HELP!!!!!!!!!! I have R A and I really can't seem to get any answers as to why I feel as bad as I do.Along with the RA I have FM. What I don't understand is why my blood presure is high,my kidneys hurt, and know this is a stretch but even my chest hurts from time to time. My Rhumy had me on Meth. but it made me so fatigued that he took me off of it. I just really need to talk with someone who has dealt with this. I almost feel like this is going beyound just my joints. My understanding is that RA can affect just about any part of the body, certainly not just joints. Did your doctor give you folic acid or leucovorin along with the MTX to help with fatigue? What does he have you on now? Please try not to be discouraged. Sometimes it takes a while to get the right mix of medications to get your disease under control. As long as your doctor is continuing to try different things, you're on the road to recovery. And we'll be there to help you along the way. Keep posting your questions and concerns. Welcome aboard ~~ we all made that same first post. Cathy
RA is systemic which means it goes thru your system. I often feel like I have the flu. It is a daily thing for me and I just adjust. I'm sorry you are feeling poorly. You are not alone. Hang in there....
Phats
Hi and welcome Peanut. Phatgirl is right about RA being a systemic disease. I have pulmonary and cardiac involvement. Also, it's not uncommon to have RA in the rib area, it's called costochronditis. I ended up in the ER due to chest pain, admitted to the hospital for 2 days and it turned out to be RA. Your BP may be high due to other health issues, and the kidney pain could be an infection, or spinal and muscle pain in the kidney area.
You need to have a heart to heart with your RD, if you haven't already. Are you on BP meds? There are many other meds you can take to slow the progression of the RA. It's essential that the progression be slowed due to the damage that can be done.
There is fatigue with MXT for some patients but usually you can work your way through it. How long were you on MXT and were you given Folic Acid or Leucovorin to take with it?
Are you on any RA meds? Lindy
Hi Peanut and welcome. Glad you found us, bit not good that you had to (if you know what I mean_)!! It's always pretty difficult to cope with a new diagnosis, and fatigue is certainly a big part of our "affliction). Along with all the other crazy stuff that is happening.
Hi Peanut, sorry you got this awful disease but you came to the right place for answers. RA can cause stress and depression too which can cause your blood pressure to go up. That's what happened to me. I never had trouble until after my ra dx. I wish you well and hope you have a better 2008.
take care
Hi Peanut and WELCOME!!!! As the others have said, these are all symtoms of ra, how log were you on the mtx, it does take sometime to get use to it. A good vitamin is suggested along with the folic acid, there are other meds that can be used, also, to help slow down the progression of ra. Does the dr have you on nsaids for pain?? Your bp could be up due to the stress of ra too. It is very daunting and frightening to realise that your life is changing, the best thing I can say is read up on ra and fm, the library had many excellent books on the subjects and Barnes and Nobles has several too, if you would like to buy one to have at home. Again Welcome and I am glad to meet, hang in there. meme