Hello - I have been lurking for quite awhile and decided to finally post. I was recently diagnosed with RA in April of this year and wanted to say thank you to all of the posters who share their experiences on this forum. I have learned a lot about the disease process here and I am really grateful. Before I was diagnosed, I spent nearly a year feeling like I was a hypochodriac and going a little crazy. My blood tests were negative and each doctor I saw told me a variation of the same thing: Well, your 40 now so you can expect some aches and pains. Hmmm.... My current rheumy told me the anti-CCP antibody was positive and that I do indeed have RA. I knew I wasn't crazy.
I started on 400 mg. Plaquenil when I was diagnosed, but within a couple of months I felt like I was having more symptoms. My doctor layered on 17.5 mg of MTX, and at my last visit in August he added Humira. I am trying to remain optimistic that eventually something is going to start working. I just don't know how good I am supposed to expect to feel, so I just take it a day at a time. Today is not so good. Oh well.
I look forward to posting with you all.
Welcome!!! I'm glad you decided to come out of the shadows
Although when I look back, their were milder symtoms since at least last summer. Stuff I just blew off. I remember last Christmas telling my bro-in-law that I thought I was getting arthritis in my fingers because they hurt when I bent them. It went away though, and I forgot all about it.
Anyway, I just wanted to say hello. So, hello!
Linda
Welcome graciesmom and I hope you get to feeling better today. Being optimistic can be really hard sometimes but having a positive attitude has, I believe, truly helped me through some trying times with this disease. I hope that you and your docs can get this under control before any damage can be done. Starting off being optimistic is a great thing. Keep it up and educate yourself with all you can about your illness.
Once again, welcome and good luck to you!
Graciesmom,
Hello and welcome. I sill wonder how I should expect to feel. I asked RD on one of my visits and he said I should expect to feel like I did before ever having RA. I actually believed him for a little while. I do not think we will ever be pre-RA but we should strive to be as pain free as possible, and to get as much of or life back as we can.
I hope your meds give you relief (be patient everything is wait and see)!
Jay
I'm kinda new also Graciesmom. Just wanted to say Hi and welcome.
Welcome Graciesmom! you've come to a great place, there are a lot of wonderful people here... Hi Graciesmom, I''m also new to this site. I was recentlly diagnosed with RA about 3 months ago. My Rhumie has me on Methotrexate, Folic Acid, and Enbrel. My sed rate went down from 59 to 40, but the pain is still there. She upped from one shot a week to two shots a week, which I take on Tuesday and Friday. I do find the pain is manageable, not as bad as it was. I also have Fibromyalgia. My new Rhumie told me that I've had the RA for about17 yrs. I sure hope your pain gets better. I know this is as new to you as it is to me. If you want to, post me when you want to talk. I don't know if you have depression or not, but I do. Some days are better than others. Good luck to you, and I hope to hear from you. Dotti51Hi there Graciesmom and welcome the the best arthritis group on the internet! Just ask and you shall receive.Wecome!! I'm sorry you have to be here, but since you do, you've come to the right place!!
I also wondered what I could expect to feel once the treatment is supposedly working. I'm hoping to feel the same as I did before all this nonesence started, but I'm not sure that's realistic. I wonder if anyone out there has come to a place where they feel as good as before they came down with RA.
Anyhoo, we're here for you!
I come and go from the board - riding the rollercoaster of having our 7yo daughter sick and undiagnosed.
This board is so incredibly helpful and supprtive - just when you think you are going crazy - someone else has a similar experience and it makes it all feel better.
Hope your day now is better!
Wow, thanks for the welcome everybody. I appreciate your words of encouragement and help. Dotti51 I did have some depression issues, though nothing severe, but they have gotten better since I was diagnosed. Nothing was more frustrating that being told repeatedly there is no reason for your pain. mystery illness, I hope you are blessed with a diagnosis for your daughter soon. I am a mother as well and know there is no greater worry than when your child is ill.
Thanks again everyone. And, yes my day did get better, but now I have hit the wall of exhaustion that I know many of you are familiar with. So I will say good night.
Hello and welcome. I remember being told that I was 45 and getting older and that is why I was in pain. Grrrrr that made me mad. I am glad you are being treated.
Hi Graciesmom and the other new members and WELCOME! I hope you all get your meds working for you and wish you many painfree good days.
Best Wishes to you all!
Hi Graciesmom, welcome from down under.