I was just diagnosed earlier this week with RA.
It seems to have started out last December and has progressed quite quickly in that short period of time. I'm only 39 years old and I feel like I'm 90. I can't get up and down the stairs in my home any longer without help, driving is very difficult as is walking. Will it get any better soon?
My first appointment with the rhuemitolitgist is this coming Friday. My GP has put me on anti inflamatories and Plaquinel but they seem to do little to help me.
I don't like to feel sorry for myself so I keep a smile on my face and try to joke about it but it's hard to stay that way all the time.
I'm lucky I have a great husband and 2 teenaged boys that help me out but they don't understand it either.
As I don't know what will help me, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me how effective a hot tub is. Should I stay clear of it or use it any chance I get? Should I be walking as much as I can even though it kills me or should I try to stay off my feet? Should I avoid stress if at all possible? I have a very stressful job and some days I just don't know how long I can keep it up.
I've read many of your posts on here and know that everyone is going through or has gone through much of what I'm living right now. I feel this forum will help me as much or more than a doctor
Currently, I am doing better. I am still able to work although I'm doing half time next year. I'm 60 so I have that excuse too. I must say that it's taken a lot of work to get to where I am today. Many doctors have worked with me to get me functioning again.
Exercise helps a great deal. I do warm water exercise about 4 times a week and take a hot bath every night before I go to bed. That helps to relax my muscles enough so I can get to sleep. Before I could only sleep 4 or 5 hours at night. Now I sleep 8 or 9 although I usually get up around 3 or 4 and take tylenol. Hot tubs are great. We always plan vacations around places that have hot tubs and heated pools.
Some things I can't do that I did before like ride a bike or play tennis but I can still do a lot and if you keep doing as much as you can, you'll keep functional. Good luck and I look forward to hearing from you.
You should stay as active as you are able. If it hurts, stop and rest. Go to www.arthritis.org and get their ROM of motion exercises. Water exercise is also very good and if you can locate one close to you that focuses on arthritis, it's a very good thing to start. You should find links from that site for places in your area. A lot of the YMCAs have programs. These will help you get more mobility and they are very gentle.
You can start those right away, even while you are going through your diagnosis stage. Also, try eating as healthy as possible and get consistent rest.
If your job is stressful, is there anything that can be done to make it less stressful? Stress causes flares. Think about whether this job is right for you any more. It can be hard to move to a different job once the disease really gets going. But start to look at your long term plans. Financially, start planning to not be dependent on you working. That takes time. But if you can reduce debts and cut back so that your job is less important to your family's welfare, that in itself will take a lot of stress off.
Whatever you do, keep your insurance going even if you have to convert to COBRA. Read up of job accomadations for RA so that if you need them, you'll know how to ask for them.
RA really leads you to re-examine your life and your priorities. What gives you the most joy. Focus on that because it is what is going to pull you through the bad days. And remember, bad days are always followed by good days - always.
If you are newly diagnosed, and just on those meds, I'd have to say there is a lot of room for improvement. Some people here started out as bad as you and now they are back to doing many of the things that they couldn't because the doctor systematically added more medications to their plan. Each person reacts differently and they want to start you out with the least harmful ones. But I would ask about MTX because almost everyone starts with that one. They do take awhile to work. Sometimes, you have to take a leave from work to give your body enough rest to cope with all this. I really had to do this in the beginning.
Even as bad as I am right now with my joints, I am still a lot better in general than I was at the beginning. I started in the hospital and was extremely ill my first year.
But coming here and researching it on the net will help prepare you to work with your doctor and ask the right questions so that you get help faster. Also, give your family copies of things you find on the disease. Educate them along with yourself.
It can be scary for your kids, but give it to them in small doses. My kids get mad at me if I hide things from them, so we have an agreement that no matter how bad it looks at times, I am going to be honest with them. If they are not giving me enough support or they are being too demanding, I let them know. Also, when I can't do things with at a particular time when I'm not feeling well, I make sure I do something with them as soon as I am. If I can't do it at all, then I say so. I still can help them problem solve. This works really good with older kids who need to develop their independence any way. You can empower the people in your life to take on their own responsibilities (yes, this includes husbands). And, don't take the responsibilities back. You are not doing them any favors if you do.
You are going to take the reliance that people have learned to focus on you and invert it to teach them how to be self-reliant and to also support your needs. Everyone will come out stronger so this is not an act of selfishness.
Hi Kelly,Hi Kelly, It takes time but you do get better. It took me a year but many people have a good reaction time to the meds. RA teaches patience and that is my worst subject
Welcome to AI and post often. It is the best medicine !
Thank you all for your replies! It really does help to talk with other people going through the same thing.
I have a very hard time sleeping at night so I'm going to try using the hot tub before bed every night.
I'm seriously considering a leave of absence from work. It's usually a career limiting move to do that but the demands of my job are leaving me little choice. I do believe that I will become functional again and want to go back to my current position. I just hope my doctor will sign a short term disability form for insurance.
I appreciate all your advice and encouragement. I get the feeling I'll be back here often. Thank you all so much!