Hi everyone, this is my very first posting to any board...please be kind... I've been reading postings for a couple of months now, getting some great information on this new disease of mine, PA. Was only diagnosed in Dec. Have been on 20gm Mtx for 7 weeks now, 5mg of folic acid the day before...still waiting for miracle...and have gone from 10mg to 5mg of Pred recently...Ouch! Also taking the occasional Ibuprofen + to ease the pain now and again.
No major side effects to report...yet. I am certainly a lot more mobile and in less pain than before being diagnosed and starting meds...I could barely walk a couple of months ago. The PA is mainly in feet, still very painly to put feet on the ground in the morning or after sitting or driving for a while. Afternoon is better. It's comforting to hear some of your observations using MTX ie. eye sensitive to sunlight, a bit tired the next day, a bit queesy.... I get all that...
Anyway, it's nice to write to you finally (hope it publishes OK). I'm 42, living on the East Coast of Australia (migrated from Canada 20yrs ago), mother of 3 boys (inc. 9yo twins), all gorgeous, husband is Mr Mom. I run a sushi wholesale business and work full time for the Govt helping small businesses. Haven't slowed down much yet, although my hectic schedule probably contributes a bit to developing PA...who knows...
I probably can't be of much help right now as I'm new to this, but I'll try and think of some good questions to keep the dialogue flowing and keep in touch...
Cheers, Coops
Welcome Coops and glad to hear that the MTX is helping!Hi CoopsGlad MTX is working for you. I go for my next rheumy appt. on Thursday and he mentioned that he'd probably be putting me on that next. We'll see.
I also have twin boys, they'll be 19 in April. Time goes by very fast, enjoy them. I can't believe mine are away at school.
I just posted a reply to you on the PA board suggesting you come here- looks like you beat me to it.
Welcome again!
KT
I tried to post earlier but my computer was having a hissy fit.
I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone Coops. I have RA, I live on the east coast of Australia (sort of, Melbourne) and I also migrated from Canada 22 years ago. My kids are older, 23 and 21. Whereabouts in Canada did you come from, I'm from Toronto.
Welcome to the board
Pam
It seems you are in good company, Coops. Love people from Oz, Britain and New Zealand. It shows how universal this problem is. Hopefully your medicines will start kicking in soon for you.
Welcome to our virtual world.
Welcome Sarah! I am newer to this forum too. I have found alot of support and help here. It is just wonderful! Look forward to getting to know you better!Hello and welcome Sarah!
Welcome Sarah
We're having a deep freeze in Sask with temp hovering around -36 with the windchill and tons of snow everywhere. Bet you don't miss our Canadian winters!
Glad to have you here. It's a great place to be.
Hi and welcome. Someday I hope to visit your part of the world.My hubby couldn't stand Canadian winters Punkie. We moved back to Australia after he had been through 2 toronto Winters. I don't miss them either except for having a white Christmas.
Hi Laura, Deanna, Pam, Debrakay, wendy, Jen101, Bonny, Punkie, Cathy, Marian and Miles2go.
Thank you for your welcoming words, it's nice to find people who know what we are going thru...even if 15,000km away. I feel I know some of you already, reading posts for several weeks now.
Good to hear from you Pam, the similarities are a bit spooky, I used to live 45km east of Montreal, in Quebec, grew up french speaking. My Dad was from Toronto though. We moved to Melbourne in 1983, where I lived for 15yrs+...and have sinced moved to a coastal town called Bermagui. It's been over 20 yrs but I still miss Canada, even those beautiful chilly winters...
I've got a question...How does one know if the MTX has really kicked in? I'm guessing it would be hard to know whilst still taking Pred. They say it takes the MTX 6-8weeks, is that your experience? Does it mean we shouldn't need Pred anymore?
See ya,
Sarah (Coops)
Hi Sarah..welcome!
I'm about an hour and a half west of Toronto. Darn cold here right now.
Kelly
So Pam... I guess trading house during the winter's out!The MTX is making a difference. When I was off the preds my hubby and I shovelled snow for about an hour during a complete whiteout trying to clear a path to get our car into the garage. I'd never have been able to do that before MTX.
I'm back on low dose preds for awhile longer... I've still got some swelling so my rheumie wanted me to continue taking them.
Welcome!Thanks Punkie, that's encouraging
I am definiely getting relief from something, was just hoping it wasn't all from Pred...time will tell how well MTX (20mg) is working when the Pred 's gone...
I'm curious about foods to avoid with RA and PA. Is there anything we should be reducing/not eating? I know we should limit alcohol on MTX, my doctor said...stay off alcohol the day you take the MTX but you can enjoy a 1 or 2 drinks on the other days.... a bit liberal the Aussies....
Bye
Sarah
Welcome, Sarah! I am near the east coast but much farther north - like, Brisbane! Don't hve PA - RA and OA are enuf for a start - was dx'd with RA about 25 years ago and have had my ups and downs - been on low and high dosages of mtx, plus Celebrex and Placquenil; prednizone kept for really bad times but I was on 5 mg a day when first dx'd until things settled down and the other meds kicked in. MTX can take a while to kick in, and because it can have severe side effects on some folk the docs sometimes start off cautiously. I was prescribed .5mg of folic acid a day but often take one in morning, one in evening. Sadly, the docs and rheumys usually don't bother to tell us about all the side effects - thank goodness for the arthritis boards!
The sooner you are dx'd and treated after getting arthritis, the better. These days the docs seem to be better educated about the various forms; tho we sometimes have to educate family and friends that tho we might "look ok", we are often fatigued and in pain.
Sushi is popular up this way, and I am sure your business will do well
Lorraine
Welcome Sarah!!! I am a pa sufferer too. I was started on mtx but enbrel was put in the mix. I was taken off mtx because of side effects that weren't pleasant and put on arava and the enbrel was changed to humira. You may need to get off the pred and put on enbrel to help, it took about 3 months before everything seem to start really helping. meme