Guest guest Posted January 25, 2004 Report Share Posted January 25, 2004 hi renate im cindy i too have RA but im on other meds and enbrel shots twice a week my sis takes what you take and she went through a yr of pain but then her doc up the does of methotrexate and is doing really well shes so happy its working for her her and i are the ones in my family have RA andmany of my aunts on both sides had it most of them are gone now but they lived a full life they didnt die from RA i hope we can chat more your welcome to email me im cindy 47 hispanic from kansas i also have lupus my email is sweetcindy56@... god bless and keep you safe hugs from kansas cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2004 Report Share Posted January 25, 2004 hi renate, kathy from il. 44 also on mtx injections. took me atleast 6 weeks of feeling ill before i really felt better. i was out of work almost 3 years. i started mtx in november last year. in march i started working again part time. i still am tired and a little cautious of what i eat on the weekends. but i have a life again. if you can stick it out. i found it gets better. good luck to you and these people out here are the greatest. kathy in il Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2004 Report Share Posted January 25, 2004 Welcome, Renate! Sorry you've received an RA diagnosis and that you have a lot of pain. Methotrexate has a very good track record in the treatment of RA. I also believe that injections are the way to go. Are you taking folic acid, too? Give it some time, and, hopefully, you will see a big improvement in the way you're feeling. Stay in touch with your doctor and ask for more help with your pain if you need it. Glad you've been enjoying the mail. I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] new ra patient > hello > I have recently found out that I have RA. I have been reading some of your emails. I had no idea that anyone could have this much pain and not have a cure for it. I only have a little memory of my great aunt having this but I was so young and she died while I was young also. I never gave it much thought and we never talked about it. So now that I have it I have no one to talk to that has any idea of what this is all about. I finially got in to see a rheumatologist last monday. Started me on Methotrexate injections and Celebrex. Don't know how much good it is going to do. I really have enjoyed reading all your mail. It has been very helpfull. Keep them coming. > > Thanks > Renate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2004 Report Share Posted January 25, 2004 Renate, Welcome to the group. My name is Toni and I was diagnosised almost two years ago. I suffered for over a year before I got a diagnosis and treatment. It was a real lifestyle change for me. I started on Arava and Bextra with occasional Prednisone use. After a year the Arava stopped working and I was switched to MTX pills. I had terrible side effects:sore throat, lung involvement, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness and headache. We stopped the MTX pills and I started on injections and still have the same side effects..just no lung involvement or sore throat unless my dose is above 15mg a week. Did you doc also prescribe folic acid to take as long as you are on the MTX? It helps reduce the side effects as well as mTX robs your body of folic acid. Aslo my doc said you should have 1500mg Calcium with Vit D in divided doses through the day as long as you are on prednisone. Prednisone robs your body of calcium and can weaken bones and leave you with osteoporosis. How are you doing on the shots? They are so easy. I take mine before bed on weds. so I can sleep during the worst part of the side effects. I am usually extremely tired and exhausted for the next three days and have nausea, diarrhea, annoying headache and sometimes vomiting. There are others here with plenty of info and links to share. PLease check out the Arthritis foundation site. They have free pamplets you can order and a great magizine you can subscribe too. They have a drug guide you can also get that tells you about the common use drugs to treat RA. I would also recommend acidophilus for the diarrhea. You can get it at the healthfood store or I have seen it at Walmart. Take three times a day the day of your injection and for a few days afterward. It does help slow the diarrhea down. Good luck Toni In a message dated 1/25/04 3:29:06 PM Central Standard Time, writes: > Message: 3 > Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 08:34:39 -0600 > From: " renate dorsey " <renate220@...> > Subject: new ra patient > > hello > I have recently found out that I have RA. I have been reading some of > your emails. I had no idea that anyone could have this much pain and not have a > cure for it. I only have a little memory of my great aunt having this but I > was so young and she died while I was young also. I never gave it much thought > and we never talked about it. So now that I have it I have no one to talk to > that has any idea of what this is all about. I finially got in to see a > rheumatologist last monday. Started me on Methotrexate injections and Celebrex. > Don't know how much good it is going to do. I really have enjoyed reading all > your mail. It has been very helpfull. Keep them coming. > > Thanks > Renate > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2004 Report Share Posted January 25, 2004 hi kathy from il. thank you for the advice. I only found out 4 months ago that I have this. It got bad fast. I went to a chiropractor for some shoulder pain and the next day after he popped all my bones I could not move. It has been down hill since then. I am 42 and live in a very small town. Guess I will learn the hard way all about this. Does what you eat make a difference? I know the weather seams to. I am taking prednisone, darveset, muscle relaxers, calcium with D , folic acid, celebrex, and B6, and a multivitam along with the mtx injections. I am very thankful to have found this support group. Thanks Renate from Oklahoma Re: [ ] new ra patient hi renate, kathy from il. 44 also on mtx injections. took me atleast 6 weeks of feeling ill before i really felt better. i was out of work almost 3 years. i started mtx in november last year. in march i started working again part time. i still am tired and a little cautious of what i eat on the weekends. but i have a life again. if you can stick it out. i found it gets better. good luck to you and these people out here are the greatest. kathy in il Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 Thanks Toni I have only taken one shot and no problems yet. It took me 4 months to get in to see the rheumy. I have been on 15 mg of prednisone a day for those months. I do appreciate the imformation though because I don't have a clue as to what to expect. Thanks again and I enjoy the company. Renate new ra patient > > hello > I have recently found out that I have RA. I have been reading some of > your emails. I had no idea that anyone could have this much pain and not have a > cure for it. I only have a little memory of my great aunt having this but I > was so young and she died while I was young also. I never gave it much thought > and we never talked about it. So now that I have it I have no one to talk to > that has any idea of what this is all about. I finially got in to see a > rheumatologist last monday. Started me on Methotrexate injections and Celebrex. > Don't know how much good it is going to do. I really have enjoyed reading all > your mail. It has been very helpfull. Keep them coming. > > Thanks > Renate > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 well i just find if i eat lighter. nothing spicy, no coffee. i find i feel a little better. just over the weekend after my injection. kathy in il Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2009 Report Share Posted August 15, 2009 I understand how you feel. In my taking the methotrexate and a host of other meds for different things, my hair is so thin and combs out. I used to have very long hair and after having surgery after surgery for different things I just keep it cut short and or wear a hat. My mood swings got better after a while and my kids or family just did not understand what was going on. Pain will make you do or say things and you don't realize it until someone brings it to your attention or stop coming around. I have moderate to severe RA and take methotrexate only now. Am on monitoring stage with the Rituxin med and not due another transfusion. The meds work for a while until my body decides it has had enough and quit working. With the right meds and support you will get better. There is no cure for what we have and so adjusting to it and getting in a comfortable way with it is what you have to do. But do not let it stop you from doing things. My motto is " If I do not move I will not move " . Irish aka Ms Pisces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2009 Report Share Posted August 15, 2009 hi, and WELCOMEto the group mousie. i to have a supportive hub but sometimes it's just sooo overwhelming. bcuz of my mood changes and the way i act towards the pain, i too feel like he's having a hard time to deal!!! hang in there & i hope u feel better soon...god bless, melynda ________________________________ From: pcortas1 <pcortas1@...> Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 12:37:26 PM Subject: [ ] New RA patient I was diagnoised about 1yr ago with RA. I had no idea what to expect but my Rhuemy & 25yr old daughter gave me all the bad news to expect. I have gone thru prednesdoine ,Embrel and now on Humira every week. I am very frustrated because I see I can control the pain but my joint damage in my fingers is getting worse. My energy level is verly low and according to my Rhuemy my inflamation does not come down. I have lost alot hair & that is very devastiting for me. I live in Calif. I am married, 53yrs old and have a very supporting husband but I have very terrible mood changes due to how I feel and think sometimes he thinks I am very moody & hard to deal with. Mousie ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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