Great day : )

[Guest guest]

First a,

Let me thank you for all the info that you sent...I am sifting

through it now and it all seems so helpful.

To everyone else (as I slowly learn names) thanks for the support and

thoughts.

My Dr's visit today did not start out as well as expected. I still

have to wait a week to learn if I qualify for the study. This new

Dr. thought I had a class to get to so my initial meeting with him

was very rushed..(not to mention 2 hours after my scheduled appt)...

but after explaining that I did not have school today...things calmed

down.

Unlike Dr. Zashin, who is an excellent Dr...(and the first dr who's

office I did not leave crying) The Dr. prescribed medication for me

instead of waiting for the trial to start. I am going to be taking

Methotrexate injections and Predisone (sp?) pills. I am excited

about this becase even without medical insurance...these treatments

are going to cost me less than $20 a month...a figure I can

definitely afford.

Reading all of the postings have helped me immensley in the past few

days....I have recently been very depressed since the diagnosis and I

had to call my fiancee to the dr's office today because I was so

upset and hysterical. I know that the dr's have caught this disease

early with me as my x-rays show no signs of damage to my hands. I am

slowly learning that the faster I can get on medications, the better

chance I have of returning to normal activities. I am a very active

person, and my recent flare ups have made it impossible for me to

type with more than 2 fingers (and they are on the same hand) and I

am a 70+ wpm typer.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I truly appreciate all of the

fantastic information you have been able to provide and for your

thoughts and prayers. You all make getting through the day much

easier. I will keep you updated as I start my medications tommorrow.

Thanks for listening....

Jen : )

[Guest guest]

Welcome to our group . I¹m sorry about your RA diagnosis. It must

be difficult to deal with when you¹re a full time student, especially having

no insurance. I hope the mtx (methotrexate) helps you. It¹s one of the

oldest and most widely prescribed meds for RA.

The prednisone has some side effects that you should be aware of. It¹s a

wonderful pain reliever, but comes with a big price tag when taken long

term. It¹s difficult to get off of once you take it for any long period of

time. Once the mtx starts helping, your doctor may wean you off of the

prednisone.

http://vasculitis.med.jhu.edu/prednisone.htm

http://www.midwestarthritis.com/html/steroids.htm

http://www.aafp.org/afp/980800ap/zoorob.html

I¹m glad the info I sent helped you. At the bottom of every email is a link

to our website. It has a lot of info that you may want to read. I know how

depressing this diagnoses is. I was younger than you when I was dx¹d.

Sometimes it affects children. But some people have mild disease and can

lead a full life. I pray you are one of them. It may help to take the mtx

injection at night so that you can sleep off any side effects such as nausea

or fatigue. Some people have no side effects.

a