Hello

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I just found this group and I've been reading some of the posts. I'm

not sure I have RA so I'm trying to learn everything I can about it.

Last summer I had the flu and it affected my joints. My dr. said it

would clear up in six to eight weeks, which it did. Then in November I

woke up one morning and couldn't bend my legs. It felt like someone

was shoving icepicks in my kneecaps. My hands and hips hurt, too.

Over the next couple of weeks I saw several doctors and had blood tests

done on five separate occasions. All the tests came back normal except

for one that showed an RF of 34.

Since then I've been seeing a rheumatologist. He told me RA can

develop as the result of a viral infection like the one I had last

summer. He put me on 400mg of plaquinil and 1200mg of ibuprofin a day.

I feel fine except first thing in the morning. I wake up stiff and

achey and my hands hurt. I noticed that I wake up with my hands bent

way back or curled under, even though when I go to bed I lie in the

yoga " corpse position " (hands at sides). I'm wondering if the way I

sleep has anything to do with how I feel when I wake up, and why I bend

my hands like this when I'm asleep in the first place. I always ache

when I get out of bed, but within minutes I feel fine, even before I

take my pills.

I'm also worried about taking so much ibuprofin for months on end. I

know it causes liver damage in high doses, but my rheumatologist says

I'm not taking enough to do damage. And what are the side effects of

plaquenil? I'm not sure I need to take these drugs. The dr. always

comments on my " swollen " knuckles, but I've always had big bony hands.

I'm really confused and wonder if I'm doing the right thing by

continuing on the drugs. I'm the kind of person who doesn't like to

take anything unless I really need it. I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Grommie

[Guest guest]

Hi , I've never had people tell me I'm lazy but they usually give me not-so-friendly looks. I'm 25 and have had arthritis for 3 years. When I tell people that I can't do something because I have arthritis people usually give me the look that says they don't believe me. It was really hard in the beginning when friends and colleagues I had known before my arthritis didn't understand the new limitations I had (I didn't either). Stay strong. The only way I've been able to respond to these looks is by educating people that arthritis does affect people under the age of 60.

Take care,

Steph in VA

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>Hey there, >my name is . >i am 34 years old and i have R.A. >I have had it sence i was 12 years old. >has anyone ever had others tell you that you where lazy but your not.. >i have had others tell me i was lazy and they dont care what my doctors >think >i know i am not lazy but it hurts when others say you are when they dont >know how you feel living with Arthristis. >I Know that i have church family that know me and understands me puls my >family that has been through alot with me knows i am not lazy...i dont >give up sometimes when friends think i am lazy i just get so depressed i >go see my doctor for my arthristis this thursday after noon... >i think that i will have to talk to him about what to do about my nevers >and being so stress out over things...if you like you all may email me >anytime... > angela > > >