Arthritis Insight-Member Stories-Beth

Beth's Story

Hi, my name is Beth and I was diagnosed with RA on Jan. 31st 2000 at 38 years old. There is no history of RA in either side of my family so it came as a complete shock. After searching the web I have discovered that it can be caused by severe stress. In 1997 my 1st husband was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away at home in 1998, I was his sole caregiver. I had never been on my own before having gone from home to marriage so was very stressed for over 2 years. The winter after my husband died I started having trouble with my shoulders, felt like someone was hitting the top of them with a hammer, couldn't use my arms at all, but it alternated between them so my dr thought it was from over doing and prescribed naperson which helped some. When the pain receded in the spring I figured she was right and didn't give it another thought. I met my now husband in the summer of 1999 and we purchased a home in another town in the fall. When my knee and right arm started acting up we figured it was from over doing (I'm very prone to over doing, need to get stuff done yesterday, lol.) By x-mas I was starting to have trouble walking and the dr again prescribed naperson, which didn't work. I got red, very painful swellings in my pinky toe joints and the first joint of 3 of my fingers (from what I understand this joint is rarely affected) on each hand. By the time I went back to the dr on Jan 6th (the pain by now was incredible) every joint was affected. Thank whoever watches over me for Don (my now husband). I needed his help to do the most simple things, like hold a toothbrush and get out of bed. My appt. with the Rhemy was set for February 17th, there was no way I could wait that long so I was on the phone driving them crazy everyday. I swear if it wasn't for Don I would have jumped in the Connecticut River just to be rid of the unrelenting agony. Anyway, my appt. got moved up to Jan. 31th and after bloodwork and x-rays RA was conformed and I was put on 20mg. of prednisone and celebrex. Was totaly pain free in about 2.5 weeks but hungry as a bear and anxious as one also. I gained 20lbs in a 6 months. Rhemy has now gotten me down to 2mg of prenisone, celebrex and has added Plaquinal(?) to the mix. Right now I have cramping and pain in my hands and feet and my legs ache all the time but don't want to increase the meds because we want to start a family this spring. I just found this site yesterday and am so glad to know I'm not alone.