Home Community Member Stories Melinda

Melinda's Story

I am a 46-year-old female working as a senior-level administrative assistant for an international banking firm.

I was diagnosed with RA in 1984 but quickly went into remission until it came back with a vengeance in 1994. I have been struggling with it ever since. From 1994-96 I was on high doses of Prednisone, and was pretty much pain-free, but gained a ton of weight. I finally got so disgusted with myself, I, without consulting my Rheumalogist or even tapering off, just quit taking the Prednisone cold turkey [I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS!!!]. The result was my body went into shock and 1997 became one of the worst years of my life. I was in so much pain and could barely function. I also lost 40 lbs without trying (the only good thing that came out of this).

My RD had me taking Daypro, but I developed lots of side effects and now I hate that drug and refuse to ever take it again. Back in the 80's I had had some success with Clinoril (a NSAID), so I asked my doctor to put me on that. He did and I started feeling better, not great, but better. I had heard about Methotrexate and asked the doctor to prescribe it for me and he did, starting out with 3 tablets a week (in addition to the Clinoril). After a couple of months, I was still doing "so-so," and he upped it to 5 tablets a week. I began to feel much, much better and gradually became pain-free and active and functional once again and pretty much led a normal, care-free lifestyle after that.

Although my arthritis as pretty much been under control, I've had progressive deformity in my hands, beginning with the right hand and in the last year, my left is now going. They are very crooked and bent, and it's to the point that I will need corrective surgery on my right one this year.

Flare-ups were rare, but they do happen and I've just recovered from the flare-up from hell that lasted almost 4 months. I was in great pain and extremely fatigued. It was an ordeal to dress for work each morning and an ordeal to walk the one block from the parking garage to my office. I had no energy, as I was in great pain every day. Towards the end, I missed four days of work in a 7 day period. I couldn't function so I finally broke down and asked my doctor for a Prednisone pak and it was my salvation. It brought me relief and three weeks later, I am still doing well. The stiffness is coming back, but its tolerable. I'm active and strong once again and it feels great!

I just want to let everyone know that it's not easy living with RA or Fibromalgia, but hang in there!!!