New to Site | Arthritis Information

Hello everyone,

I've just joined the Arthritis Forum having found it though an internet search. Unlike most of you out there I'm not from North America, but from London, UK.

I have not found a discussion site quite like this in the UK. It's good to read about other's experiences, and to know how other people are feeling and coping.

I first suffered with a swollen right knee in mid 1986 , aged 27,and was tested but didn't hit all the criteria for a RA diagnosis. After 3 arthroscopies and when my left knee started to swell, I was referred back to a new Rheumatologist who, after all the necessary blood test etc, did diagnose me as having RA.

Initially I was given 'Gold' injections and they, along with anti-inflammatories,worked for a number of years. After 4 years of not working, I went back to full time employment in 1990. At sometime, in the early nineties I was taken off the Gold injections and started on Methotrexate which worked quite well, but I was only on it a short time as I got married , in 1992, and wanted to start a family and so just relied on anti-inflammatories for a number of years, while having to have fertility treatment as I also have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Unfortunately we didn't conceive and in 1996/7 we gave up for a number of reasons. My knees had practically fused together and were intensely painful, my weight had ballooned as I couldn't really excercise and I was was fast approaching 40, when fertility decreases anyway. I have a wonderfully supportive husband, who said,"I married you to be with you and children would have been a wonderful bonus, but if it's not to be, we still have each other." So after a few inevitable tears, we closed that door and I concentrated on the RA again. I also had to give up work in 1995 as the slightest stress seem ed to make the disease worse.

I was re-started on Methotrexate, but my knees fused and they were stck with a 30 degree bend. I had a bi-lateral knee replacement in March 1999, aged 40, and it gave me a new lease of life. I even stood to see the New Millenium in, next to the Houses Of Parliament, in London, watching the fireworks display over the River Thames.

Since then I have had up and down years. One of the worst was when I suffered a severe disc bulge in 2001 and spent 18 months waihing for an operation to fix it. The National Health Service here in the UK can be wonderful, but it's waiting lists are awful. The operation was in Spring 2003 and it took until September that year to feel anywhere near better and we celebrated with a holicya to Cuba, a long journey which I managed reasonably well. The only after effect is a'drop' foot as the sciatic nerve was badly damaged and so my tight foot doesn't move properly and is numb. The other joints that have been affected are my left wrist, my right middle finger, hand and wrist and my right ankle.

So, my position today is OK. Not bad, not good! I am now up to a weekly dose of 25mg methotrexate by injection, 5mg folic acid weekly, Naproxen 500 mg twice daily with Ranitidine 150mg to counter the effects on the stomach, a mild anti-depressant, Prothiaden at night, Hydroxychloroquinine Sulphate 200mg , a disease modyfying drug, twice daily, Tramadol SR at night for pain and other pain killers when needed. I have just been taken off Sulfasalazine as it was not doing me any good and the Rheumatologist is considering putting me on Leflunamide but this can have an effect on blood pressure and as mine is high anyway, I have just been given Indapamide for that. I'll have to wait and see how that goes. I also take Metformin for the PCOS, which affects the endocrine system and is known as a diabetes drug.

2005 was not a good year. Lots of flare-ups, which were treated with cortisone injections. They are wonderful at getting rid of the inflamation and pain, but my weight is going up and up!

At this moment in time, I am on a 'high' with the cortisone and have a wonderful feeling of energy and being able to do anything. If only that could last!

I hope that I've not bored any of you who took the time to read this. It's quite cathartic putting it all down!

I wish you all peace and good health.

Wecome Aurora!!! I hope you get some answers here. I think everyone is pretty helpful and compasionate. I have moderate RA. Only take plaquenil, vicodin as needed, celexa an anti depressant. I also take fioricet for headaches. Good luck and keep on posting.

WELCOME AURORA7675 to AI.

I am so glad that you found us and I hope that you will be coming back often.

The RiverThames sounds interesting and to meet soneone who was so close to it, is simply marvelous. I keep thinking that one day I might be able to go the England and see your beautiful country side and of course the Thames. Not right now, but maybe one day.

You have surley had a very hard and bumpy journey with your RA and other medical problems, I am glad to hear that you are doing well. It helps all of us feel, that no matter how tough it may become, we can fine the courage to face it and move on. Just as you have done. Thank You for your wonderful post and I am looking forward to reading more from you.

waddles

aka Toni

Hi and welcome Aurora!

Wow...you've gone through an awful lot. I have or had PCOS as well. I say have or had because I was told I had it at one time...had all the symptoms of it, but years later I was told that my ovaries were fine and then my periods became regular after years of only having them every 6-9 months. Oh well..everything seems to be fine with them now so that's ok by me

Glad you found us...looking forward to more posts from you.

Kelly

Aurora, welcome. When I hear stories like yours, I feel ashamed for complaining. I have pain, but nothing like you have. Again, welcome and thanks for finding us.

Mike

WELCOME!!!Glad you found this site,So sorry to hear about all your pain,Sherryaurora Sounds like you have a great hubbie! i'm also with mike, i fell ashamed of my self some times because my RA has not been as bad as your by any means. i was luck and had my daughter before i was Dx and start meds. i thought about having more but the doctors warned me about what it would do to me and what the med may have done to my body. i could not bring a child in to this world who may be handy-capped. i can not take care of me sometimes much less a child who needs me 24/7. i hope you have a better year and come here often. i only really come on weekends since i went back to work, i have a lot less time to hang out with friends. take care!Aurora WELCOME We have a few members from the UK and we always have fun with them. It is interesting to swap stories as our medical systems are so different. You have gone through a lot but you still have a great attitude. Don't you love that cortisone "high". Got to love it and hate it. Look forward to seeing more of your posts. Rox

Welcome aboard, Aurora! (LOVE your name!)

Supportive husbands are the best. Couldn't live with this crap without a support system. My husband is my rock.

Whenever I get down - I always remember someone's got it worse than me. But - I still complain.........we all do. Pain is relative. .. ya know? RA sucks - there's just no gettin around it.