spiderdust

Does anyone know if a cane counts as your one personal item in addition to your carry-on bag when flying, or would one be able to board with, say, a carry-on bag, a purse, AND a cane?

I'm taking the cane for the trip because I'm sure I'm going to need it (especially at the fair in Missouri), but it won't collapse small enough to fit in my suitcase, plus I might need it at the actual airport.

I checked the airline's website, and while it mentions that you may have a personal item (such as a purse, or a briefcase) in addition to your carry-on, and it mentions that canes, walkers, and oxygen tanks are items that you may bring on board (even though they exceed the size restrictions), it's unclear as to whether or not you can bring a cane in addition to a carry-on bag and a personal item.

Help?

That's what I've just been prescribed for my fibromyalgia. Anyone familiar with it?

The doctor also thinks I have fibromyalgia. :/

He's also having me retested for thyroid issues, rheumatoid arthritis, and elevated levels of uric acid. They're all going to come back negative again, but he just wanted to cover the bases.

Apparently he's checked me for lupus before. I didn't know that. Thankfully, that was negative too.

So what does all this mean?

For starters, it means that he doesn't think it's in my head either.
It also means that while there are some treatment options out there, there's not a whole lot that can be done about it. Diet, rest, and exercise can slow it down somewhat, but they won't cure it. Since no one really knows what causes it, no one really knows how to fix it.

My blood tests for rheumatoid factor came back negative this time.
(Which means my previous physician misdiagnosed me when she told me I had rheumatoid arthritis.)

So I'm not sure what we'll look at next. Possibly osteoarthritis? I don't know. What else shares symptoms with RA? Obviously something's not right, otherwise I wouldn't have to use a wheelchair when I go to the mall in the winter & be in excruciating pain when I get up in the mornings.

I'm both relieved and annoyed that the rheumatoid factor tests came back negative. Relieved, because it means I don't have an autoimmune disease that will eventually affect my internal organs. Annoyed, because I still don't know what the hell is wrong... again.

This is part of why I've been making the effort to exercise lately. I figure it can't hurt (much) and it's supposed to help.