Hello... My name is Lori and I am 44 years old. I was diagnosed with RA in Oct. of 2006 after going to various Drs. because of a swollen knee, which I thought was caused by my running 6 miles a day. When I got the actual diagnosis, honestly I felt like someone had just told me my life was over. I have NEVER in my entire life known depression until my diagnosis. I was SO afraid! I knew NOTHING about the disease. I was in the darkest, darkest place in my life I had ever been... I'm sure a lot of you know what I am talking about.
Well, it is now more than a year later, and I can say I've had my ups and downs...but mostly ups. I have learned to appreciate the good days and thank God for them. I continue to lift weights 5 days a week and do 1 hour of cardio 5 days a week as well. I work at a Fitness Center so it is important that I keep up...even on days when I don't really feel up to it, I continue, and I do believe it makes me feel better.
I am wondering what I can expect from this disease?...so far I feel that I have been very fortunate. I have had no swelling of any joints since Oct. of 2006, although at times I do feel stiff. Do people always progress with the disease or has it been known to not progress? I don't feel as if I have progressed in the year that I have had it. Although I can say that I have had times where I feel like I have the flu and am achey...this can last sometimes for 5 days or so... But never any swelling. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to happen to me? I am so confused!
Currently I am taking 15mg of MTX once a week and 25mg of Plaqanil twice a day. I feel that my Rheumatologist is very good. She is all about agressively treating to make sure no damage is done. I am also taking various vitamins...the one I am mainly interested about is Fish Oil. Currently I am taking 8-12 1200mg per pill. I feel that it is helping some with the joint pain I occasionally feel. I'm just not sure if that is the right amount I should be taking...and if that is ok should I take them all at once or break them up and take them twice a day?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I don't know much about this disease, but I do know this much. I REFUSE to let it control my life! I intend to live life to the fullest and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Peace and Love, Lori Hey Lori! Welcome! You sound very fortunate and sound like you are very controlled right from the get go! Congrats! The only thing I can say off the top of my new and exciting head cold is...make sure that the rheumy takes X-rays to be sure of what is going on inside. I didn't have a lot of swelling either but it seems to be uncommon and no swelling doesn't necessarily mean no damage. I'm like you - ain't no way I'm letting this disease control my life. Pip Pip!
Thank you for the quick reply! Can you tell me some about your meds? I am interested in alternative medicines and some of yours look herbal or natural to me although I cannot say for sure. What is Salsalate and Protonix? What does Milk Thistle do for you? Also I think Minocin is something my daughter used to be on when she went to the dermatologist although I can't be sure. Can you tell me how far into your RA you are and what your treatment protocol consists of in more detail? That is if I am not being too demanding... I am just curious and want to learn as MUCH as I can about this terrible disease! Hi Lori and welcome to the site. There's lots of people that visit here and are going through the same things. Everyone is different and this disease is so unpredictable. Some don't have it severely, others do, some are somewhere in the middle. It hit me pretty hard over two years ago and I just now am getting where I feel in control and am feeling better. I also found for myself that I will always have aches and pains when there is precipatation, be it rain, snow, or sleet. Which we have had all of the last few days. Take care, and keep on asking, there are lots of peoples here that care and will answer (better than my answer LOL). Sorry, after I posted I went to bed. I'm west coast on an east coast time schedule. LOL OK - the folic acid is really common for us especially when we are on a lot of our meds. MTX is something they usually prescribe it with; it helps with the hair loss. I'm not on MTX but my AP doc added in diflucan which also has hair loss altho I must admit I was on it before that - had that big, bushy old lady hair starting and I'm much to vain for that! LOL Salsalate is aspirin without the stomach irritating part (or as much of it) so that's my anti-inflam(matory). Protonix is a med to reduce stomach acid. I really want off of this one for a variety of reasons including the side effect profile says almost all of it's side effects are what I was experiencing at diagnosis. I tried to get off but ended up throwing up buckets of bile - so - I apparently need this one. I reduced it to 1/2 my original dosage but I want it gone. It really interferes with the natural way the stomack is supposed to work - but I have stomach errosions that haven't healed yet (I'm guessing) and until that's fixed I need the Protonix. Milk Thistle is an herb that helps clean the liver, the bodies main detox organ. For those of us on AP, or those with elevated liver enzymes, this herb helps our bodies process the bad stuff out. And of course, I want the baddies out! Minocin is the same stuff they gave yor daughter for acne. It's a mild antibiotic that is an approved DMARD for RA according to the ACR but amazingly we get told it will cause us Lupus or Hepatitis or a host of other bad things and maybe we should try the biologics. Seriously, it makes my blood boil JMHO. I also consider it one of the safest drugs for us according to the PDR and side effect profile sheets. There are two schools in the autoimmune wars - 1) your body is attacking itself and 2) your body is attacking an intracellular infection in your white blood cells; the very cells designed to protect you from infection. I'm firmly in camp 2. :-0 For more information check out www.roadback.org. Your Plaq is works to kill a spirochette in Malaria. Many people post the same side effects with it in the beginning as with Minocin. I kept saying Plaq was an antimicrobial and Buckeye corrected me but I haven't had my tea this morning yet and my brain is still sleeping. If she sees this, maybe she'll correct me. Antifungal? No...but something to do with little germs. LOL Later today I'll try to correct my signature because I'm also on Grapefruit Seed Extract, a natural antiviral and still haven't started but have Oil of Oregano for the same thing. Does this help? Any questions? Hugs, Pip Every persons RA is different, I say make the most of the good times...and take the bad days with a grain of salt. Rest up, veg out..and know that it will pass eventually.
I was diagnosed four years ago and I was considered moderate to severe. A lot of people progress slowly, and some progress quickly. I started out with very fast progression but I was able to slow it down with aggressive dietary therapy in conjunction with DMARDs.
Currently I take Enbrel and sulfasalazine. I am on no pain medications or steroids, which is GREAT. I think I will be able to step down with my meds again in a few months if I continue the way I'm going.
I have a link to my blog in my sig if you want to check out some of the dietary stuff I do.
Susan :)
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com