I think I have arthritis
 

Or it could be gout.

The reason it may turn out to be a problem is that it is in my hands more than anywhere. Particularly in the joints of my first two fingers of my left hand. Today the pain is so bad I could barely hold a pen and have to use the other hand for my coffee cup. :(

Check with a doctor to make sure it's not rheumatoid arthritis (i.e., the autoimmune disease, rather than the typical joint inflammation resulting from age.) On the one hand, rheumatoid arthritis can get a lot more severe than regular arthritis, but on the other hand, there are more treatment options beyond just painkillers.

Sounds like me, only I am calling it Repetitive Stress Injury. I hold a vibrating steering wheel all day every day and it may be taking it's toll. I use my left hand for this more than the right, as the right has to shift while the left controls steering. Thus, my left hand seems to be affected while my right is not (yet).
I plan to ask a doctor about it as soon as I find one willing to treat me.

Yes, I am going to see a doc tomorrow hopefully.

Good luck with the doc. Bee venom seems to be all the rage. I've heard of beekeepers leaving parts of their body uncovered to get it the old-fashioned way. Of course you could have a reaction... I got stung 3 times in the ankle populating my hives over the weekend and have some localized swelling.

Because of your gender identity? This is bullshit and I'm sorry you have to deal with it. You would think doctors would be the last people to discriminate this way.

good question and good answer.

Although, it's always been the doctor's choice to accept a given patient based on a number of factors, current patient load, type of insurance, etc. Not in an emergency room situation, of course, but that's not the scenario in question here.

If you go to bed with Ben Gay you won't wake up with Arthur Itis. Or something like that.

Probably because she's a scumbag truck driver taking up half the damn parking lot, and stinkin' up the place with that idling diesel. http://cellar.org/2012/bwekk.gif

Same thing happens with chainsaws. After I sold the tree trimming business, it was two years before my hands felt "right".

One of them, at any rate.

HA! This is why i love you Bruce.

Depends on whom you ask. The doctors claim they are not seeing new patients. Twice, they said this after telling me they would see me. Then, after one appointment, suddenly, they couldn't fit me in anymore. Others no longer accept my insurance. Several told me point blank that they would treat my thyroid but not my hormone needs as they do not believe in that condition.

Needless to say, I did not accept that.

I went through five doctors last year. I plan to discuss this with my health plan in great detail, and find out if they would cover blood work and scrips if *I* pay for the doctor myself.

You probably need to move to NYC or LA where you are the norm not the Pamela, as it were.

If you have to stay in Texas, Austin is your best bet. A lot of doctors here will see you in person just once a year and do the rest of the appointments by phone or Skype...