I called my gp and asked to reschedule treadmill test for when I wasn't so tired. I figure in a month, I may be more used to mtx and other meds. and have more energy. He kind of scared me. He said I was at the same risk for a heart attack as someone who already had a heart attack because of my ra. Have you guys heard this? He really didn't want to re-schedule treadmill but I said I would not do it for a month. He said it was against his better judgement.
Kelly
Part of the heart issue is due to inflammation. I know that uncontrolled inflammation can leading to swelling of the heart pericarditis I think. Here's another thought I had. Some time ago a piece was in the news about a blood test called C-Reactive Protein(CRP) being an indicator for heart disease. Well, CRP is one of the labs that is done in a typical panel for those with RA as well. CRP measures inflammation in the body...can be due to various sources. So to me...this says the two can be closely related. This is just my line of thought and nothing I've been looking into. Thanks you guys. I am going to rheumy tomorrow. I will ask him about my CRP. In fact, I want to ask him what tests he has taken. I really have not paid attention but you guys seem to be really on top of all the tests and it will help me understand some of the board topics. Heart disease scares me because I am so much less active than I normally am. Maybe that will change when I get used to mtxI found this link
http://arthritis.about.com/od/rheumatoidarthritis/a/mayohear tstudy.htm
Roxy,Keep the faith Juliah and a gentle hug to you This has scared the life out of me! I'm only 20 and I'm already worrying about heart disease. I've been told that the medication that I'm on will not only stop the inflammation but should stop the disease in its tracks before it progresses further. If this works (fingers crossed) would this not prevent cadiovascular complications also? I've also noticed my heart rate at the moment is quite high. I am quite unfit cardiovascularly as I do have asthma so find it hard to do much stamina work without wheezing. I don't know whether to put this down to my unfitness or my medication. Oy vay! I've been having pains on the left side of my rib cage, right
underneath my left breast. Not all the time, just every now and then (maybe
one sharp pain every couple of days)> I have no idea what my blood tests
are, just that initially the doctor said my inflammation was "pretty high". I
should probably contact him and ask him.
Kelly
My mum has always drummed it in to me since I was little that smoking is not the way to go and I hate it now. Never tried it in my life and I don't intend too. Weight isn't an issue with me right now. From my gymnastics I have developed quite a toned body so fortunatly I'm more muscle as opposed to fat. I'm now at the stage where I don't want a McDonals every week and I eat quite healthly. I think that as long as we do like you say Kelly and avoid all of the factors that put the body in danger, then the risk of heart problems is alot less. Well hopefully this is the case anyway. I'm that motivated right now to keep fit that I've decided to go swimming on Thursday. I haven't been swimming in ages. x
I, too have cardiomyopathy, apparently from a virus when I was substitute teaching. Cadriomyopathy is also an autoimmune disease, and once we have one, we are prone to others.
Because of the heart failure, my RD is very cautious with my treatment, and INSISTS on my getting frequent heart check ups. But, thank goodness no treadmill tests for me for the past 3 years. They KNOW I can't do it. But at the same time, I've developed emphysema.. and that ISN"T related to my heart. Sigh. I never smoked either.
Not trying to scare anyone but my Rheumy told me once that a person with RA automatically loses about 10 years off of their life and usually die from a cardio/vascular accident. It is supposed to be directly related to the inflamation of the RA. All the more reason for living more healty lives........... Right after this next cookieI look at it this way, something or other is gonna be a cause of death. Do what you can to be healthy but don't stress too much. Stress is a factor too.
I agree with Wayney. Be aware, but not to the point of making yourself sick with worry.
Kelly
I'm not trying to be contentious here. Just wanted to make that
clear before I say what I need to say. Is it ridiculous to inform
someone of the risks and realities of this nasty disease? Or
better to not be informed and suddenly face something that comes out of
nowhere? I have to disagree with you that it's ridiculous for a
doc to say that. He's presenting a very real aspect of this
disease. There are so many aspects of this disease that need to
be addressed. By not informing people of the risks, it's
irresponsible of a doc in my opinion. To me, not wanting to know
what is possible is hiding from this and that doesn't work. If
you don't know what to expect, you can't take appropriate measures to
try and avoid problems before they start. As I said earlier, it does no
good to stress over these things because that adds to the pain and
cycle of depression.
If a doc didn't inform people of some of the serious possibilites of a
surgery, he'd be violating a patient's right to informed consent of
treatment. I look at this the same way. No one wants to
hear the bad things that could happen but if perople aren't told, then
they'd be angry too and ask why they weren't told.
I'm sorry if my feelings on this upset anyone but I'd much rather know what I'm in for than hide.
wayney
I agree with you Wayney. I think knowledge is power! And I would rather work through the information in my head. Not be surprised later. In that way I discard the fear! Susan Lee
Researchers believe the increased heart disease risk may exist even prior to the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. During the two years before diagnosis with rheumatoid arthritis
In July 2001 at the age of 45 I suffered a heart attack, in the months that followed the Dr's were telling me that I had made a good recovery. Although I never felt as well as they were telling me I should be but found it difficult to pinpoint what the problem area was. The February that followed I spent a week in hospital with anemia and needed a blood transfusion. Later that year I started suffering joint problems and was dx in the November with RA. Thankfully I am here to tell my story, I am now on lots of meds for my heart so hopefully they along with the RA meds will keep me safe for a long time.
Pat
I see everyone points completly and do too agree that it is better to know in the long run. However, I think it's the job of the doctor so he can prepare you as oppossed to reading it on a message board. Hearing that for the first time when your sitting on a computer doesn't do much for you.I think that a blanket statement of "RA will take 10 years off of your life" is a completley unhelpful thing to say. Particularly if there is nothing you can DO about it either way. Maybe if a doctor were to tell me "RA can take 10 years off of your life if you do not take medication....or it can reduce your lifespan if you don't watch you weight, quit smoking, whatever, then I would be inclined to make positive changes to my lifestyle. But the thought lingering in the back of my head that, just having RA will take 10 years off my lifespan is not something I will entertain. I understand that when someone has a terminal illness (like cancer) that a doctor is obliged to tell his patients that you have 6 months whatever. It is also helpful in that the family can seek hospice services, make preparations, whatever. But RA is not terminal. When I found out that I had RA, I was not told that I have 5 years, 10 years whatever. Only God knows how long each of us will live. How are we to take an END DATE of when we think we will die and subtract 10? How is it even remotely helpful to hear such a statement as your lifespan will be shortened by 10 years. On the other hand, telling smokers that by continuing to smoke, they will likely die 10 years earlied, or......that by being obese, they are LIKELY to die 10 years sooner, whatever. There is a CHOICE involved. It makes sense to one to quit smoking and be pro-active in order to change the odds. But just there mere fact of HAVING RA is not something we can change. I still see absolutely no sense in a doctor saying this or for me to believe this. It is still pointless to me. I don't understand the point of a doctor saying this. Again, if the doctor were to say that by CHANGING something you could ensure a longer life, I'm all for it. But just a blanket statement sounds to me like..."sorry you have RA, it's not terminal, but no matter what you do, you're going to die 10 years earlier than if you never had this disease". Why would you entertain that statement? I'm just curious. I still believe that only God knows what is true about my mortality. I refuse to entertain such a negative statement as that doctor said. Love and hugs to you all, JuliahP.S...on a side note.....when I develped congestive heart failure 7 years ago, one doctor told me that I would not likely survive 3 years. I made a choice to trust in the Lord and not have that running through my head. At 3 years post-diagnosis I was in a race running up the Empire State Building, far from sitting there expecting to die. I continue to eat healthy, take care of myself, and most importantly....TRUST IN GOD and not some doctor as far as my mortality is concerned. Just wanted to post this so you can see why I so passionate about this subject. Continue to believe what you want, but I'm sticking with what works with me. love and more hugs, JuliahAlso, does anyone have medical literature regarding the -10 year lifespan? I am just curious. Thanks, JuliahSusan, how would you be surprised later? You don't know when you will die, so how will you be surprised when you die 10 years earlier than that? I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything. I'm just baffled by this whole thing and realize that many who have read this -10 year thing are understandably upset (for no good reason in my opinion). Love again, Juliah
Wow...I just kind of skimmed most of this thread and had to track back to see the soarce of this 10 year thing.
Yes; I've heard that before. For me it's just all the more reason to use agressive theropy to insure the best life possible while I'm still here. No real reason to waist time being afraid of these medications that could greatly improve our quality of life right now.
We could all die in a freak accident this afternoon. You can't live your life worried about that kind of thing.
Wow Juliahh,
thanks for sharing, I think I'll stick with
what works for you too
I still like to know everything possible about RA...and if one of these things is that on average it takes 10 years off my life, I wanna know, so I can make certain choices in my life. Kelly Everyday is diferent, and the past 10 months have been very hard, not only on me but my family, the people who love me and hate to see me suffer. I have wondered about the heart thing, I get sharp pains in my chest, not often. My rd said it was inflimation in my breast bone. Has anyone been told that? Now I am not so sure, on my next visit I am going to bring it up. Thank you all for the links to information, and sharing of your own experinces. This place and the people here help me so much. Robin Thank you Wayney for sharing the links. It never ceases to amaze me how far reaching the effects of RA are. I have had alot of eye problems(episcleritis, cataracts due to steroid use). I am just so grateful to live in a time with so many treatment options, and acsess to so much information. My greatgrandmother had ra, and she had so few options and was an angry lady by the time I was born, I never understood til' I developed RA myself how she must have felt. She up and moved to Arizona for the dry heat. I live in Houston and have thought many times Arizona might be the place for me! Swamps like Houston are just not RA friendly!
Robin i've had those little "twingy" pains (so i call them in my chest) went to the E-Room when it became pressure. My B-pressure was 167/100 It's never been that high before.....my cholesterol has been high for a year or so I kept telling my Family DR. I'd control it w/ diet and exercise. I've lost 10 pounds.....good for me but I keep reading Prednisone makes you gain weight. I've been taking Lasix also, because the Pred. holds sodium in your system. I'm so confused on all of this....and trying to take in as much info as I can. I did a Catering job day before yesterday worked from 8 am to 10 pm could NOT move yesterday. It's so hard realizing you can't do what you use to do....I hurt so bad after I work hard... But the bright side yesterday I could not start to make a fist today I'm alot better.....I've been on Arava for 6 days now....I'm hoping It's starting to kick in...... My boyfriend just stormed out cause .......I don't know ....we've been at each others throat's for two week or better....He's mad cause he's not gettin"....oh welll...and I'm mad cause he doesn't understand how much I hurt. Is ANYONE in the same boat??? Happy Independence Day To All..... KAT Robin; I've struggled with inflamation in my breast bones for years. It's scary at first; but an increase in my medication settles it down everytime; so I do trust what my doctor says. I use a cold pack on mine; not ice...that's too cold, but one of those gel filled cold packs that I keep in the refrigerator not the freezer. I've also had recent problems with my eyes. Mine is called "Dry Eye" it's very common, and especially common in people with RA. Tear drops help with that. I know some people that have had serious complications with their eyes though...and that one scares the heck out of me. The thought that I one day lose my mobility I have already accepted; but to think that I might be stuck in a chair somewhere and not be able to read or watch TV FREAKS ME OUT!! And Kat; I use to do alot of special events like you just mentioned. I worked for a florist doing event set up at weddings and special events. I know exactly what you mean. I did what I had to do to support myself and my two children as a single mother. It was exhasting to work a 50 hour week at one job....and then add another 15 or 20 hours on the weekend doing that physical labor!! I remember crying myself to sleep on more than one Sunday night just thinking about having to get up and go to my regular job on Monday. I could barely move!! I feel for you Sweetie...I've so been there. It takes one strong woman to pull that off. You certainly deserve to come home and relax, not have your boyfriend harrash you. Don't feel guilty....You deserve a understanding supportive man in your life. If this isn't him...it's best you find that out now. Trust me on that one. Lovie Yeah Lovie, I have been dealing with the dry eye thing for a few years. I wear contacts and it got so bad they would stick to my eyeballs! YUCK! My eye doctor was at a loss and we were ready to plug my tearducts when he went to a special confrence for eye doctors 'cause there was a lecture on ra and it's inpact on eyes. He was able to find another way to treat me. I thought it was cool that I had him so stumped he did not know what to do, but he was willing to try and find out. Needless to say, I do not go to anyone else for my eye care. He is one in a million! I am sure you all know what I mean. I feel for you Kat, I have been unable to work and boy is the money tight! My hubby also struggles with balancing his "needs" to my pain level. Over the years we have learned that quality is much more important than quanity. Ra seems to be so hard on the people who love us, that is why this place is special to me. My family are just too close to it. Robin Kat, A good place to start for information about sexual relationships and arthritis is the Arthritis Foundation, USA. They have a free brochure titled "Guide to Intimacy and Arthritis." Go to free brochures, then Family and Relationships and then to Guide to Intimacy. I thought it was quite helpful when I read it, way back when. At least it will give you a place to start talking. I hope this helps.
Barb
You asked, I checked. The range of decrease in life expectantcy
in these articles ranges anywhere from a bit over a year to 18
years.
http://www.podiatrychannel.com/PodiatryWorld/rheum.shtml
doesn't say specifically 10 years but this study shows approx 4 years less in women with RA vs those without
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/22/1728_54094.htm
this article states life expectancy shortened an average of 7 yrs in men and 3 yrs in women
http://arthritis.about.com/cs/mortality/a/lifeexpectancy.h tm
http://arthritis.about.com/od/mortality/f/mortalityra.htm
http://arthritis.about.com/cs/mortality/a/lifeexpectancy.htm
http://www.karger.com/gazette/65/weyand/art_3_p.htm
While aware of the shortened life expectancy of people with RA, the
rheumatology community has only recently focused attention on the
possible causes of premature death. The model of accelerated
immunosenescence would predict that manifestations of immunodeficiency,
e.g. increased susceptibility to infections, could play a role. Side
effects induced by therapies could also account for shortened lifespan.
However, population-based studies have drawn attention to an increased rate of cardiovascular complications in RA.The
recognition of heightened risk for ischemic heart disease in people
with chronic inflammatory diseases has almost coincided with increasing
awareness of inflammatory pathways in atherosclerosis and acute
coronary syndromes....Rheumatoid vasculitis is a frank inflammatory
vasculopathy, feared for its serious clinical complications and known
to represent the most severe manifestation of RA. Shared disease
manifestations in RA and in the inflammation of atherosclerotic plaque
provide an explanation for the increased cardiovascular risk of people
with RA and also define coronary artery disease as an immune-mediated
disorder.
http://www.pharmacytimes.com/article.cfm?ID=593
http://www.hopkins-arthritis.som.jhmi.edu/rheumatoid/il1.htm l
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune, inflammatory
systemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by persistent joint
inflammation that results in progressive joint destruction, joint
deformity, and physical disability. RA may affect other organs and may
also result in an increased risk for premature death. The average life
expectancy of RA patients is decreased by 3 to 18 years compared to age
and gender matched controls.
http://www.ccspublishing.com/journals5a/rheumatoid_arthrit is_3.HTM
RA has clearly been shown to significantly decrease life expectancy (work of Pincus and others)
1. Increased mortality predicted by persistent
synovitis, seropositivity, lower functional capacity and lower levels
of education
2. Older patients and males also significantly affected
3. Causes of death are typical (myocardial
infarction or malignancy, etc.) but usually at younger age, but also
higher incidence of infections
4. Investigation into NSAID related gastrointestinal disease and renal causes is underway
http://www.drdonnica.com/display.asp?article=6760
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/362/rheumatolog y3.doc
In addition, patients with severe RA have a shortened life expectancy
equivalent to the diminished life span of patients with high grade
lymphoma or 3-vessel coronary artery disease.
http://www.jrheum.com/abstracts/abstracts03/10s.html
http://www.buy-hydrocodone-here.com/Winning-the-War-Agains t-Rheumatoid-Arthritis.html
Despite this being an article on a site advertising the sale of narcotic drugs, it is an informative article.
RA is a condition that forces half of patients to become disabled from
the work force within five to ten years… and reduces life expectancy by
as much as 18 years.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=11392
Patients with
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of coronary artery
disease (CAD) compared with individuals who suffer from CAD but not RA.
Edited to make links clickable.
1. Increased mortality predicted by persistent synovitis, seropositivity, lower functional capacity and lower levels of education
That lower levels of education predictor of increased mortality really pisses me off. I have a master's degree and from the quality of the discussion on this board I think people with ra are above average in intelligence and education!!!!!It is possible that in this instance lower levels of education may
refer to education about RA. I'm nbot sure. I'm trying to
track down the original Pincus work to see if it is better detailed.
I don't agree with that if it does in fact refer to lower levels of
education in general. But can see the point if it refers to lower
education about RA. I'm working on trying to find more info.
Well still tracking this down. But in a study done by Pincus et
al. there is a table showing one part of their study. It shows
the attributed cause of death in RA patients.
http://www.annals.org/cgi/content-nw/full/120/1/26/T1
here is a link to the article...it does reference education level as a
signifcant predictor. But, I've not gotten that far in the
article yet.
http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/120/1/26
Juliah...Just got back in town or I would have written you sooner. When I spoke that information is power and that I would rather not be surprised later...I was talking in generalities. Not the 10 year early mortality rate. I meant that in my personal opinion, I would rather know what I might be up against rather than wait and see. That is not to say that I am going to concentrate on the negative, nor does it mean that I am expecting every bad side effect of this disease either. I am really just the opposite. I have a very positive outlook. But, that doesn't mean that I wish to be kept in the dark. That is my opinion and may not work for others. Susan Lee
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic116.htm
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sprainsstrains/a/costochondr itis.htm
Numerous things that can cause chest pain in RA...warning....do not
read this if you are scared of heart issues and lung issues.
http://arthritis.about.com/od/rib/
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