Guest guest Posted November 7, 2002 Report Share Posted November 7, 2002 Hi Gidget, Things will get better, I've had RA. for a few years and I know exactly whay you mean. I got very depressed at first as I assumed that my active life was over, I was wrong of course. I'm far from cured but I manage to do my work ok, I'm a carer for cerebral palsy people.My hands are a bit slow on the keyboard but I still type fairly well.I think I'd manage if I was in a desk job.The meds. take a while to stablise you, but it does happen. After a few months, you should start to feel better and move more freely, if you're anything like me. I still get tired and achey, but to a livable level.I pretty much treat it as a part of life now days and try not to dwell on the problem,think positivelly is my motto. If you're doing everything you can, by your rheumatologist's advice, you can't do much more, so why worry, I know it's hard, but things will get better if you give it a chance and keep your spirits up.I'm an Australian male-42yo. Give me a message if you like lifeofsail@... I will answer and do my best to help if I possibly can. > Hi everyone. My name is Gidget and I found out a couple months ago > that I have RA. I decided to see if there are support groups online > because I am having a hard time dealing with all of this. I am 26 and > am shocked at how much my life is changing. I have 2 beautiful kids > and a full time job (desk job that does wonders for my hands), a > husband and like everyone else a million responsibilities. I guess I > thought that if I could exchange thoughts with someone who knows what > I am going through it might help me to cope better. Some days are so > painful I can't make it through work if I even make it in at all and > I worry about losing my job. As luck would have it I found out about > the RA around the same time I found out I am up for a promotion. > Right now I am just praying they will be patient while I work on > stabilizing this and not change their mind. My husband is wonderful > and helpful but I feel bad for everything he has to make up in what I > don't have the ability to do. I have no idea how to explain to my > kids why I can't hold their hand going down the street. My ten year > old stepdaughter understands somewhat but it's harder with my 4 yr. > old. It's gotten to the point that everyday is difficult. I'm so > tired all of the time and taking 3 different medications. Is it > difficult to come to a point where the days aren't quite as painful > and energy level returns or am I stuck like this? I'm taking care of > myself and following doctor's directions. I'm exercising as much as I > can when I am able to. I don't know what I am looking for here. > Advice? Sympathy? I guess I really fear that I am looking for > sympathy because I am tired of feeling sorry for myself. Everyone I > know hears arthritis and believes that I have occasional achiness > when the weather is bad and that is aggravating because there is so > much more to deal with than that. Anyway, if there is anyone that can > help me to understand what to expect in the coming years or what I > can do to cope better now I appreciate anything that you might be > able to tell me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 Hi Missie, My name is Sherri-very soon to be 36 yo (on april 14th), and a Registered Nurse. I was diagnosed with RA in Nov on 2001 while rehabbing from a knee replacement. My RA factor came back at like 275 "severly positive" was the exact quote! Other than my knees, my worst joints are my fingers, wrists, and shoulders. I am on Enbrel and Bextra (prn) for the pain. Celebrex did not work for me plus, it upset my stomach, Vioxx-which worked for 4 yrs for kn knee pain, when it was only oesteoarthritis-did not work, and Bextra seems to be the only one to do a decent job. Unfortunately, a lot of these drugs can take anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks to build up a therputic level in your system. The Enbrel took 5-6 weeks for me to notice a difference. The weekly pill might be the Methotrexate weekly pill-whose name escapes me just now. I was on 12.5mg of MTX qweek, but quit-much to my MD"S chagrin-in hopes of getting preggers this year. I notice that when it gets cold and rainy, the pain is worse. I hope this has helped a bit….please take care and have a great time in England!!!! SHERRI ----- Original Message ----- From: Missie Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 9:14 PM Subject: Another newbie Hi there guys.. I've been reading the group for a few weeks now, soon as I got my diagnosis and finally got around to joining tonight! People like "grandpavan" have been making me smile for a few weeks now and thought I'd like to intro myself and tell you a little about me!I'm Missie () 31 from Michigan. Married w/2 kids, work for State Farm Insurance Agency and for a cute little tidbit.. met my hubby online three years ago and he moved from England and married me My mom ( and two of her four sisters) have RA. Mom also has Fibromyagia, she is 48 and I've watched her go through this for a while now. Sometimes we all wondered if all the stuff was "in her head" cus she is always just not quite well. I know now how she has felt. I went to the ER back in winter of 2000 with this aching wrist. It was so bad, I thought I had broken it. Sore, swollen just terrible. They couldn't find anything wrong, chalked it up to a virus in my wrist and sent me home with vicodin after an IV of Rocefrin. I have had terrible problems with my feet and knees from then on pretty much. People attribute it to my weight, or the fact that I injured my knee in High School and that the ACL is non-existant. This past summer my shoulder started aching, I couldn't move it. It was terrible, moved to my elbow.. then wrist. So I went to the ER.. told me it was tendonitis/bursitis sent me home again. Went to my Doc where he took blood and also sent me for an EMG (Good God, noone told me about THAT test *LOL*) got my blood work back and said that my thyroid was a little "sluggish" and that the Rheumatoid factor (whatever that was) was elevated also. Put me on a medrol dose pack, then onto Indocin. The Medrol was a miracle. THe other just made my stomach sick. 10 months later I am in terrible pain. I dont mean to whine, but this is the worst. My hips, knees, feet, wrists, shoulders.. and my hands are in constant pain. I have little bumps on my knuckles and on my wrist. Went back to the Doc and she took blood again (different Pys. Assistant) and made me an appointmetn for a week later. Called me the next day asking me to come in. Umm talk about scary. Went in and she told me "You are in some pain honey" D'uh! LOL Seriously tho she showed me the results and they were positive "very positive" in her words. (can anyone tell me what that number means anyhow?) So , onto the dose pack again and to Celebrex and Flexeril. Week three now, and its not changed. Ugh. I don't want to give up on the Celebrex but its really not helping. I've been taking a half of a pain pill to just be able to sleep at night. She told me there is a once a week pill I can go on when I am back from vacation (going to england next week) but it may give me an upset stomach the first day. Anyone have a clue what that is? On the plus side.. my hubby is Amazing! What a support he is. I kept thinking he thought I was crazy. I really began to think I was. I am usually the funniest gal you would know but lately its been rough. Does the weather affect this at all? Anyhow I am sorry for posting my sob story and making it so long but thanks again for all of you being here. Little did you know you were helping me so much!Missie Bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 hi sharon,my name is melynda.im 38yrs.young & live in corpus christi,tx.i have had jra since i was 5yrs.old. i also take a bunch of meds(prednisone,mtx,plaquenile,folicacid,lexapro,xanax,flexerile,neurontin,vit.d\ .. & c.humira injections,citrical, & i cant remember the rest).i have tried soo many meds. in my lifetime,that i dont know what works or not works!!! anyway,WELCOME hope you can chat with others who feel the way you feel!!! god bless,,<melyndagamez @> 3/22/08 9:21P.M.central [ ] Re:Re: Another newbie Hello Steph in VA. I'm Sharon in NJ. Thank you for responding. I see everyone seems to be on a " cocktail " of medications. Do you feel they're helping you? Oh, my and you were so young when it all began. I used to work with someone who had JRA and I guess she was in her early 20's when I knew her. I felt so bad for the hand she had been dealt but you know...she had an inner strength that most of us couldn't understand. People made fun of her and treated her like she was mental but she just looked beyond it and kept on going. She was truly an inspiration. Take care, Sharon > > Welcome to the group, Sharon. This is Steph in VA. I'm 30 years old & was dx'd with JRA with adult persistence in 1999 when I was 22. I take ibuprofen, methotrexate, folic acid, flexerill & Remicade. > > Take care, > Steph in VA > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > The 2008 Charlottesville Arthritis Walk is Sat. May 3 at UVA's Stadium > The Walk raises both awareness of the prevalence of arthritis and money for research & programs for people with arthritis! The Cville walk includes a simultaneous Dog Walk as well. > > " Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead) > AmeriCorps Alums -- Still Getting Things Done > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2008 Report Share Posted March 23, 2008 hi sharon, in response to your question. i only take the humira injection,all the others by mouth... you might want to check into it but as for me & i.v. or trying to give BLOOD,ITS BAD CUZ my veins are soooo LITTLE & ROLL.i also bruise easily. i HOPE things work out for you,sharon. god bless,melyndagamez 3/24/08 12:50a.m.central time [ ] Re:Re: Another newbie Hello Melynda, Thank you for writing!! You really are taking a lot of meds!!! Of the drugs for RA...are they all injected? I've seen the commercials on TV for some of them and many you can't take if you've had Hepatitis B and it I did have it a long time ago. I wonder what my other options might be?? Take care, Sharon > > hi sharon,my name is melynda.im 38yrs.young & live in corpus christi,tx.i have had jra since i was 5yrs.old. i also take a bunch of meds (prednisone,mtx,plaquenile,folicacid,lexapro,xanax,flexerile,neurontin,v it.d. & c.humira injections,citrical, & i cant remember the rest).i have tried soo many meds. in my lifetime,that i dont know what works or not works!!! anyway,WELCOME hope you can chat with others who feel the way you feel!!! god bless,,<melyndagamez @> 3/22/08 9:21P.M.central > > > ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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