a specific name for the sort of joint pain that seems ot move around from night to night ...
  A: I'm so sorry you're in pain. The only pain I've experienced that moved around is pain from ...
Regarding positive RA blood test12/19/2006
  Q: I also had a positive RA blood test and have been doctoring for different pains in my legs, knees, ...
  A: It may be worth a second opinion from another rheumatologist, if your insurance will allow it. If ...
Arthritis11/20/2006
  Q: Is there any treatment for arthritis for a 75 year old female,who also happens to be a blood ...
  A: I'm going to assume high blood pressure is your problem and the arthritis is osteoarthritis. I have ...
Osteo-arthritis pain11/17/2006
  Q: I have fibromyalgia and other stuff. I also have moderate osteo-arthritis in both knees, I am in ...
  A: I've heard for years about how moderate exercise can help with both osteoarthritis and ...
degenerative arthritis11/1/2006
  Q: What does degenerative disease have to do with intestinal problems
  A: If you mean degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, nothing that I know of. However, having ...
SCLERADERMA WITH DIABETES10/27/2006
  Q: I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SCLERADERMA 4 YEARS AGO AND IT SEEMS THAT I CONTINUE TO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS ...
  A: There are some promising treatments for severe, life-threatening scleroderma and complications of ...
RA/Scleraderma10/22/2006
  Q: I was diagnosed several years back with undifferentiated autoimmune dissease. A Rheumatoligist ...
  A: You don't say anything about Raynaud's attacks. 98% of people with scleroderma have Raynaud's, and ...
possible arthritis9/18/2006
  Q: Two-fold question which is I am feeling pain in my hands and thembs if I hold onto anything with ...
  A: Have you reported your hand pain to your doctor? If it's a new symptom, call her/him and make an ...
other possibilities????9/14/2006
  Q: Sorry to bother you again but I went to see my doctor's nurse practiner today since my doctor wasn't ...
  A: I wish I could just tell you what's going on, but of course I can't. That's what your doctor is ...
scleroderma9/13/2006
  Q: i have been diagnosed with scleroderma. My consultant put me on methotrexate. I have also been ...
  A: You don't say what type you've been diagnosed with. Localized scleroderma has few complications, ...
other possibilities????9/10/2006
  Q: Bit of background, I'm 29 yr. old female. Have huge level of anxiety and obessive complusive ...
  A: Scleroderma is not a fatal disease. It can be life-threatening in some people, but the vast ...
Hip Pain8/19/2006
  Q: For the past few months I have had a dull ache in my left hip which sometimes extends into my pelvic ...
  A: I'm sorry you're in pain, and I know how frustrating it can be. My hip arthritis hurts with ...
tendon and joint pain7/15/2006
  Q: I am an avid runner and boxer. I run 3-7 miles a day, and go to the gym and punch for about an hour ...
  A: As a former avid runner myself, I know how important your training is and how annoying it can be to ...
ARTHRITIS(Type of)7/11/2006
  Q: Over the past 6 years i have experienced 5 or 6 episodes of what i originally believed was gout. The ...
  A: This info from NIAMS (the part of the NIH concerned with arthritis) names the areas where gout can ...
CK levels~aldolase~uric acid Too HIGH????7/4/2006
  Q: I hope you can answer the questions I have after getting my blood work results. My CK level is ...
  A: Blood test results are just a part of the diagnosis and treatment process. It's best to talk to ...
head and neck pain7/4/2006
  Q: brief history of myself now 65 yr old, since my teens sudden onset of kink in neck lasting several ...
  A: I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I agree you're not being diagnosed and, as a result, ...
rheamatoid arthritis6/27/2006
  Q: I am a 39 year old female in fairly good health. about 8 years ago I woke up feeling very sore and ...
  A: I'm not sure what your doc meant by a "carrier," but if you're having new symptoms, please make an ...
Popping problem6/20/2006
  Q: I don't know if this is relevant to your expertise. I have "popping" joints - joints that let a ...
  A: My popping jaw is caused by TMJ http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw209469 Ask your doctor ...
aarthritis in the ankles6/10/2006
  Q: I was wondering I have had this numbness for over a year about now, and I was at therapy to help my ...
  A: I'm so sorry you're struggling with pain. There are many reasons this could be happening. The ...
i have been diagnoised with...3/14/2006
  Q: i have been diagnoised with carpul tunnell althought i am having lots of pain in my fingers, ...
  A: The one symptom almost all of us with scleroderma have (97%) is Raynaud's Phenomenon. In Raynaud's, ...
Diffuse Scleroderma2/15/2006
  Q: Are you familiar with Dr. Brown's protocal using minocycline for treating scleroderma? Do you know ...
  A: >Are you familiar with Dr. Brown's protocal using minocycline for treating scleroderma? Yes. >Do ...
arthritis9/15/2005
  Q: I had a blood test with abnormal ANA levels and had to go to an arthritis specialist. He said I ...
  A: Don, if you don't feel this rheumatologist is helping you, go to another. No single test can ...

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