Greetings!
I have been dealing with suspected rheumatoid arthritis for about 5 years now. It started suddenly with intense, burning pain and tender, swollen joints in my hands (especially the knuckles, with the thumbs being worst) and my feet/toes (same joints, but I don't think we call them "knuckles" on the toes). Hips bothered me too, but I just assumed that was a remnant of back-to-back pregnancies. I also had intense fatigue and low-grade fevers. Anyway, I went to my regular MD. He didn't do any bloodwork; I was given a Medrol dosepak, some anti-inflammatory (nefambutone? I can't remember) and Vicodin. The methylprednisolone knocked out the pain... for a while. It kept coming back, after a month or so. We did this regimen a few times, and then I was sent to a rheumatologist. We did the typical RA/lupus bloodwork, and all is negative so far. I am pretty lucky; it seems to be relatively mild, I have no joint damage, and I often have several relatively pain-free months between flareups. Current meds:
Zoloft 50mg/day (prescribed originally for PMS; it really helped with arthritis pain!)
Fish oil - 8000mg/day (enteric coated)
Metoprolol 100mg/day (I have an annoying, but benign arrythmia)
Prevacid 30mg/day
Naproxen 1000mg/day (enteric coated)
Tramadol - PRN (usually a couple of times per week)
Vicodin - PRN (occasionally)
[naproxen, prevacid, analgesics only when I'm having an active flareup]
Medrol dosepak (did this a couple of weeks ago for current flareup)
Zyrtec (occasionally, during peak allergy season)
Fish oil has been a godsend for my RA; I can really tell the difference when I stop taking it. In addition, it almost eliminates my menstrual pain (but not PMS moodiness) and hayfever-type allergies.
I am currently having a nasty flare-up; it is my first one in over a year. The last flareup ended when I got pregnant a year or so ago. We ended up having a miscarriage at three months (but we do have two wonderful, naughty boys, age 7 and 8). But the pregnancy seemed to do wonders for the RA, at least for a while. At this point in my life, I am not ready to take any DMARDs, as we are still playing "Vatican Roulette"... not actively trying to get pregnant, but not actively avoiding it!
Welcome to the board. This is a place of encouragement, support and lot's of information.
You will find people here with varied and much experience. We are all different but similar. There are no stooopid questions here and venting/whinging/whining is expected now and then
What's whinging?? I wanna try
[QUOTE=Linncn]What's whinging?? I wanna try
[QUOTE=Cordelia]Welcome to the board. This is a place of encouragement, support and lot's of information.
You will find people here with varied and much experience. We are all different but similar. There are no stooopid questions here and venting/whinging/whining is expected now and then
[/QUOTE]
Thanks much! It will get better; it always does. Then the pain and stiffness settles down to a mere annoyance. I always live in fear of the next flareup, though - stress/illness always seems to bring one on, and of course that's the LAST thing I need when I'm stressed/sick/whatever!!!
[QUOTE=Linncn]But Jasmine, are any of those meds you take for RA???? Alot of us, including myself, are seronegative. That means that RA doesn't show up in your blood. Have you thought of getting another opinion from a different RD? Lynda's right.....RA can be doing damage now that will effect you later, even though your RF (rhuematoid factor) is negative. I wouldn't put it off too long.[/QUOTE]
But all of the DMARDs can cause birth defects; we're not necessarily done having a family yet. Perhaps in a couple of years. My rheumy has offered various DMARD's to me, but at this point in my life I'm not quite ready to retire the uterus.. I guess that in your situation, I would do what you're doing.
[QUOTE=Linncn]Hmmmmm. Well that's something I know nothing about and have not had to think about. My youngest is 15 and I am NOT having more, although it has been a super blast these last 24 years
By the way, in your situation I wouldn't take anything that could cause birth defects, either. I think you said that no erosions showed up in your x-rays. If that is the case, just be sure your doc keeps checking it. As I understand it, once the erosions start, you must really be ready to take something to prevent more damage. It can go pretty fast at that point.
Be well,
Nini
[QUOTE=Nini]
Jasmine, kids can be so sweet, can't they? I think it's precious that they offered to help you make another. It make you wonder what goes on in their little minds. Like building one out of Legos or something
By the way, in your situation I wouldn't take anything that could cause birth defects, either. I think you said that no erosions showed up in your x-rays. If that is the case, just be sure your doc keeps checking it. As I understand it, once the erosions start, you must really be ready to take something to prevent more damage. It can go pretty fast at that point.
Be well,
Nini
[/QUOTE]
I was on Plaquenil for several years before my surprise, miracle pregnancy. The OBGYN kept me on Plaquenil even when I was pregnant. They monitored my daughter closely. She had no problems. She was bigger in weight and length than predicted. As an added precaution, they did take me off Plaquenil for the month prior to delivery. It does help combat the damage RA can do.
Jasmine, welcome! I am sorry about your miscarriage. It sounds like you have two wonderful boys! I know all about Vatican Roulette and had to laugh because I have two wonderful boys myself by playing that game!
There is an amazing group of caring people here, so if you have any questions or just want to vent, you've come to the righ place
Deb