New to RA | Arthritis Information

 

Thanks

mizmouse

Welcome to the forums, sorry you have been diagnosed with RA. Hope it's not too nasty to you. Not sure what the hydrocloroquine is but I too am on mtx as well as other meds. Yes, it's true that you can get knocked flat for some time. With RA, the immune system has become confused and attacks itself so therefore will attack good cells as well as bad ones. Generally any kind of cold or infection can  in some people be harder on you than on normally healthy people. Mtx too suppresses the immune system so that it won't attack itself and therefore can leave you open to sickness such as colds, flus and the rest. You need to take good care of yourself, listen to your body and get plenty of rest.  I have found that doing that helps in lots of ways. Keep asking questions and learning all you can from different peoples experiences and you'll be well informed.  The best idea when diagnosed is to ask your doctor heaps of questions - make a list, maybe read up at the local library and then go by what your body does as there are effects some people have that others don't so it is very difficult to say what can happen. Take care.

I haven't seen an increase in illness yet as a result of meds, but this is also my first winter with RA and winter isn't over, so that may change.    It's a good wake-up call to take better care of yourself - get plenty of rest, eat healthy and exercise (I haven't done well on that one yet)     I've been on this board for just a week or so, but seems like it's a great group of people with lots of experience to offer, so be sure and post often.

 

Take care

Cathy

 

And that was going to be my goal for Lent.  Sigh.  Just don't like exercise.

 

Hey Mouse and welcome -

 

Some of us don't believe in the hyperactive immune theory.  We believe our bodies are fighting an intracellular infection and not reaching it.  From posts, I'd guess, that it's split 50/50 on sickly or not sickly prior to diagnosis.

 

I think we buy into the 'body attacking itself' version if you were NOT a sickly person pre-RA. I WAS a sickly (meaning ALWAYS getting colds, flu, strep, pneumonia) so that sent me over to the AP (antibiotic protocol) side.   Imagine my surprise finding even on AP boards the sickly/not sickly ratio is still the same.

 

Anyway, enough babbling, just I find myself a lot less sickly since I've been diagnosed.  I like that.

 

Welcome,

 

Pip

 

I haven't noticed a difference when I get a cold etc.....but what I have noticed is that I don't seem to get sick as often as I once did.

 

Kelly