Hello from Croatia | Arthritis Information

 

Hello everybody,

I am new here...and I was so pleased to find this site....I come from Croatia, one small country in transition (after war period) in EUROPE, that suffered a lot. I was dx with RA when I was 18, but it started years ago, actually I had joint deformity (elbow) when I was 16, so I really do not know the real beginning of it. Now I am 31, and finally I am able to learn about this disease. Four years ago I did not know anything about it actually. My rheumatologist did not speak a lot, just checked my blood results and gave some remedies, and that would it for the next two three or even more months. But fortunately he is retired now and I have one excellent doctor now. But I would like to ask you one thing, during this illness I have never experienced a lot of pain, swallowing and morning stiffness yes, but last year was the first one that I had some pain. That is what is strange to me, joint deformities are present (both elbows, and one small joint on my left hand), but I can say that I am able to manage all daily routines (i.e. I have a child (6 ), I work and I have supportive husband and excellent friends).
I wonder if there is anyone like me with similar condition? I do have some pains occasionally, i.e. weather change, especially fall and spring time, but in general I can say I am OK. Also, I would like to point out that since last year I really take care of food, i.e. what to eat and what not to eat...and since I have been eating mediterranan food with every day olive oil taking my blood results are excellent, and I am without any medication (except iron supplements) for two years. So, is it possible that I am in remission phase and does anyone know how long it could last?

Maybe I sound too confused, but in my country there is no such things like RA associations, forums or similar things... and I just wont to know more about RA, and share info with people who are familiar with it and who are keen to learn more about it.

At the end I would like to say hello to all of you and I do strongly believe that together we are much, much stronger...we have to keep on fighting...



P.S.
Sorry for the mistakes ...but keeping in touch with you I am sure that I will improve my English

 

WELCOME to our little world, Carmen,

I am sorry that RA had to bring you here, though...and your English is just fine. No need to apologize. 

I have trouble swallowing too.  Not all the time but mostly when the food seems to be drier and bulkier, like when I eat bagels or thick breads...I noticed if I take a few sips of water before I take a bite of food and then a few sips of water after swallowing, it does help some..... I also, make sure I don't swallow large amounts of food. 

There is another Syndrome that can follow RA and it is called Sojrens disease. you may want to look at this links. Which sometimes can affect our swallowing...  Just click on the links below.

http://www.medicinenet.com/sjogrens_syndrome/article.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&a mp;db=PubMed&list_uids=1763639&dopt=Abstract

If the swallowing problems continue and especially if it gets worse,  please see a doctor...It's best to know what we are dealing with, sooner than later.

So glad to have you on our board and hope that you enjoy your time when in our "little part of the world."  In time you will learn a lot about RA and what makes it and us tick.

Please come back and visit us often.

Waddles

(Toni)

 

Hi Carmen, welcome to the boards, I am pretty new here myself.  I was diagnosed about 15 years ago with PA, which is very similar to RA.  I also had a doctor that i couldn't stand, she had absolutely no bedside manner, treated me like a number, not a person.  She took a job in another province and referred me to another doctor in her place, the new doctor is wonderful, I think that is very important, since i have been with the new doctor, she has really changed around my meds to that i feel the best i have felt in 15 yrs.  About the remission.  If that is what is happening, there is no telling how long it could last, symptoms could come back anytime, or they could be gone forever.  I went into remission when i was 19, and the symptoms came back when i was 21, so I was pain and meds free for 2 yrs.  But keep up with taking care of your body and eating well and hopefully the symptoms will stay away for a long time.  If you ever have any other questions, i would be more that happy to try and answer them if i can.  talk to you soon.

Michelle

carmen, glad you found us, and welcome here.  I really don't have any information or answers for you.  but it sounds like whatever youre doing is working.  as michelle said, no one can say how long remission will last, or if it will come back everyone is so different, you can count on ra to be totally different from one person to another or... even one flare to another.

mary

Thanks for your answers, o boy, it is so nice when you are communicating with somebady who KNOWS, I can say it sounds like there is possibility...there is a chance...do you know what I mean. When you read about medical articals ref. to RA seems like it is the end of the world. Hope is very imortant.

Thanks to all of you! And we will fight!Carmen,  It sounds like your ra is not very aggressive.  That is a good thing.  Maybe you are in remission.  I was not sure if you meant swelling - inflammation or trouble swallowing - when you eat.  It is good you do not have a lot of pain.  It is the pain that is debilitating.  I have heard many have success with diet, maybe you are one of them.  What kind of medications were you on?  I just wanted to welcome you to the board.  It is such a privelege to meet people from all over the world that have similar issues.  Take care and stay in touch.  RoxanneAsw. to Roxy,

I meant swelling-inflammation, that are only present during the weather change or similar, and usually it goes out during the night or next day. As regarding my meds, I took only voltaren, gold salts..but I have never stayed longer than one year on meds...I was too young, I did not follow all instructions. You know, I was young and did not feel any kind of pain, and nobody explained to me the seriousness of this illness. But, taking in consideration my behaviour I can say that I am relly happy. Yes, I have some joints deformity, but now when am aware of my state and severity of situation only I can say trhat God was with me and still is.
Regarding my diet, I am not on any kind of strickt diet, but I just do not eat a lot of meat, sugar and sweet things, I eat a lot of raw fruit and vegetables, no white flour at all, I eat grains and etc., no processed food, fresh fish, especially sardines and tuna, and homemade olive oil (but oil oil should not be cooked, it has to be fresh). I drink a lot of natural water. And I do exercise pilates and med. gymnastics regulary, and as I live on the coast I swim a lot during the summer. At the end, I avoid stress, and similar situations. That is my way of living.
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

I know I live on the second part of our planet, and there is this time difference, so I have to wait for your messages till next day. But for sure we will be in touch, this is like one one new world to me.


Welcome Carmen. We're glad you've found us.

Carmen,   Your diet and lifestyle sound wonderful for dealing with ra.  It is the same kind of lifestyle I try hard to do myself.  I think processed foods are very bad for you with ra. 

I thought you might have meant inflammation.  I understand the language barrier because I visit Mexico a lot and I don't speak Spanish.  Sometimes it is fun to guess what you are trying to communicate.

You might have fun at another site many of of us go to.  www.rafriends.com  Come see us over there.  You will be a refreshing addition to our ra family.  I love the diversity and we can learn a lot from other cultures. 
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