Guest guest Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 I've got the same question about flares and I've had RA for about 15 months. From what I gather you are describing a flare and they may happen even to people with "controlled" RA. If you are really interested in nursing I recommend going for it. Many nurses have desk jobs with hot lines or as counselors. You might look into what might be available other than working in a hospital or doctor's office. Your RA may be managed well enough to do any kind of work, but some suitable employment is probably available in any case. Also you might consider becoming a dietician instead. Good luck and God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: Matthies Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 12:51 PM Subject: Flare ups? OK, I have a weird question... being new to this and all, can someone tell me the difference between RA pain and a "flare up?" I've read different messages saying that the pain is back and that the person was worried about a flare up. I have been on Methotrexate for about a month now and also on NSAIDS and prednisone until we know that the Mx is working. I'll be OK, with only minimal stiffness, and then I'll wake up and hardly be able to walk, the pain in my feet is so bad. That will last anywhere from a day to three days. Is that a "flare up?" or just normal RA pain. Does this continue regardless of whether a drug is "working?" Here is another question... I badly need advice. I know that I'm months away from knowing which drug combination works for me, but I will need to decide within the next couple of months about going to nursing school. I know that a couple of you are retired nurses out there and I need advice! I don't want to be a defeatist but I do want to be a realist... Is nursing school and the career going to be doable for me?? I know that everyone is different in their response to drugs and have different pain levels but I don't want to go into this with blinders on... Help!! Thank you so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 hi sarah, MY NAME IS SHERRI AND I HAVE HAD RA FOR2 YRS. NOW. I AM ON EMBREL AND MTX (ALTHOUGH I JUST STOPPED THAT ONE) I AM ALSO A REGISTERED NURSE WITH A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT, DONE AT THE AGE OF 34...I AM NOW SOON TO BE 36. I AM FACING ANOTHER KNEE REPLACEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON THE RIGHT ONE. I ADORE MY JOB AND YES, THERE ARE DAYS THAT ARE WORSE THAN OTHERS....I JUST STAY WITH THE MEDS AND PLUG ALONG......I KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY I WILL BE UNABLE TO WORK, SO I AM ENJOYING LIFE AND MY JOB NOW. AS HAROLD SAID, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS IN THE NURSING FIELD....DOCTORS OFFICES, DESK JOBS...ETC...I HOPE ALL WORKS OUT FOR YOU..PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME ANYTIME IF YOU HAVE MORE ?'S THAT I CAN ANSWER....ADDY:YORKIEGAL2003@... ----- Original Message ----- From: Harold Van Tuyl Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 7:01 PM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Flare ups? I've got the same question about flares and I've had RA for about 15 months. From what I gather you are describing a flare and they may happen even to people with "controlled" RA. If you are really interested in nursing I recommend going for it. Many nurses have desk jobs with hot lines or as counselors. You might look into what might be available other than working in a hospital or doctor's office. Your RA may be managed well enough to do any kind of work, but some suitable employment is probably available in any case. Also you might consider becoming a dietician instead. Good luck and God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: Matthies Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 12:51 PM Subject: Flare ups? OK, I have a weird question... being new to this and all, can someone tell me the difference between RA pain and a "flare up?" I've read different messages saying that the pain is back and that the person was worried about a flare up. I have been on Methotrexate for about a month now and also on NSAIDS and prednisone until we know that the Mx is working. I'll be OK, with only minimal stiffness, and then I'll wake up and hardly be able to walk, the pain in my feet is so bad. That will last anywhere from a day to three days. Is that a "flare up?" or just normal RA pain. Does this continue regardless of whether a drug is "working?" Here is another question... I badly need advice. I know that I'm months away from knowing which drug combination works for me, but I will need to decide within the next couple of months about going to nursing school. I know that a couple of you are retired nurses out there and I need advice! I don't want to be a defeatist but I do want to be a realist... Is nursing school and the career going to be doable for me?? I know that everyone is different in their response to drugs and have different pain levels but I don't want to go into this with blinders on... Help!! Thank you so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2003 Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 , In regards to " flare ups " . I look at it this way I have RA, when my RA hurts...that's a flare up. When my RA doesn't hurt, I just have RA. My flare ups last from the time the pain starts till just after the pain goes away. Usually it only lasts a few days. As far as going to nursing school...do it. If it's something you really want to do and it's your hopes and dreams DO IT! What's the alternative? Give up on your hopes and dreams? That's depressing and depression makes RA worse. Keep pushing yourself. You sound young and if you start giving up on your dreams now what do you have to look forward to? Don't plan your life around RA, it's what you have not who you are. See your doctor regularly, stay healthy and laugh at least 5 times a day. When it hurts laugh 10 times a day. Woody > OK, I have a weird question... being new to this and all, can someone > tell me the difference between RA pain and a " flare up? " I've read > different messages saying that the pain is back and that the person > was worried about a flare up. I have been on Methotrexate for about > a month now and also on NSAIDS and prednisone until we know that the > Mx is working. I'll be OK, with only minimal stiffness, and then > I'll wake up and hardly be able to walk, the pain in my feet is so > bad. That will last anywhere from a day to three days. Is that > a " flare up? " or just normal RA pain. Does this continue regardless > of whether a drug is " working? " Here is another question... I badly > need advice. I know that I'm months away from knowing which drug > combination works for me, but I will need to decide within the next > couple of months about going to nursing school. I know that a couple > of you are retired nurses out there and I need advice! I don't want > to be a defeatist but I do want to be a realist... Is nursing school > and the career going to be doable for me?? I know that everyone is > different in their response to drugs and have different pain levels > but I don't want to go into this with blinders on... Help!! Thank > you so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2003 Report Share Posted March 31, 2003 --- In Rheumatoid Arthritis , " cajwood2002 " > See your doctor regularly, stay healthy and laugh at least 5 times a > day. When it hurts laugh 10 times a day. > > Woody > Thanks Woody, now I only have 4 more laughs to get in today. (Better make that 9...) (Really, it is good advice, but also made me chuckle!) Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 1, 2003 Report Share Posted April 1, 2003 My rheumatologist employs four or five nurses in his office(there are several rheumatologists there) who all have varying degrees of RA. ----- Original Message ----- From: sherri edling Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 8:24 AM Subject: Re: Flare ups? hi sarah, MY NAME IS SHERRI AND I HAVE HAD RA FOR2 YRS. NOW. I AM ON EMBREL AND MTX (ALTHOUGH I JUST STOPPED THAT ONE) I AM ALSO A REGISTERED NURSE WITH A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT, DONE AT THE AGE OF 34...I AM NOW SOON TO BE 36. I AM FACING ANOTHER KNEE REPLACEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON THE RIGHT ONE. I ADORE MY JOB AND YES, THERE ARE DAYS THAT ARE WORSE THAN OTHERS....I JUST STAY WITH THE MEDS AND PLUG ALONG......I KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY I WILL BE UNABLE TO WORK, SO I AM ENJOYING LIFE AND MY JOB NOW. AS HAROLD SAID, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS IN THE NURSING FIELD....DOCTORS OFFICES, DESK JOBS...ETC...I HOPE ALL WORKS OUT FOR YOU..PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME ANYTIME IF YOU HAVE MORE ?'S THAT I CAN ANSWER....ADDY:YORKIEGAL2003@... ----- Original Message ----- From: Harold Van Tuyl Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 7:01 PM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Flare ups? I've got the same question about flares and I've had RA for about 15 months. From what I gather you are describing a flare and they may happen even to people with "controlled" RA. If you are really interested in nursing I recommend going for it. Many nurses have desk jobs with hot lines or as counselors. You might look into what might be available other than working in a hospital or doctor's office. Your RA may be managed well enough to do any kind of work, but some suitable employment is probably available in any case. Also you might consider becoming a dietician instead. Good luck and God bless. ----- Original Message ----- From: Matthies Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 12:51 PM Subject: Flare ups? OK, I have a weird question... being new to this and all, can someone tell me the difference between RA pain and a "flare up?" I've read different messages saying that the pain is back and that the person was worried about a flare up. I have been on Methotrexate for about a month now and also on NSAIDS and prednisone until we know that the Mx is working. I'll be OK, with only minimal stiffness, and then I'll wake up and hardly be able to walk, the pain in my feet is so bad. That will last anywhere from a day to three days. Is that a "flare up?" or just normal RA pain. Does this continue regardless of whether a drug is "working?" Here is another question... I badly need advice. I know that I'm months away from knowing which drug combination works for me, but I will need to decide within the next couple of months about going to nursing school. I know that a couple of you are retired nurses out there and I need advice! I don't want to be a defeatist but I do want to be a realist... Is nursing school and the career going to be doable for me?? I know that everyone is different in their response to drugs and have different pain levels but I don't want to go into this with blinders on... Help!! Thank you so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2003 Report Share Posted April 3, 2003 > OK, I have a weird question... being new to this and all, can someone > tell me the difference between RA pain and a " flare up? " I've read > different messages saying that the pain is back and that the person > was worried about a flare up. I have been on Methotrexate for about > a month now and also on NSAIDS and prednisone until we know that the > Mx is working. I'll be OK, with only minimal stiffness, and then > I'll wake up and hardly be able to walk, the pain in my feet is so > bad. That will last anywhere from a day to three days. Is that > a " flare up? " or just normal RA pain. Does this continue regardless > of whether a drug is " working? " Here is another question... I badly > need advice. I know that I'm months away from knowing which drug > combination works for me, but I will need to decide within the next > couple of months about going to nursing school. I know that a couple > of you are retired nurses out there and I need advice! I don't want > to be a defeatist but I do want to be a realist... Is nursing school > and the career going to be doable for me?? I know that everyone is > different in their response to drugs and have different pain levels > but I don't want to go into this with blinders on... Help!! Thank > you so much!! hi sarah, im rosie, have RA since 94 after a car accident i have been on everything and nothing worked until i tried embrel and that works for me with MTX . i wanted to try and answer your question re nursing, i was a nurse for many years it is very, very, hard on the body and body structures. follow your dreams by all means however there are many other softer areas of " nursing " or teaching in the nurse area. personally i would never choose nurseing with RA it is a very rewarding but hard profession even when you are healthy. any way good luck to you and i hope this is of some help. rosie hugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2003 Report Share Posted April 4, 2003 RA is an autoimmune disease and most of the medicines like methotrexate slow down your immune system. I wonder if being around ill people would be a wise choice. Before my rheumatologist would put me on methotrexate he wanted me to stop watching children in latch key because they get sick often and he was concerned. Have you discussed your thoughts with your rheumatologist? For me methotrexate started working in less than 3 months and it was my wonder drug... I could do things I used to do almost as if I were normal again. I still had flare ups occasionally but few and far between. No, RA doesn't hurt all the time when you find the right meds but there are still times when the disease will flare up for a day or two. At least this is what I have experienced .... I hope it helps.... Talk to your rheumatologist and read, read, read. You will find what's right for you. Good Luck. -------Original Message------- From: Rheumatoid Arthritis Date: Friday, April 04, 2003 16:08:44 Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Flare ups? > OK, I have a weird question... being new to this and all, can someone > tell me the difference between RA pain and a "flare up?" I've read > different messages saying that the pain is back and that the person > was worried about a flare up. I have been on Methotrexate for about > a month now and also on NSAIDS and prednisone until we know that the > Mx is working. I'll be OK, with only minimal stiffness, and then > I'll wake up and hardly be able to walk, the pain in my feet is so > bad. That will last anywhere from a day to three days. Is that > a "flare up?" or just normal RA pain. Does this continue regardless > of whether a drug is "working?" Here is another question... I badly > need advice. I know that I'm months away from knowing which drug > combination works for me, but I will need to decide within the next > couple of months about going to nursing school. I know that a couple > of you are retired nurses out there and I need advice! I don't want > to be a defeatist but I do want to be a realist... Is nursing school > and the career going to be doable for me?? I know that everyone is > different in their response to drugs and have different pain levels > but I don't want to go into this with blinders on... Help!! Thank > you so much!! hi sarah, im rosie, have RA since 94 after a car accident i have been on everything and nothing worked until i tried embrel and that works for me with MTX . i wanted to try and answer your question re nursing, i was a nurse for many years it is very, very, hard on the body and body structures. follow your dreams by all means however there are many other softer areas of "nursing" or teaching in the nurse area. personally i would never choose nurseing with RA it is a very rewarding but hard profession even when you are healthy. any way good luck to you and i hope this is of some help. rosie hugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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