Re: HI! Sharing experiences

[Guest guest]

Dave,

I can concur that being less active seems to exacerbate my pain. In

my case I think that activity is a way of putting my mind to rest

from the constant pain and in concentrating on something else that

keeps my body in motion. It may be painful to be active, but it is

not the same kind of pain we endure when we are inactive.

My " outlook " , too, has changed! From the time I was first diagnosed

with RA at 16, my life has taken many turns, not always with me as

the driver. I am now 39, married, with a soon to be 2 year old

daughter. Yes, there continue to be challenges, and I do not know

how sometimes how I manage to lift her up in my arms, but somehow I

do.

As for Methotrexate it is a DMARD and is meant to mitigate the

affects of RA. I, too, take Methotrexate in tandem with Remicade and

it has worked wonders. I also take prednisone, plaquanil,

diclofenac, and folic acid. I need to get off the prednisone since

it has detrimental side effects. It is always a question of weighing

the quality of life we have now with the possible side effects we

may experience in the future as the result of taking these

medications.

Regards,

Bill