New to RA | Arthritis Information

Share
 

Hi all, I have been lurking for a while and have decided to say "hi" well I am recently dx'ed with RA (middle of Feb) after having pains and swelling in my fingers and right wrist, knees, ankles and toes.  After xmas the pains got worse so I went to my GP who gave me painkillers and anti-inflammatories which did nothing for the swelling/pain, eventually I was given a blood test for RA and after which I was referred to a RM,  and in the meantime was eventually given Pred at 30mg for 6 days which helped alot, I was in so much pain

 

This whole disease has knocked me for a loop, I've been off work for 2 months, went back a few weeks ago and am now off again

 

I am really pleased to have found this site where ppl actually understand and can relate to what I am going through right now and I have learned quite alot just through lurking, when my RM said he was starting me on MTX I already knew what it was and the side-effects, and all that just by lurking

 

Thanx for listening

 

Caz

Welcome aboard, Caz. It's good that you found out what was what before you went through it all.

It's amazing how this disease comes out of nowhere and blindsides you, isn't it? The pain is unbelievable when it hits. It's nice to have company when we start this unpleasant journey.

Lee
Welcome!! I was also lucky to find this site shortly after being dx. Everyone here is very helpful and I have also learned alot. I agree that RA is alot to get your head around and I'm beginning to think that's not possible. We all have to take it one day at a time with this and do what we can when we can. Together I think we'll all manage a little better than if we didn't have this site to turn to. So again welcome aboard!

Welcome Caz!!!!!

I'm new here too!!!! I can certainly agree with you about looking like a 92 year old on the stairs. Every time I get up from sitting or from bed I walk like that!!!

hahahaha  you should see me walk up a flight of stairs at the end of my work day to do tutoring!  By the end of the day, my hips hurt sooooooo bad, I must look like a 92 yr. old!!!

Welcome to the board.

I see we all have OFS, ( old fart syndrome ) lol

Sorry couldn't pass on that one.

Its been a ruffffff day.

Hi and welcome. I know what you mean about feeling old. I'm already old (59) but feel much older.  There was a ninty year old in my arthritis exercise class who could run circles around me. She was French and used to dance in the Follies Bergere(Spelling?). A can can dancer from Paris. When I get up from a chair, I am bent at a 90 degree angle for about 5 minutes.

Anyway this is a good place to meet others with the same affliction. We all commisserate and help each other through the rough times. 

You poor thing.  I don't know how you can even manage stairs.  That would be a nightmare with this disease.  My work has an elevator, thank goodness.

I got my blood test in March and have been flaring since January hard and nonstop.  I could barely creep into the rheumy office by the time I got there.

There are good days and bad days.  Sometimes I am depressed and others I am happy and relieved.  It is just unpredictable and a strange thing to deal with.  I think it takes time and patience to accept.  I am still working on it.

Welcome to the forum.  I am new here too, and I also have learned so much here.
Welcome!!! I love your signature...I actually have a body that I am looking to stash, any suggestions?  I wont tell you whose it is, but I'll bet many of you can guess!!! [QUOTE=crunchy]Welcome!!! I love your signature...I actually have a body that I am looking to stash, any suggestions?  I wont tell you whose it is, but I'll bet many of you can guess!!!
I will gladly be your accomplice!

Thanx for all the replies

 

Well just got back from seeing the RM and nurse, they have put me on Pred again at 15mg for 3 weeks, then 12.5 and then 10mg.  Hopefully that should start to kick in soon and I can get some relief.  I was also given Risedronate Sodium to take once a week but not on the same day I take MTX its apparently to help stop osterporosis while on the Pred.  I feel as if everytime I move I rattle with the amount of meds I am on

 

My sig, I pinched off someone but thought it was great, these days especially after having to inform some ppl of my condition, the stupid questions and suggestions they make drives me crazy, I just wished they could all be as informed as what I have had to be about this awful disease.

 

Anyway thanx again for the very warm welcome.

 

Caz

I know all about feeling old.  When I went home to Toronto last July my 80 year old mother carried my luggage (I'm 47).  How bad is that.  I had a hard time keeping up with her when we went shopping.

Hope you're feeling younger soon

Hi Cazza,  I'm in the UK too and like you am in my 40's (47), but have had the dreaded RA for nearly 20 years now.  The worst days are the first days, believe me.  I was undiagnosed for 18 months during which I had 3 exploratory knee surgeries, not fun!  Not knowing what was wrong was worse than the diagnosis.  The treatment back then was different to now, so I won't bore you with the details, but I'm now on 25mg inj of MXT weekly plus all the other stuff listed at the end.  Many things have happened to me in the meanwhile and I have learnt to cultivate a great deal of patience, but that does take time.  Living with RA isn't easy. but hopefully you'll find your own balance eventually.  I never joined any RA groups, but in hindsight maybe doing so would have given me moral support and someone to talk to who understands.  This site is great for that, I only found it a short while ago, but it makes me laugh and cry in turn, knowing what everyone is going through and how they are all coping or not, how everyone feels and the sense of humour that many find even in great pain!

Keep smiling though if you can

                                  

I live in SW London/Surrey, anywhere near you? 

 

Hi thanx for the moral support guys, it means alot.  Glad to have another person from the Uk here too as our system can be so diifferent from the rest of the world!  Even though I was dx'ed in Feb I have been suffering with pains in my knees and ankles for a couple of years, and about 4 yrs ago I went to GP with pains in my hips on and off but after an xray nothing was found, so to be truthful I now think the whole RA started a few years back, but working full-time in a physical job I put it down to that and just took ibuprofren when I was in pain.  Its only when the pains in my hand got really bad and I went to A & E thinking I might have broken something that a Dr saw me there and suggested a RA blood test as there were no broken bones!  My 1st appointment with a RM should have been 26th April, however, I shouted, begged and pleaded to have an earlier appointment as I was in some serious pain, and luckily I got an appointment on 17th Feb

 

Unfortunatley I don't live near London, I'm in the West Midlands nr Birmingham.  I'm a single parent with a 15yr old going on 30

 

Patience is not something I have at the moment and I think thats were all the frustration comes from, I still cannot get my head around being fine one day and being achy and can hardly walk the next and thats when my mind runs away with me, and I start thinking if I'm like this at 42 what will I be like at 82HI Cazza and welcome!

I'm 42 and feel much older too. Glad to hear your having a better day.

I've been miserable these past three days and today doesn't look much better. I usually try to be optimistic about the pain but then reality sets in and puts a damper on it. Oh well.

Hope your meds work soon. Again welcome to the boards.Hey Caz-I know all about the stupid suggestions from others. It gets to the point where it is just easier to tell people youve been sick and leave it at that.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com