new member intro

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb N

Welcome to the group. The most important thing you can do is research RA on

the web. always send great links. That way you can know what you want

to ask when he or she starts the eval.I agree with Sue, he should start

you on meds immediately to help reduce the amount of damage it does to your

joints.Methtrexate seems to be the drug of choice to start with. Yes it is a

chemo drug but the doses are wayyy smaller than given for cancer.Even if the

blood work shows a negative RA factor push to have an MRI. around 40% never

have the blood work that shows positive, and the only place it is seen is on

the MRI w/contrast.Let us know what you find out.

Heidi M

On Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 7:50 PM, Sue <marysue@...> wrote:

> Deb,

>

> It is most important to have an excellent rheumatologist, one who will

> treat the RA very aggressively from the beginning (if it turns out that

> it is RA). He no doubt will have lots of blood work done, and certainly

> should examine your joints. You'll no doubt have to wait for those

> results to come back before he knows much of anything.

>

> But anyone with RA needs to be on a DMARD. Methotrexate is one of the

> first that many rheumatologists will start with. But know that the

> medications they have today are much improved from what they used to

> have. I am on one of the biologics, Enbrel, and it works so well that

> you can't tell I even have RA. I know that I am one of the lucky ones

> in this respect. It usually takes a while and maybe some trial and

> error to find the right combination of meds that will help, because

> we're all different in the way that we react to them.

>

> Good luck, and let us know how your appointment goes.

>

> Sue

>

> On Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at 09:41 AM, Deb N wrote:

> >

> > I hope to find support and if I do indeed have RA I want to learn and

> > find the best treatment so I can live a long active life. I need to

> > keep up with my girls!

> >

> > Any advice for me before I see my DR on Monday would be appreciated.

> > We only have one rheumatologist in town and I do not know how good he

> > is. Thanks for the info.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I work 2 12 hour shifts and 1 8 hour shift a week and I know I cannot

continue to do that. I tried working 4 8 hour shifts but I decided to try

the extra day off but it seems my symptoms are worsening and it is getting

more and more difficult everyday. I am trying to educate myself as much as

possible since I have limited resources in my town. This group has been

extremely helpful. It also helps for me to just talk about it. I have told

very few people about how I have been feeling. My husband thinks I'll take a

pill and all will be back to normal. So I will wait and see what my DR says,

then educate my family. At hom I am able to pace myself. I started napping

on my days off a few months ago, something I would never have done before.

At work I have very little control over the pace.

On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 8:24 AM, Jeanette <jhkerch@...> wrote:

> I understand your feeling " old. " I was working retail when I was

> diagnosed with RA. I tried to continue to work (at a service deli),

> but after an 8 hour day, I walked like a 90 yr old woman (as my co-

> workers pointed out). Then, I couldn't move for two days after, I

> had to quit because I could not function anymore. I needed my

> husbands help to get dressed. Now I take Enbrel, Methotrexate,

> Plaquenil & prednisone. I can function very well now, want to go

> back to work, but can't get a part time job around my functioning

> hours.

>

> >

> > I have been lurking for about a week now and I thought I might jump

> > in. My name is Deb I love in Ohio and I have been a RN for almost

> 26

> > years now. I have been married for 14 years and have to young

> > daughters 11 and 8. No one in my family has RA. I quit smoking 15

> > years ago. I went to my DR for a physical and finally shared some

> > things that had been bothering me. I kept blaming these symptons on

> > PMS and pre menopausal symptoms. I am 47 years old.

> >

> > My #1 complaint is fatigue. I seem to be very tired all the time.

> > Over the past year my hands don't seem to work like they used to. I

> > have pins and needles feeling in them. But my joints in my hands

> > wrists and elbows just ache on a good day and throb on a bad day.

> > Then when I started thinking about it. I have the same feeling in

> my

> > feet. When I wear good supportive shoes with special insoles my

> feet

> > feel better. I don't know how to make my hands feel better. It has

> > become increasingly difficult to do my job. I work in an ICU in a

> > community hospital.

> >

> > I have had back pain for many years, work related no doubt and I

> > don't think it is related to my hand and feet pain. I had a bunch

> of

> > labs and xrays of my back done about a month ago. I go to my DR

> > Monday for a follow up. I had an EMG 2 weeks ago and the

> Neurologist

> > who did it told me the EMG was OK no pinched nerves but he said you

> > may have RA! I was floored. I didn't really evn know what RA was.

> > Never really dealt with it much in my practice as a nurse.

> >

> > So of course the nurse in me starts reearching this and I seem to

> > have many symtoms of RA. It also brought me to this group.

> > I have just started sharing my halth concerns with a few a work and

> > with my husband. I feel like a wimp. I have always been a work

> horse

> > and now I poop out so quick.It is hard for me to say I can't do

> > something. I am 47 and feel like I am 87 some days.

> > I hope to find support and if I do indeed have RA I want to learn

> and

> > find the best treatment so I can live a long active life. I need to

> > keep up with my girls!

> >

> > Any advice for me before I see my DR on Monday would be

> appreciated.

> > We only have one rheumatologist in town and I do not know how good

> he

> > is. Thanks for the info.

> >

>

>

>

--

Deb N

" If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing

was started with a dream and a mouse "

[Guest guest]

Thanks for that tip Heidi. I fell so much better just having some knowledge.

And somewhere to vent!

On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 8:30 AM, Heidi Mendelsohn <hmendelsohn@...>

wrote:

> Hi Deb N

> Welcome to the group. The most important thing you can do is research RA

> on

> the web. always send great links. That way you can know what you want

> to ask when he or she starts the eval.I agree with Sue, he should

> start

> you on meds immediately to help reduce the amount of damage it does to

> your

> joints.Methtrexate seems to be the drug of choice to start with. Yes it is

> a

> chemo drug but the doses are wayyy smaller than given for cancer.Even if

> the

> blood work shows a negative RA factor push to have an MRI. around 40%

> never

> have the blood work that shows positive, and the only place it is seen is

> on

> the MRI w/contrast.Let us know what you find out.

> Heidi M

>

> On Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 7:50 PM, Sue

<marysue@...<marysue%40triad.rr.com>>

> wrote:

>

> > Deb,

> >

> > It is most important to have an excellent rheumatologist, one who will

> > treat the RA very aggressively from the beginning (if it turns out that

> > it is RA). He no doubt will have lots of blood work done, and certainly

> > should examine your joints. You'll no doubt have to wait for those

> > results to come back before he knows much of anything.

> >

> > But anyone with RA needs to be on a DMARD. Methotrexate is one of the

> > first that many rheumatologists will start with. But know that the

> > medications they have today are much improved from what they used to

> > have. I am on one of the biologics, Enbrel, and it works so well that

> > you can't tell I even have RA. I know that I am one of the lucky ones

> > in this respect. It usually takes a while and maybe some trial and

> > error to find the right combination of meds that will help, because

> > we're all different in the way that we react to them.

> >

> > Good luck, and let us know how your appointment goes.

> >

> > Sue

> >

> > On Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at 09:41 AM, Deb N wrote:

> > >

> > > I hope to find support and if I do indeed have RA I want to learn and

> > > find the best treatment so I can live a long active life. I need to

> > > keep up with my girls!

> > >

> > > Any advice for me before I see my DR on Monday would be appreciated.

> > > We only have one rheumatologist in town and I do not know how good he

> > > is. Thanks for the info.

> >

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm in michigan right on the lake. I find the extreme cold to be very hard.

yet when I went to Florida for my birthday last january, I was bedbound and very

sick after coming home. The heat/ and basically humidity really really get to

me! I do great in california when i am able to go though

Deb N <deb38n@...> wrote: You know what is

funny ,once a buckeye always a buckeye! Also having lived

here all my life I did notice that I found the cold this winter very

intolerable more than I remember. My husband may get a job in Florida so we

have a potential move to warmer weather!

On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 1:00 AM, Overell <

patricia.overell@...> wrote:

> Hello to both of you Buckeyes! I grew up in Zanesville, but now split

> my time between Los Angeles and St. . My sister is still in

> Akron, so I am back to visit two or three times a year. How do you

> ever stand the winters? At least in St. , it may be cold but it

> very dry. That damp cold is the worst possible for me.

>

> On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 10:15 AM, tomkatsdox

<tomkatdox@...<tomkatdox%40jencospeed.net>>

> wrote:

>

> >

> > Hi, Deb. I'm in Ohio, too, not too far from Columbus.

>

> --

>

> South Pasadena, CA / Lilydale, MN

> You can see my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

>

> M. Schulz - " All you need is love. But a little chocolate now

> and then doesn't hurt. "

>

>

>

--

Deb N

" If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing

was started with a dream and a mouse "

[Guest guest]

Humidity gets me every time!

> >

> > >

> > > Hi, Deb. I'm in Ohio, too, not too far from Columbus.

> >

> > --

> >

> > South Pasadena, CA / Lilydale, MN

> > You can see my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

> >

> > M. Schulz - " All you need is love. But a little chocolate now

> > and then doesn't hurt. "

> >

> >

> >

>

> --

> Deb N

>

> " If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this

whole thing

> was started with a dream and a mouse "

>

>

[Guest guest]

HI DEB & WELCOME TO THE GROUP... IM 38YRS.OLD & HAVE HAD SEVERE RA SINCE I WAS

5YRS.OLD. NOW I HAVE DEVELOPED SEVERE OSTEO,NEUROPATHY & SEVERE DEPRESSION..

HOWEVER, I HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM WHERE I USED TO BE IN MY YOUNGER DAYS & IM

GREATFUL & THANKFUL FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THE LORD OUR GOD HAS GIVEN ME & MY

FAMILY.. SO I WISH YOU LUCK & GOD BLESS,MELYNDAGAMEZ 4/24/08 10:15P.M.CENTRAL

TIME

[ ] New Member intro

I have been lurking for about a week now and I thought I might jump

in. My name is Deb I love in Ohio and I have been a RN for almost 26

years now. I have been married for 14 years and have to young

daughters 11 and 8. No one in my family has RA. I quit smoking 15

years ago. I went to my DR for a physical and finally shared some

things that had been bothering me. I kept blaming these symptons on

PMS and pre menopausal symptoms. I am 47 years old.

My #1 complaint is fatigue. I seem to be very tired all the time.

Over the past year my hands don't seem to work like they used to. I

have pins and needles feeling in them. But my joints in my hands

wrists and elbows just ache on a good day and throb on a bad day.

Then when I started thinking about it. I have the same feeling in my

feet. When I wear good supportive shoes with special insoles my feet

feel better. I don't know how to make my hands feel better. It has

become increasingly difficult to do my job. I work in an ICU in a

community hospital.

I have had back pain for many years, work related no doubt and I

don't think it is related to my hand and feet pain. I had a bunch of

labs and xrays of my back done about a month ago. I go to my DR

Monday for a follow up. I had an EMG 2 weeks ago and the Neurologist

who did it told me the EMG was OK no pinched nerves but he said you

may have RA! I was floored. I didn't really evn know what RA was.

Never really dealt with it much in my practice as a nurse.

So of course the nurse in me starts reearching this and I seem to

have many symtoms of RA. It also brought me to this group.

I have just started sharing my halth concerns with a few a work and

with my husband. I feel like a wimp. I have always been a work horse

and now I poop out so quick.It is hard for me to say I can't do

something. I am 47 and feel like I am 87 some days.

I hope to find support and if I do indeed have RA I want to learn and

find the best treatment so I can live a long active life. I need to

keep up with my girls!

Any advice for me before I see my DR on Monday would be appreciated.

We only have one rheumatologist in town and I do not know how good he

is. Thanks for the info.

------------------------------------