Hi everyone,
My wife is being sent to a rheumatologist due to soreness in both hands and wrists. My wife is 37 years old, and the soreness began about 6 weeks ago. She has a great aunt who has RA. In doing my research, it looks to me like a diagnosis of RA is likely. I was hoping that some people here could help provide some insight so I can prepare for what we may have ahead of us.
What kind of impairments of everyday life can we expect? How much of a difference is there between mild and severe RA? Given that we are going to be treating it early (it would seem), how much of a difference will that make? Is it the sort of thing where everyone who gets RA has to deal with significant impairments, or are there people who are able to live with RA without major problems? These are the types of questions that I have, and I hope that you guys can help me with them. You seem like a very caring and supportive group.
As you may have noticed, I am kinda panicked right now, so thank you in advance for any help that you could provide.
Dennis
Dennis - this is a great board and wonderful place to learn, but every case is so different, so please keep that in mind. The two people I know the best in 'the real world' with RA take mtx pills (and have for years) and don't really even think about their RA or have side effects, either.
I hope your wife has an easy time with diagnosis and meds and gets some relief soon. No matter what happens, you can only take one day at a time.
Hi Dennis.....it's good news for many people with an early RA diagnosis. That's because when it's caught before any damage can be done the meds they have now can prevent it from occuring. I was dx'd last spring and it hit me hard and seemingly out of the blue.
I take methotrexate and enbrel and my disease is pretty well managed with only occasional flares. I can do almost everything I used to do, although I do have some degree of pain, usually mild, most days.
I don't run like I used to, but I have adapted my exercise so that I still can work out almost as hard as I ever did. You'll find that no two stories are exactly alike, everyone responds differently to the meds, some need more, some need less. But I want you to be encouraged that RA isn't necessarily the devastation that it seems when you first get the diagnosis. I live a full, active and happy life with this disease.
By the way, I'm 44 years old and have severe RA. All the best to your wife. Please come back and keep us posted. Their is a wealth of knowledge and kindness and support here.
Just keep learning and asking questions and she will be fine.
When does she see the rheumy?
Pip
P.S. Check out www.roadback.org for a look at treating RA with antibiotics.
Many people (my sister being one) do very well after an RA diagnosis. Don't panic, there's so much to help with this disease these days. I'm sure you'll both feel better after you have some answers to what must be a hundred questions. And don't forget, we're always here to help you fill in other blanks along the way.
Hi Dennis and welcome to you and your wife to the board. I know you are kind of panicky right now (and that is totally normal) but take a deep breath relax. It sounds as if you are catching whatever is causing your wife's soreness very early which is a very good thing.
The severity and impariments of RA vary from person to person. Some people respond fantastically to their meds and some people go thru many combinations of meds before hitting upon the right one that puts them into remission. It can be months to several years to never that RA really severely impairs someone. The best thing I can tell you is that early treatment is key. Keep on doing mild exercise and eat a healthy diet. The difference between mild and severe RA is the amount of joint damage and for me, the amount of pain. People with severe RA can still function ok. I have severe RA and do ok. I don't work anymore and will be appyling for disability, but I still manage to do housework and raise our teenage daughters. Our girls are 22, 15, and 13. Our 22 and 13 year olds have been diagnosed with RA and we are waiting on lab work to find out about the 15 year old. I have better days than others but for the most part...I am ok and a pretty happy person. I didn't change over to severe RA overnight tho. I have had RA 15 years now.
You seem like a loving, caring, and supportive husband and that will be key for you and your wife if she does have RA. People with a chronic illness do go thru the stages of grief and so do their partners, spouses, and families. Here is a link to help you with the stages of grief and arthritis http://www.arthritis.ca/tips%20for%20living/dealing%20with%2 0emotions/arthritis%20and%20cycle%20of%20grief/default.asp?s =1 We also talk about when people have RA that go into remission. Here is a link explaining what remission is http://arthritis.about.com/od/arthqa/f/remission.htm
As far as impairments go, there are many great and helpful medical aids out on the market to help out people tha need a little extra help doing things either around the house or at work. We have several easy-to-use items in our house like a one touch can opener, a rubber thingie to help open jars, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner, etc. in pump bottles, some people change their faucet handles and door handles so that they are easier to use (twisting anything can be difficult), we all have heated blankets in the house to keep our joints toasty warm in the winter, we put commonly used kitchen and pantry items on the shelves that are easiest to reach, and here was an unexpected find to make life lots easier for me; a coffee maker that has that permanent filter basket. No more trying to pick apart those dang coffee filters with stiff wrists and fingers that don't want to do what the brain tells them to do. All I do is lift the permanent filter out of the asket it sits in...dump out the used grounds, wash it out, and refill it with new grounds! Oh yes, another I can't live without it item...one of those battery toothbrushes. Sometimes it is really hard to brush my teeth but the battery toothbrush makes it a breeze.
The main thing...just be there for her. And let her do what she feels up to doing. Otherwise she will start to feel like less of a wife and mother (if you have kids). Please keep us updated on how both of you are doing!
I just wanted to thank everyone for the kind and soothing words. I am actually feeling a good deal better than I was previously, which sounds funny for me to say, given that my wife is the one who is having the problems!
You guys really helped me calm down, and I appreciate it. No doubt, you people are a close-knit and compassionate group.
I will continue to keep everyone updated, and of course, any additional insight is appreicated.