New Member | Arthritis Information

Hi! I just found this site. I have a very supportive husband and family but they don't experience what I do and don't always understand. It's good to hear of others who truly KNOW.

For me, I went the round of doctors who tried to give me pain pills and antidepressants (refused all) and said I didnt have RA because the pain moved around and I didnt have the classic touch spots (even after I told the dr I wasn't currently flared up). It took me getting hysterical in the doctors office saying I didnt want pain pills I wanted my life back to finally get to see a doctor that had been recommended to me.

This doctor was amazing. So gentle so understanding. I was put on methotrexate & plaquinel and was basically happy for a year or so. It took a year of being back in pain and my doctors begging before I consented to go on Enbrel (I'm needle phobic). My next appointment I apologized to my rheumatologist for taking so long to see the light. Enbrel was amazing! A few months later, I briefly tried the once a week shots and was very unhappy. I'm back on the 2x week Enbrel and have been doing ok.

We've also tried a sleeping pill (can't remember name) that I hated because I felt drugged the next day. I'm currently on Lexapro which helps a lot.

Last fall the company I worked for shut down. I took the holiday season off then started job hunting. I was off work several months and I knew when I got back it would be rough. It's been awful. I get through the day mostly ok but I am totally exhausted by the time I get home. All I want to do is sleep but my sleep is intermittent and I generally wake up tired.

I'm getting by but that's it. It's hard to remember that I used to work and do things in the evenings.

I see my doctor on Wednesday. I'll talk to him about it.

Thanks for letting me vent :-)

Deborah

hi Deborah, welcome here, I always love to hear from a fellow venter
how is the ra at the moment - is it under control? I feel your frustration about the pain that moved about, that happened to me.

BTW, there are a lot of people on this board who have moved to rafriends.com, i can't get on just now because something's wrong with my pc, so stay here and talk to me, but copy your message there too because they are really really lovely people, they are great to talk to and i don't want you to miss out on their company. Great to hear from you.

I just posted there :-) Thanks for the suggestion.

Is RA ever really under control? Even when it doesnt hurt it seems like so many things set it off. I have dogs and they are great. Their love keeps my spirits up and there have been times the only thing that kept me moving was needing to care for them. Of course when one slams into my hands or bangs into me... sigh

But yeah.. it's mostly under control. I can dress myself (there have been times I couldn't) and I can take care of the dogs (ditto) and I'm working.

We have rain in the area today for the first time in months. My hand feels like it got slammed in a car door and I'm whinier than normal lol I should be glad my grass might look less dead.

Deborah

Welcome to AI Deborah.

glad to see you here, deborah we will all share your up and down times...as we all have them too.

mary

Welcome!

I always find a new job exhausting too. WELCOME DEBORAH

I'm kinda late with the welcomes...but wanted to say Hello...

Glad that you finally got the help you needed. I think that may be the hardest thing about having RA, is getting the right people to hear you and then get you to where you get some relief from all the pain and frustration.

Glad you went to see the rafriends site too. nice people there also...When ever you need someone to yak with, you have 2 great places to go too...Now that's what I call a winng number...

Toni

Hi Deborah... Welcome...I am a few days old here. Great support. A place to call home.

RozBuds

Welcome Deborah!!

Glad to see you found us and ra friends as well. I
have learned so much from the people here (& ra
friends)

Take care!

Mike