Tell About Your RA Story | Arthritis Information

 

I thought it would be nice if everyone would give their story about their RA. Enlighten a few here

I was going along with just celebrex and a burst of pred here and there for a couple of years, and then I was preggo with son. I went into semi-remission, I call it that because I took pred only when I needed it, but most times, I did not really need it. Then I had my son, was still in remission for about 3 months maybe longer and I could feel it creeping back. I knew I needed to get something for it, so I would not go into a flare like I did with daughter, but I delayed in doing so and I had the worst flare ever. I literally went to sleep ok and woke up the next morning unable to move and crying from pain. I went to PCP again, and he put me on MTX. it worked for a few months and then I slowly started noticing I hurt worse. Went back to PCP and he upped it. It did not help, it literally made me worse. I did not have any side effects from taking MTX, it never bothered me like some of you post about. I did notice that within a few hours after taking MTX I would get hot and cold flashes. One min I would be freezing (in the middle of summer) and then next I would be sweating like I ran a mile. I did get worse on MTX. That is why my PCP took me off. I went from being able to hobble to looking like I needed assistance to walk. My PCP knew I was getting worse. I was literally bed ridden. I would lay in bed and cry because I could not roll myself over and had to call my hubby to help rollover. I cried because I felt worthless because I had a newborn to tend to and I could not even get out of the bed. 

After PCP put me on 10mg of pred until I could get in to see an RD.  But after a month or so I slowly got to where I could do more things, because I figured out how to use the pred. Which for me was take it at night before I went to sleep and I would be a little better off when I had to tend to my son, when I was home alone with him while everyone was at work. I would cry along with my son because I was in so much pain and unable to tend to him like I needed to. I would cry every time he had a poopy because my fingers were so swelled and inflammed and did not bend and were so painful to even lay them on my lap or any kind of pressure. I would tend to son until hubby came home from work then I would go to bed and stay there until the next morning.

When I went to the RD finally. He said I was really inflammed and that the dose of pred I was on was not helping me and it caused me to have inflammation in my muscles. So, I was took off pred and put on a dose pak then went back the next week and was given the option of biologicals. I had ditched this RD 6 years before for mentioning injections to me. This time around I gave in and went for the biologicals. I was given humira and have been on it almost a year now, but have been off more than on from many bladder infections.

I know I left out some, but that is because when I started this post it was only 2am now it is 3am and I am getting sleepy. Son was up mighty early this morning and I did not sleep well last night because hubby kept elbowing me in the head and his snoring.

What a trial you have had! As a Mum I feel for you!  You know what, your kids are lucky to have such a great Mum who obviously never gave up and did your best! well done trooper!

Our 6yo daughter looks like being diagnosed sooon with something like JRA...not looking forward to it but she needs treatment soon.  She been on nurofen, indomethacin, naprosen, pred etc.  Bit scared about the injections she may need.

You are an inspiration - I know you do what you need to do - but you never gave up - so don't give up! you are strong enough and deserve only good things from now!

my thoughts are with you - wonder if ther is a cure for hubbys snoring?

Nelly

[QUOTE=mystery illness]

my thoughts are with you - wonder if ther is a cure for hubbys snoring?

Nelly

[/QUOTE]

May I suggest a CPAP.

Sorry I answered you on another post and didnt realise your little girl had JRA. That is the really sad thing about this disease that it attacks someone so young but with the right medicines she should be ok. Is she in a lot of pain?

My heart goes out to you but a positive outlook is needed to help her through it too. My 13 year old has osgood shlatters disease and she has been through so much pain and discomfort, its hard to watch our kids cope with these things, my daughter seems to be growing out of it now thank goodness, before she was diagnosed I was worried it might be JRA.

On the up side it could go into remission and stay there.

I wish you and your family lots of hugs

with regards to the snoring........kick him or stick cotton balls up his nose

 

I was diagnosed in 2004, by my GP, with Polymyalgia Rheumatica, 2 yrs after bi-lateral Carpal Tunnel surgery.  (I had also previously had surgery for trigger finger on 1 middle finger, 2 pinkies, and two thumbs).

The surgery for the Carpal Tunnel had settled things down in that regard.  Until in November 2003, 1 week after a 2nd Hep. B Vaccination, I began to get very sore arms, from the wrist right up to the top of my arms.  It was burning awful pain seemed to be right inside my muscles - I said that it felt like a Chinese burn - right inside,  you know, like kids do to each other on their arms.

Dr. sent me back to the Ortho surgeon that had done my ops - no joy there, he said that it wasn't a return of the carpal tunnel, but sent me on to the Neurologist looking at possible Ulnar nerve entrapment.
He did the tests for all that, and nope - nothing out of the ordinary there either.  But still that horrible burning.

Then a couple of weeks after that, I was due to go back to the Dr., I woke up on the morning I was to go, I had a stiff neck - thought I had been sleeping awkwardly.   By the time I got to the Dr.in the late afternoon - I couldn't move my neck or shoulders - this was different type of pain - very stiff and hurt every time I tried to move.

It was after this, and my blood tests had shown elevated ESR, that he suspected Polymyalgia, and referred me to the Rheumatologist.

I was fortunate not to have to wait too long, I was to see him privately, and he put me on the urgent cancellation list.

After lots of questioning and  examination the Rheumatologist diagnosed me with Seronegative Arthritis with Polymyalgia features.
Treatment was to be the usual, Prednisone - Methotrexate - Folic Acid, Calcium.  I have to say that within two days I was feeling much much better,  that wonderful Prednisone - the one you love to hate!!
He also gave me cortisone injection in both shoulders to kick start it.

After about three months, I had to begin coming down on the Prednisone, and he added Plaquenil to the mix.  Had a couple of hiccups when the Pred. got down to 6 mg and had to go back up again - now currently back down to 8mg.  I am also now taking Fosamax, because latest bone density shows osteoporosis in both hips, spine, and osteopaenia in wrists and hands.  Yay!!  And Heartburn - for which I take Losec 2xdaily.  Incidentally. I have found that cuddling a wheat bag to my chest at night, helps tremendously with the heartburn.

Still though,  with our colder weather arriving, I battle with the burning arms, painful wrist joints, and just the last few months, ankle joints swelling and aching, and again, my hot wheat bags have helped take the edge off that.

I actually see my Rheumatologist again tomorrow, and I just know that he is going to inject my ankles, he said at my last visit he would do this if there was no improvement - so Yuck!!!  But it's my arms and hands that give me the most trouble generally at present.  My thumbs are starting to migrate inwards quite rapidly lately, can't give a nice straight thumbs up any more  Let's see.  I was diagnosed about 13 years ago.  I started with pred and nearly died from it after my girls got chicken pox the same time I was on pred.  I would go into remission on and off and led as sane as life as you can lead with raising a family.  We moved to AZ for 5 years and there I started plaquenil during my 2nd monsoon season there since I was having a really hard time getting thru those couple of months of rain everyday.  It worked really well for me there and wouuld go on it every monsoon and then off when monsoon season was over.  Moved back to the midwest where I was doing well for a little over a year and then the beast came back.  Got into an excellent rheumy where we avoided pred as long as we could.  Went back on plaquenil continously but to no avail.  Tried mtx with the plaquenil and it only helped slighty.  So went to mtx and humira and got my life back.  Then Oct. of 2006 hit with pnuemonia.  Had to go off meds.  Had to go on a high dose of pred.  Got a viral syndrome and had to continue off meds.  Got back on meds got another viral syndrome and a sinus infection.  Off meds again.  Well, that was my winter lol.  FINALLY got back on meds and have been able to stay on meds.  The 90% bedrest I was doing all fall and winter came to a glorious end at the end of March beginning of April.  Oh yeah I almost forgot about my damaged nerve behind my knee that kept me on crutches forever.  It is healing and now only walk with a cane.  Getting my life and strength back slowly but surely.  My goal right now is remission again.  I don't think it will be as good as my past remission, but it will be remission none the less.  I think the fatigue is always unfortunately is going to be with me, just not as sever as it was over the fall and winter. 

Four years ago Hubby was retired from the military, we were living in Fl. I was healthy and I went to the gym regularly. Our family does not eat fast food at all and I do not buy soda. Rarely do I get store bought cookies. I have always cooked everything from "scratch."

After Sept. 11. We were notified that hubby was being re-activated to active duty and we had 3 wks to check in 3,000 miles away. We sold our house, packed up, and raced across the country. It was devastating to our family. This is when my symptoms started. At first it was very achy hands and feet, and I was falling down a lot. I had a fever for almost a year before I went to the dr. I was given pain pills and muscle relaxers and sent away. It wasn't until I suffered a serious fall and hubby completely freaked out on the Dr. making him take some action.

 I saw rheumy who put me on pred, drew blood and told me to come back 3 wks later. I felt amazing on pred! when I went back and he said ok, time to wean off, i thought it was a cruel joke! He dx'd me with sero-neg RA and added mtx. - increased it, decreased it, added Embel, and various other meds. Neurologist dx'd me with Neuropathy and added Neurontin. PCP dx'd me with Raynaud's, fibro, and GERD. Had thumb surgery, liver enzyme tests went up and rheumy pulled me off everything cold turkey - yes even pred. I ended up bedridden for a few wks and he nearly killed me. He was a cranky old man getting ready to retire and I always left his office in tears. I Found a new Rheumy who I really respect. He dx'd me with Lupus and also Sjogren's - more meds.

We are still working on finding the right combo of meds. I started PT again hoping to improve my gait so I can walk without tripping or falling down. I look back to three years ago when I saw my first rheumy and sadly I am worse than I was back then. We have a split level home with many stairs so i often feel trapped in my own home. I have two teenagers and a hubby who are a great help to me, but they have their own things going on. I had always planned to go back to work when my boys are out of the house, but now I just hope I am functional. I think about living the rest of my life this way and its unfathomable.

 

It does seem that stress and moving can bring on RA, It ws probably lurking and this all just made it come to the surface.I think stress has to be a BIG factor.

My first symptoms were in 1992 or so when I had tendonities and then carpal tunnel.  I wore wrists braces, took a strong antiinflammatory (can't remember which one, maybe vioxx??) and wham! I felt better within months.  Then I had TMJ which went away slowly with pills and soft foods.  I had very difficult pregnancies (due to 24/7 vomiting, stressful family life, and eventually high blood pressure and toxemia which ended in premature deliveries all 3 times).  In 1998, my first husband died suddenly from a brain tumor.  He was diagnosed on a Friday and he died the following Sunday, after surgery.  A little over a week.  I was 33 and a widow with 3 small kids.

I started noticing never ending pain in all of my joints about 4 or so years ago.  I thought I was working out too hard.  I work out daily and I thought it was joint/muscle pain.  One of my employees would always comment on how I should tell the doctor because there was no way someone would be in so much pain from just working out.  I even went to an orthopaedic surgeon once because my shoulders hurt so much.  He took xrays, told me they were fine, and they gave me shots.  I also went to a chiropractor for my neck/shoulder area.  I was in a skiing accident and thought the pain was from that.  Well, they did find that I had slightly fractured one of my vertebraes BUT even after it healed, the pain continued.  It's interesting because that's also one of my areas that flares.  It can hurt to much I can't turn my head from side to side.  And even then, I never went to the doctor.

Then this year, a dermatologist found a spot on my head that was weird and after testing, I was diagnosed with en coupe de sabre (part of the scleroderma family).  From that diagnosis, just to make sure it hadn't affected my organs, I was sent to a rheumatologist to make sure I didn't have systemic scleroderma, which is a horrid disease (the organs slowly turn hard as rocks and you die from starvation).  Well, that's the rheumy who gave me the good news: no systemic scleroderma, but the bad one: I have RA.  That was about 2 months ago.  And here I am.

I took mtx for the first month but it killed my liver.  I'm a hep. B carrier. So tomorrow, I'm having a liver biopsy!

At age 35, already suffering from FMS and DDD for five years, I had a missed appendicitis which burst (nurse practitioner misdiagnosed).  I was in the hospital for 9 days to cure the massive infection, 4 weeks of recovery at home, then went back a month later for the surgery to remove the dead/infected tissue, which resulted in another 4 day stay. It's my belief that the infections were the trigger.

During my second recovery at home (10 weeks if I recall) I started getting low-grade fevers every day of unknown origin.  After ruling out appendix complications, an infectious specialist decided it was a drug fever from my Lyrica and had me stop cold turkey.  Not only was that not the cause, but you're not supposed to stop Lyrica suddenly.

Anyway, I was back at work (full-time) with my fevers but I was starting to get more numbness in my hands and they began to swell, especially in the mornings. The joints became stiff and painful.  My knees (with past orthopedic problems) and feet had new pain and affected my mobility, especially with stairs.  My SI joints were also acting up more than before, affecting my ability to stand or walk for any period of time.

At my next scheduled appt with the RD (for my fibro), I remember being in the waiting room and looking at all the pamphlets for RA drugs and wishing I had that so at least the treatment would be straightforward (

Two months later when I saw him again, he said I was RF-negative, but the CRP and E-sed definitely showed more inflammation, and the bone scan showed symmetrical activity almost throughout my body.  So he sent me for x-rays of the hands, feet and pelvis.  At this point I was worried about Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Two months later I saw him again, and he diagnosed RA.  My SI joints, although terribly painful, continue to come out clean on the x-rays (still a mystery).  So he started me on Enbrel (but not pred or mtx).  I continued with my previous meds as well, including Skelaxin, Relafen, Lyrica, and Vicodin ES (which I had started taking around the clock to control the pain).

After 5 weeks of Enbrel, I saw him again, but there had been no improvement.  I was getting anxious, so he added mtx (oral, 3x2.5 mg), ordered updated bloodwork, and said to come back in a month.

Well, that was this past Monday.  For the past week-and-a-half, I've had improvement in my knees (I can now walk up and down stairs like a human being again).  RD thinks it is a good sign, so I'm sticking with the Enbrel, upping the mtx (oral 4x2.5), and hoping.

In the meantime, I wake up at 4:30 am each day to take my first pain pill, so that by 6:00 am I can get up and get myself ready for work.  I dedicate most of my weekends to rest.  I have a life that I am grateful for, but I do hope that one day I'll get more of it back.

Dear Joonie, What a great idea this post was. I loved the stories people had to tell. Amazing about people's lives. I'll write more later and hope more people write, also. sarah

Well I don't really know that I much, I just have my memories.

I know I was dxed somewhere around 18months. And I know my first doctor wasn't even an RD. LOL He was a general doc, and happened to be working in the ER when my mom brought me in. She had already taken me to the doctor MANY times because she knew something wasn't wrong. They accused her of not watching me. Saying that I must have been falling down, and spraining my ankles. I think they even had protective services investigate at one point. So my mom stopped taking me to regular docs, and started taking me to the ER as I was swelling. Once I was dxed they started me on baby aspirin. This was all when we were living in Texas.

We moved from TX to the UK! (culture shock!) My doctor was over an hour away! Ugh! I remember long car rides, and LONG appointments. I don't remember my doctors name, but apparently she has written many books on JRA. I think her name stared with an A.  Anyway, she had custom "half casts" made for my legs. I wore them at night. They also made one for my left wrist. I was put on LIQUID (omfg the BEST taste ever) Ibu! It was still illegal in the states at the time, so we just went through a british pharmacy.

We moved to Nebraska after that, and I must have done really well, because I don't even remember a doc there. LOL But I know I went. From there we went to VA, and I remember A LOT of stuff. They tried SO HARD to get my feet straight. It felt like every month we were fitting me for some new shoe insert. And there was talk of me going back into half casts. Instead, they upped my meds. I was on IBU 4 times a day, but I don't remember how much.

When we moved from there to the UK again, I got another great doctor. She started me on some form of Naproxyn I haven't heard of. LOL But it worked!

And now I'm here in Florida. Waiting for my doctors appt on Monday!!! I'm new here but not new to RA.  A friend of mine forced me to get the nodule on my foot looked at after my son (2yrs) stepped on it and I screamed out with pain that most will never know.  I then had surgery with a young female Dr. (my age, 35) and when I saw her again, I had my kids with me.  She informed me that the nodules she removed were RA.  I told her "I'm 34" how could I have RA?  We cried and I think I shocked her for life.  I then went for blood tests and my RH factor was 8 and like we all know, negative.  At this time I went into remission and ignored "IT".  I now know after suffering through the winter colds, strep and the flu that I need help!   Theresa

I had weird aches and pains for years. I thought it was because I worked 3 jobs and one of them I had my own cleaning business. First my feet would hurt. I had the flu or so I thought all the time. I had pleurisy and pericarditis twice. In Dec 04 my appendix almost burst and had it removed. Then in Sept 05 A series of bad things happened. My favorite aunt Jane died. Hurricaine Katrina was down south and I could reach my sister, neices and nephew for 10 days. My mom was lucky she lives in MS but just so happened to be here to visit and was supposed to go home the day Katrina hit but of course couldn't. I had a football game to go to that night my daughter was in band and it was senior night where they introduce the parents with your kid and you walk on the field. Well, in the mean time my cell phone rang my mom was hysterical, crying, Debbie's dead! (my sis). I told her to calm down I couldn't understand her. I told my daughter I had to leave the game (by then the ceremony was done) I was driving home and I hit a deer with my van only 2 miles from my house. I called my hubbie who was still at the game....he came anyway.....to make a long story short. The police made a mistake it wasn't my sister (THANK YOU GOD). Debbie and her kids were alive and well. I woke up the next morning with a huge red knot on my thumb & finger. I hurt so bad. I couldn't do anything with it. I went to urgent care. First they said it was an infection. Gave me antibiotics took them for two weeks. Still no relieve. Went back to urgent care because I didn't have a regular doc. This time this doc ordered blood work and xrays. My rh factor was 129. He told me I HAD RA! I said I was much too young, how could that be then he went on to tell me about it. OMG! I was crying. He was very understanding, he held my hand, gave me tissues and told me nowadays there are so many meds to keep it under control that it isn't like it used to be. He started me on pred, relafen, vicodin, and personally called a rheumy friend of his and set up an appt. I went and tryed several meds.,,,, plaquenil, sulfsalazine, minocin, mtx, and now humira.

SO YEAH, I DO THINK STRESS IS DEFINITELY RELATED. JUST MY STORY.

I developed RA the day after I came back to work from my maternity leave.  Literally, I went to work, went to bed and all was well.  Woke up the next morning and could hardly move.  Thinking it was just aches from being home for a month I suffered for a week before I knew something greater was going on.

Due to my job (veterinary tech) I was tested for Lyme's....negative.  Then I was told I was just having post partum, that I was jealous of the attention the baby was getting.  HA!  I eventually found a doctor who was willing to look further.  I got my RA diagnosis about 2 months (1 week before XMAS 96) after my initial pain started.

I deteriorated quickly and in November 1998 had to quit my job because of the pain.  I was one of the lucky ones getting approval for Social Security my first try.

Currently many of my joints are bone on bone.  I need a multitude of replacements.  Trying my darndnest to put it off.

Right now I am going back to school to get my teaching degree.  Social security will not give me a life that I want....but its better than nothing!

I was never very sick as a child.  I remember chicken pox, but not much else except bad hay fever.  And, being tired.  I worked really hard at my job and trying to take care of home and family, but I was always sooooo tired.

The weird part is I had "growing pains" that would keep me up all night crying, my mom did not take me to the doc for them, she knew what it was. haha.  The other was stomach pains that would keep me up crying all night.  She did take me to doc for that and he told her it was all in my head.........right.

After the birth of both my sons (2 years apart) I had really bad pain in my wrists and they would suddenly collapse and I would drop things.  I was afraid of dropping my babies.  So doc gave me cortisone shots in both wrists.  THis happened about 3 months after both my kids were born.  Always had very painful feet with knots all over them, but just figured, my feet hurt.

Never suspected anything out of the ordinary until 3 years ago when I was 51.  My hands had swollen up so bad I could not use them for anything.  The back of my hands had knots that swelled about two inches high and caused my fingers to claw.  The pain was so unbearable I had my husband take me to ER in the middle of night.  They of course said it was probably tendonitis.  As you are all familiar with, things got progressively worse.  I went to my pcp who called a friend he went to med school with and got me in to see his friend (RD) the same day and two weeks later was diagnosed with RA.  My sister has had Lupus since she was 23 (she is 2 years younger than me), but I never even thought for a minute that I might have anything AI related.

Well, it has been a quick downhill for me.  I am now on part-time permanent disablility and am grateful I can still work my measly 17 hrs a week as it makes me feel useful.  I have been allergic to many of the drugs so Rituxan is just about the only thing left for me, until the new drugs in development come out.  Today I feel better and I'm hopeing this w ill continue.

Sorry, for the long post, got a bit carried away remembering everything.

Thanks for letting me tell this story, don't think I have ever talked about this before.

What happened was that I got pneumonia in November of this year, and was hospitalized. During the examination my GP found a heart problem (a shock, and news to me!), I had a valve repair a month later (Dec 1st. came home the 7th) and with narcotics, tons of other pills (ultram, vicodin, etc.) I was recovering nicely.....then the RA attacked.  Because the heart needed to repair itself, the opration site need to heal, etc. I couldn't take any methotrexate, or anything that would stop the healing process.  The pain was unbarable. It wouldn't go away with anything except oxycodone. I took whatever I could swollow.

Pretty soon the RA wasn't touched by these super narcotic drugs and I screamed at my doctor to 'do something' , finally I was given a shot of prednisone. I couldn't walk, I couldn't raise the glass to my mouth to swollow the pills, I couldn't move. Then I started taking prednisone by pill for a week or two, and I was able make it down the stairs, to the couch, etc. All with great pain but better.  A month and a half ago I was free of pain!!

So, a lot of pain and suffering and I look back and wonder WHY?,could the docs have figured this out better? They all knew I had RA, but I had to have the operation and fast as it was damaging my heart!! Did they all KNOW, the heart doctor didn't seem to know, my RA knew, but was reluctant to treat me!!

The 15 years of RA previous seem unimportant to me, now. I lived with RA, took a small amount of methotrexate, played tennis on a ladies team (took vioxx! at times), and played golf with my husband. My feet and hands were't perfect but who cared I could move I could enjoy life.  My life was pretty good.

On February 9th I found this forum and told you all about what had happened to me and I received so much support, understanding, and good suggestions. My message is : I hope other people can learn from my exprience , if you have even mild RA and are going through major surgery you need a plan for medications AFTERWARDS. I knew it was the RA, but I wasn't being treated with RA drugs. I've learned a lot from this forum and other people's experiences.

sincere thanks to those of you who answered my posts (sometimes in the middle of the night)!! Sarah

In January 06 I got a virus, which caused me to sleep for 48 hours solid. The following week I couldn't stay awake for more than 2-3 hours at a time. It was the week of my A-level exams and I fell asleep in one of them. I saw a doctor who at first thought my drink had been spiked (I was at a party the night before I was ill) and then thought it was Glandular Fever. I had blood tests done for GF and thyroid problems, which came back normal. It was then put down as a viral infection but I never felt I recovered fully from it. For the rest of the year I had unexplainable fevers and days where I felt completely exhausted.

I suddenly got very bad pins and needles in my left hand and fingers one Wednesday night last July (I remember the day because my aunt, uncle and cousins were visiting and I was running a fund raising event on the Saturday). The pins and needles were constant for over a month before I went to see a doctor. I saw my GP in August and he diagnosed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, gave me a splint to wear at night and while resting and sent me away with orders to come back if anything changed. A week or so after that I began getting shooting pains across my knuckles. I ignored them as I was getting ready for my first term at university and they didn't seem overly worrisome in the grand scheme of things.

I went to university and all the time the pain in my hands was getting worse. It now affected my right hand as well and both hands felt like they were constantly 'fizzing'. I went to see my new GP at uni, who took one look at my hands and a quick examination to tell me it was some sort of inflamatory arthritis. He did blood tests for RF, ESR, CRP and a load of things I can't remember and put me on an anti-inflammatory, Arcoxia. By that point I couldn't wash my hair, turn on taps and I was having problems writing. I was sleeping for 15-18 hours a day.

I went back to see him 2 weeks later and got my blood results. The RF, ESR and CRP were all elevated and my hands were visibly swollen. He said he suspected RA and got me an immediate referal to a rheumy. He doubled the dose of Arcoxia and added 20mg of prednisolone to the mix. He also told me to take a week off uni.

Two weeks after getting the blood results, on the 3rd November, I saw the rheumy, Dr B. He did a thorough examination and found swelling and tenderness in both my elbows, knees, hands and tenderness in my feet. By this point I had been on pred. for 2 weeks. He said he was absolutely sure and had no doubt I had RA. He started me on Methotrexate and Folic acid. He started me on 7.5mg of MTX with the aim of reaching 20mg.

Things continued and I began to drop the dose of pred. I developed a cough every time the MTX dose was increased and didn't really feel any better. I saw Dr B. again in January and he stopped MTX for fear of drug induced lung disease. Thankfully the chest x-ray came up clear. He thought MTX might have helped some as the pred had been lowered a bit but didn't think it enough. He started me on 2g Sulfasalazine, which, 3 months on, appears to be doing something!

Along with RA came Reynauds Phenomenon, which is thankfully mild and at present just an inconvenience. My GP suspects I may have anemia as my hemoglobin levels have been falling. RA has taught me to never take anything for granted, especially independance. At 19 I expected to be able to take on anything and come through gleaming. I still can, it just takes a little more planning and a lot more patience!

All have same stories of meds controls working up from initial single med to complex meds and surgeries. Some claim getting their lives back!

I have a completely different story to tell from chronic arthritis i.e. bedridden for months during flare to no threat and attack anymore for many years. The wonderful part is that I do not need med for the disease. I AM FREE, 'NOT TRAPPED' BY MEDS NOR 'IMPRISONED' BY THE DISEASE, a complete freedom

Fighting the disease requires gradual metabolic adjustments by appropriate herbs and correct natural foods. The 'tunning' and 'rejuvenating' back to body healthy level need time, determination, belief to adopt lifestyle changes, eating correct natural foods to elbow out toxic in the body gradually and systematically.

The result and getting back to normal MUST NOT DEPENDANT ON MEDS TO CONTROL DISEASE FLARE NOR SURGERY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.  IT MUST BE PAIN FREE, NO DRUG, NO THREAT FROM THE DISEASE. THAT IS THE QUALITY OF FREEDOM.

I share the sadness for all who have gone thru' much pain and to some who need surgeries at the various stages of battling the disease.

They have forgotten about humble natural foods that have mysterious nutritional powers to address the root of the problem gradually. They simply ignore and disregard them completely. Some even claim by taking vitamins and being vegetarians they are self claimed healthy nuts without carefully identifying WHAT they eat and dismiss foods have not affecting the disease

I discarded meds almost 20years and I have came to know as a layman how to fight, tame, control, neutralize, cripple the disease gradually and systematically. It is not possible without appropriate wild lingzhi complementary herbs and correct natural daily diet.

Learn and work hard not simple think smart the easy way out - meds fix all

The emphasis is HERBS AND NATURAL FOODS can cure the disease.

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I like to add refreshing facts of earlier generations. Most fruits and vegetables were grown without chemical sprays or pesticides. Worms and insects preferred such stuffs. Farm animals like cattles, pigs, sheep, goats, chicken etc. were fed with natural foods. Also, there were less canned foods.

Today, science has introduced chemicals to enhance outside look and prolong the shelf life of fresh and canned fruits and vegetables including meats.  GM foods have been introduced, so all smart insects that have thousand more superior powerful sense of smell than human avoid them, perhaps these insects know such foods can kill them gradually. On the contrary, people trust scientific develpments accept them

In order to produce more commercial products, there are cultivated herbs, simulated gems (gems with radiation are health hazards), artificial colourings and chemicals are added etc..

We cannot avoid all but we can be more selective and develope a sense of awareness. Life can be more healthy. 

In Apr 2000 I went to an Ortho having a lot of pain in my hands and he Dx'd OA then by Jun 01 I quit my job since it took typing 8 hrs a day and my hands were in such pain.  I thought that they would get better with a long break from work.  In Dec 03 I had elbow tendon surgery that went well.  I would hurt a lot at times but people said that getting old is rough so I just did the best I could.

By 2004 my knees were giving me a lot of trouble and in Jan 05 my feet joined the game.  Finally in May 05 I started the Dr/Dx searching and was told that I was negative for RA but did have Fibro.

By Sept 05 my entire life had turned upside down and after 3 rheumys and 2 PCPs telling me it was all in my head I was Dx'd with sero-negative RA, started MTX in Nov 05, added Enbrel in Jan 07 and changed to injectable MTX 2 weeks ago.

I now believe that I had RA for a long time prior to any meds other than pain meds and have some damage due to the delayed Dx.  I recommend anyone that is not comfortable with what their Dr is saying to keep on searching.  We know our bodies the best.

Knowing your body is good as it reacts with meds and the disease. Having a mindset to explore, search, learn and use natural foods to replace meds effectively and address the disease are far more important in your life.

It is a step by step, one at a time to reverse severity and deal with chronic diseases. At the same time you also nurture gradually the healthy level of the body with correct natural foods. The disease knows how to capitalize weak body but dwindle to no threat to healthy body. The theory is simple but to do it need complete adjustment to lifestyle, belief, mindset, determination, time, finding right herbs and correct natural foods etc. . to gradually seeing improvements and results.

whoa lisa...

i was just struck by what you said about "stress" and "moving."  my symptoms emerged when i found out my dad had cancer and i was under the stress of dealing with that while maintaining my work. had a meltdown and every joint blew up. after a hospital stay for a few days and some recouping at home, the inflammation abated.

that lasted a couple of months until i bought a house. closing is next week an moving the week after. well wouldn't you know i had a major flare up two weeks ago that put me in the hospital again. i'm still messed up, as i said in a previous post, and maybe the stress of moving is eating at me. also have a lot of stress at work.

that's my rant.

I just wanted to say that , like Kiwilass2, I developed my RA after my Hep B vaccines (I had all 3)!  I always will wonder if that is what started it for me. 

I know the fatigue started years ago. I didn't really think it was anything other than being tired from running around after 5 boys. But it was relentless. I worked out for years. And I was always so tired. The Dr. would tell me to "keep working out, it will give you more energy". He was wrong.Then, I went through a divorce that tore my heart from me for the pain that I caused my kids. That I think, was when I first noticed the physical pain.

I believe stress, at least in my case, has something to do with my symtoms. I cannot forgive myself for things in my past, nor stop punishing myself. I'm sharing too much of myself, I know, and I'll probably wish I hadn't, but I really wonder. I've read that stress can contribute to so many illnesses. I try to be up-beat but sometimes the demon inside is stronger.

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