Received a call this AM from my sweet MIL. She is beside herself with her dx of RA! Though her gp and the rheumy explained to her what the dx meant and the treatment plan she still had questions. At age 84 methinks she didn't quite understand all they were telling her. Am glad I could answer her questions and reduce her worries.
Her gp is one sharp doctor for she thought the problems she was experiencing was from the fact she's on dialysis twice a week. He began by checking her medical records/tests and consulting with her kidney specialist and then ordered lab work. Though she isn't thrilled, and who is, with her dx she's relieved to know what the problem is.
The rheumy did tell her that she was dxd early and feels as though his treatment plan will be effective. This lady is one "tough cookie" and I'm confident she'll handle this like everything else - Head On.
Oh wow! 84 and dx RA..........theres two ways i looked at that.It must be hard to manage it as a new disease at that age but then again to get to that age and only get it now instead of at a younger age is better because she has had her children, had a great deal of her life without it.( not getting it at all would be preferable)
The doctors sound as if they gave her a really thorough medical which is good and it is an early dx so she could benefit from this and from being a tough cookie too.Let face it we could all learn something from the senior members so keep us posted.
I wish her well and that she learns a lot from yourself
Take care
So sorry that your MIL has RA. Glad your were able to answer the questions she had to help calm her worries.What sort of treatment will they give her at her age? Holy Toledo! Diagnosed at 84? Makes me wonder if she has not had it for some time, but was never diagnosed. That has happened to many of us here. I am wondering how they will treat her along with dialysis. Keep us posted WW.I was wondering the same thing. My Grandmother died at 91 and suffered from Arthritis for many, many years. She couldn't walk the last 10 years of her life.....but they never called it RA despite the fact that she was basically crippled with arthritis. I know there is a difference in OA & RA; but maybe she too had sero-negative arthritis for many years and also developed OA and her doctors just never considered it RA? ALways wondered. I would have thought they would have been able to tell the difference; but I never heard of her seeing an RD. Just a GP and an Ortho.
At age 84 I would think a daily treatment of Predisone would be extremely useful and there would be little fear of long term side effects.
My Great Aunt was diagnosed at 91. She's on prednisone and doing fine. Sorry to hear about your MIL. She sounds like a very strong person and has you also to help her with everything. I think she will do great!