Just Diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Yolanda,

Your symptoms are normal for RA. I was diagnosed last April. I

had/have the same problems. Go back and read my previous posts.

RA is a very individual disease and the combination of meds and

dosages vary greatly. It seems to take a significant amount of time

to get them right for each person.

The fatigue is common. I still have it but not as bad as at first. I

am taking 7.5 mg of Prednisone, 200 mg of Plaquinil, and Folic acid

daily. I take 800 mg of Motrin 3 times daily and Hydrocordone 5/500

for pain usually every 3 to 6 hours. I take 100 mg of Trazadone to

help me sleep at night and weekly I take 10 mg of Methotrexate.

It takes months for the Methotrexate and Plaquinil to kick in, that

is why I'm on the Prednisone.

The drugs for RA are called DMARDs, Desease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic

Drugs. There are numerous drugs such as Remicade, Humera, Enbril,

Methotrexate and more.

Also there are the NSAIDs, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs such

as Viox, Celebrex, Motrin etc.

There are several things you may want to ask/discuss with your Doc

and Rheumy (Rheumatologist).

1. Ask about Methotrexate. This is a very common drug used for RA.

2. Ask about Prednisone for a while to relieve swelling and

stiffness. This is a steroid and is hard on the body if used long

term, but works well until the right combination and dosages of drugs

get woked out and starts putting the RA into remission.

Keep coming to this group for support, it has been a God send for me.

I didn't care if I lived or died at first the pain and stiffness were

so debillitating. The people here are wonderful and a big help.

Educate yourself, search the web and get info on this disease and the

drugs used to combat it.

Hang it there, we all in this together.

Good luck and God Bless

Jay

> Hi! My name is Yolanda and I am 30 years old. I have just been

> diagnosed with RA after about 6 months of seeing my family

physican,

> an orthopedic specialist and countless sessions of physical

therapy.

> It all started with pain and stiffness in my left knee. After

taking

> x-rays and being referred to a specialist, they told me I had

Patello

> Femoral Syndrome or runners knee. Off to physical therapy I went

for

> 3 sessions per week. During the 2nd week of therapy the area

> directly behind both of my knees became inflamed along with the

balls

> of my feet and about a month or so later, I started getting pain in

> my fingers and knuckles. After a return trip to my family doctor,

> the physicans assistant did some tests and took blood work to

confirm

> her suspicion of RA. I just had my first visit with a

Rhematologist

> and I don't know whether to celebrate or cry. After dealing with

the

> pain, stiffness and exhaustion for months without any relief, I was

> beginning to think it was all in my head. I was so relieved that

the

> Rhematologist knew exactly how I was feeling (He finished my

> sentences), but now I am frightened. So far I have been dealing

with

> the aches and pains without complaining too much. It usually takes

> me about an hour to be able to walk correctly in the morning. The

> thing that frustrates me the most is the fact that I am physically

> exhausted. No matter how much sleep I get, I wake up feeling like

I

> have been hit with a Mack truck. I have been hobbling into work

> later and later in the morning. Does anyone else have the fatigue

> like I do? My doctor started me on a regimen of Plaquenol and

Vioxx,

> but I am only on my second week of meds. Thanks in advance for your

> response. Reading your posts have given me great comfort.

[Guest guest]

Yolanda, I can't add anything more to what others have posted...."Grandpa Van" and "Jay" seem to share very accurate information (matches what I have learned after years of research), and are quite generous in their willingness to help in any way they can. I just wanted to welcome you and affirm that your symptoms are almost duplicated to mine - before I started on my medication regimen. The fatigue was one of my worst symptoms, but since I have started on Enbrel about 2 months ago, I felt a dramatic improvement within two weeks. A warm hug to you, and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Sandy

From: "Yolanda Piper"

Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Just Diagnosed Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 02:46:41 -0000

Hi! My name is Yolanda and I am 30 years old. I have just been diagnosed with RA after about 6 months of seeing my family physican, an orthopedic specialist and countless sessions of physical therapy. It all started with pain and stiffness in my left knee. After taking x-rays and being referred to a specialist, they told me I had Patello Femoral Syndrome or runners knee. Off to physical therapy I went for 3 sessions per week. During the 2nd week of therapy the area directly behind both of my knees became inflamed along with the balls of my feet and about a month or so later, I started getting pain in my fingers and knuckles. After a return trip to my family doctor, the physicans assistant did some tests and took blood work to confirm her suspicion of RA. I just had my first visit with a Rhematologist and I don't know whether to celebrate or cry. After dealing with the pain, stiffness and exhaustion for months without any relief, I was beginning to think it was all in my head. I was so relieved that the Rhematologist knew exactly how I was feeling (He finished my sentences), but now I am frightened. So far I have been dealing with the aches and pains without complaining too much. It usually takes me about an hour to be able to walk correctly in the morning. The thing that frustrates me the most is the fact that I am physically exhausted. No matter how much sleep I get, I wake up feeling like I have been hit with a Mack truck. I have been hobbling into work later and later in the morning. Does anyone else have the fatigue like I do? My doctor started me on a regimen of Plaquenol and Vioxx, but I am only on my second week of meds. Thanks in advance for your response. Reading your posts have given me great comfort.

[Guest guest]

Hello All,

I have just found out I have Gallstones. I would like help with

decideng to have surgery or not. I am sure I can live without my

gallbladder, but I don't want to if there are alternatives. Any

advice will help. thanks