Hi everyone. I was just diagnosed with RA about a week ago. It came on suddenly over a month ago. Severe pain in quite a few joints, along with swelling, low grade fever, etc. My rheumatologist currently has me on Plaquinel, Prednisone, Prevacid and Naprosyn.
Just dealing with the pain is hard enough. But the thing I'm finding the toughest is dealing with the emotional aspects. Before this happened, I was studying to become a personal trainer, I worked out 3 times a week...heavy weights wanting to build muscle and planning to compete in a figure competition in the fall. Now everything is on hold. I don't know if those goals are realistic any longer. I can't even lift 5lbs now when I'm used to using 25lb dumbbells. It's been crushing to me mentally. It's like I want to be strong and fight it and still try to pursue my goals, but then I want to be realistic too.
I'm not sure what I'm looking for here...guess I just wanted to get my feelings out somewhere. I'm sure many of you have had to deal with it as well. Fitness has been my life, and now I feel struck down. I know exercise is important with RA. I'm just not sure I will be able to get back to the amount of training I was doing before and that is hard for me to accept.
Thanks for listening.
Hi and welcome!
I understand the way you're feeling. I used to work out every day...weights every other day. Then along came RA. It must be harder for you since you wanted to do this for a living.
For me, I've found that some type of exercise every day helps with the stiffness. Certainly not what I used to do, but I know if I didn't do any, I'd be soooo much worse. Weights though...well...I can't do much there.
Sorry you're going through this...
Welcome TG;
We're glad you're here....but I'm real sorry you have to be. This disease is hard to accept for any of us; but especially hard for someone like you that has built a life around physical fitness and a healthy life style.
It sounds like you're fairly realistic and understand that there could be limits as to what you can do as far as future career plans go. I won't say give up your dreams....but I would consider modifying them a bit.
Your doctor has hit the door running with a suitable treatment plan. That's good news. So many doctors drag their feet and take forever to come to a suitable arrangement for new patience.
Don't be fooled by the predisone too quickly. You'll quickly begin to feel better....and that's wonderful; but don't over do it and try to rush back into your training schedule right away.
Do as much research as possible on your own. Your doctor will only tell you as fraction of what you'll need to know to manage this illness. Hang out with us here and also at www.rafriends.com . Making friends that have "Been there, done that" is one of your best tools in learning to lead a happy life with this illness. It's a challenage; even for those of us that have had years and years to deal with it. It's certainly a life of unexpected ups and downs.
Welcome to AI. Hope to see more of you here.
Lovie
Hey Training Girl, It is definitely the emotional aspects of RA that are the most challenging for me. I have spent a lifetime being active. It was a rare day that I did not at least go for a walk. RA has made it very difficult for me to find a new identity. I am not going to tell you it gets easier, some days are and some days aren't. I will tell you that the right med mix can make you feel almost normal again and I have met many people on these boards that have resumed their lives - very much like pre-ra. I was at my gp's office last week, we have been friends for fifteen years, she knows me well and knows how active I have always been. (I am a ranger, so was active at work and off time, always doing adventures, hiking, biking, paddling) She has been gone on maternity leave and had not seen me since my diagnosis. Long story short - she convinced me and she doesn't bull sh*t me - the beginning is the hardest. Getting the right medications and modifying your life to live as closely as possible to your old life IS possible. I am having more good days than bad days which is a huge change. My ra is very aggressive and I have been on disability for nine months. I have good days and I have hope. Way more than I did in the beginning, so be patient. RA is a monster and it manifests itself differently in every individual. Don't let anyone tell you they KNOW what it is going to be like for you because NO ONE knows. Just trust your gut, rely on the people that support you, learn as much as you can, and stay as active as you can. Know that there are all kinds of new treatments coming out that are very effective. Enbrel has really changed my life but I plan on improving much much more.
KNow your disease and don't let the ignorant, unsympathetic, ill informed people get to you and sadly - there are also rheumatologists that are not up on the best treatments. I am fortunate, my rd is good. If you have questions, the boards are a great place to find answers.
Here's wishing you many pain free days filled with love and hope.
I do not have near the experience that the others have who have posted, but I can totally relate to how you feel. I was just diagnosed a few months ago. Prior to that I was an aerobics instructor. I taught cardio and weights. I loved it-it was a real joy in my life and I have always been active. I was in such bad shape I had to give up all of my classes and could not do any exercising for a long time. Just over the past few weeks I started going back to class, really taking it easy and I was so excited to be back, but I think I overdid it-now everything is hurting a little more again. I know exactly what you mean about the weights. I went from 15 pound weights to 3 pounds in about 1 week. It was like, how did that happen? How did I get so weak so fast? Anyway, I am still in that phase of trying different medication, so I haven't given up hope of returning to teaching, but I do realize that even if I can there will have to be modifications. It really does help to talk to the people here. They really understand and can help you.
Good Luck to you and God Bless
Hope you feel better soon!!!
Thank you so much for all of the responses. It's good to not have to go through this alone. I had a bad night last night...I'm assuming because it is rainy where I am. The pain seems to increase with the rain. I wake up every morning and think...maybe this will be the day I will wake up without pain. But it never happens. It's just so frustrating...as you all know.
I am happy with my rheumatologist though. She is knowledgable, aggressive, and appears to be taking the right steps. She sees me quite often and is very open to answering all of my questions. I never feel rushed with her.
I guess I really need to figure out which meds work the best for me before I think about getting back into working out. Every few days, I do a few pushups just to see what I can do, but by the time I hit 3, the pain is too great, then of course the pain is then worse throughout the day. So I know it's still too early. I see my rheumy in 4 weeks and she said if things have not improved, we will probably move to the methotrexate at that time.
I guess one thing I am learning I have to be is patient. And I am not a patient person!
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent and for telling me your stories. It really helps so much :)