Hello, I'm new here | Arthritis Information

I am glad to have found this forum to learn more about my RA and how others deal with this disease.  I was diagnosed officially one year ago, but I still haven't made any decisions about how to deal with it.  I am 52 and live a fairly healthy lifestyle and always have.  I am a little angry that life seems to be hitting me with one health scare after another.  Three years ago it was cancer and now this.  Thank God the cancer is gone, so I have been blessed with that at least.  Anyway, the first rheumy I went to said my toes were washing away or something and that scared the heck out of me.  He gave me a prescription for methotrexate and told me to read about it on the internet.  So I filled the prescription and then I did some research. Everything I read scared the heck out of me. and I decided to do nothing and wear comfortable shoes and see how it goes.  Now a year later I realize that was probably a bad decision.  I now have swollen knees, wrists, and fingers along with my toes. (I can't even find comfortable shoes anymore either. )  I went to another rheumy for a second opinion and hopefully a prescription for a safer drug.  He pretty much said the same thing, but he was more reasurring about the methotrexate,  I again filled the prescription, but I am afraid to go on it. My husband is no help either because he says the cure might be worse than the disease.  He is a good guy, but not a shoulder to lean on when things go bad.  

 

 I was working full time and was on my feet all day, so I quit hoping it would get better.  The opposite happened and now I feel worse, especially after resting for a time.  I still have good days, but also bad ones.  I apologize because I know that I am being wordy.  I am looking for advice and support and just want to thank you all for posting your own courageous stories.