Guest guest Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 Welcome Angie! I also have RA, and it is hard to live with for sure. How long have you been on the meds? They should start working soon. After awhile, you will find that you have to keep trying different meds, until you find the one(s) that work. You do have a handful trying to work with the littl ones, and having swelling and pain. I pray that the meds start working soon. Maybe someone has some other ideas for you, hugs Tawny > Hi I am newly diagnosed with rheumtoid arthritis. I have > been in great pain and swelling in my joints since May. Very > relieved that i now know what is causing this but I don't know if i > can deal with all this. It seems so much too handle. I am 30 years > old and work as a teacher of 2 to three year olds in a daycare > center so I am having problems with the pain and swelling as I have > to be active with them. My doctor has but me on hydroxychloroquine, > methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone. Does anyone know how long > before i feel any relief and if there are any secrets to deal with > the pain and swelling. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 Hi Angie, I am sorry that you have been afflicted with RA. If you are lucky you will have relief shortly...If not you could be in for a long road. The heat helps me the most. I am on Remicade, MTX, Mobic, Lortab, folic acid and skellaxin. I haven't gone into remission since I was diagnosed. That isn't good news for you I know but I do do better in heat away from cold or air conditioning. I don't know how you are going to be able to do your job for long but I will put you on my prayer list. God bless, Althea > Hi I am newly diagnosed with rheumtoid arthritis. I have > been in great pain and swelling in my joints since May. Very > relieved that i now know what is causing this but I don't know if i > can deal with all this. It seems so much too handle. I am 30 years > old and work as a teacher of 2 to three year olds in a daycare > center so I am having problems with the pain and swelling as I have > to be active with them. My doctor has but me on hydroxychloroquine, > methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone. Does anyone know how long > before i feel any relief and if there are any secrets to deal with > the pain and swelling. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Welcome to the group, Angie! How long have you been on that combination of meds and how much of each are you taking? I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] new member Angie > Hi I am newly diagnosed with rheumtoid arthritis. I have > been in great pain and swelling in my joints since May. Very > relieved that i now know what is causing this but I don't know if i > can deal with all this. It seems so much too handle. I am 30 years > old and work as a teacher of 2 to three year olds in a daycare > center so I am having problems with the pain and swelling as I have > to be active with them. My doctor has but me on hydroxychloroquine, > methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone. Does anyone know how long > before i feel any relief and if there are any secrets to deal with > the pain and swelling. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 I'm taking Humira, Naproxin, Ultraset. I have a daycare and with help everything is okay. The hardest part to me is changing diapers on the floor as I will not use a changing table. My son fell off of a changing table in a daycare when he was 8 months old so they scare me. Other than that I don't have any major problems. I do have flareups. The fatigue is the worst for me usually but at times I do have pain. For my hands I have found that a manicure heated mit (you can buy them at Sally Beauty Supply) helps a lot. I put my hands in it with lotions and vinyl gloves for about 15 minutes. The moist heat really helps a lot. Becky [ ] new member Angie Hi I am newly diagnosed with rheumtoid arthritis. I have been in great pain and swelling in my joints since May. Very relieved that i now know what is causing this but I don't know if i can deal with all this. It seems so much too handle. I am 30 years old and work as a teacher of 2 to three year olds in a daycare center so I am having problems with the pain and swelling as I have to be active with them. My doctor has but me on hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone. Does anyone know how long before i feel any relief and if there are any secrets to deal with the pain and swelling. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Hi Angie...When all four of our kids were in school, I went to college [graduated with honors] and got a degree in early childhood to teach pre schoolers, something I wanted so bad. I loved my job with the little ones but struggled with the pain for 7 years until my doctor insisted I quit. I knew he was right. It is such a physically demanding job that it is not for people in chronic pain. It was hard for me to give up after I worked so hard at school. You may have to think about another line of work. It will make a big difference. Good luck. Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 I have been on them for about a week I take two tablets twice daily every wednesday of the methotrexate 2.5 MG, one capsule every day of folic acid 1 MG< i tablet every morning of prednisone 5 MG< and 1 tablet every morning and 1/2 tablet every evening of hydroxychloroquine 200 MG Thanks for the welcome > Welcome to the group, Angie! > > How long have you been on that combination of meds and how much of each > are you taking? > > > > > I'll tell you where to go! > > Mayo Clinic in Rochester > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester > > s Hopkins Medicine > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org > > > [ ] new member Angie > > > > Hi I am newly diagnosed with rheumtoid arthritis. I have > > been in great pain and swelling in my joints since May. Very > > relieved that i now know what is causing this but I don't know if i > > can deal with all this. It seems so much too handle. I am 30 years > > old and work as a teacher of 2 to three year olds in a daycare > > center so I am having problems with the pain and swelling as I have > > to be active with them. My doctor has but me on hydroxychloroquine, > > methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone. Does anyone know how long > > before i feel any relief and if there are any secrets to deal with > > the pain and swelling. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Thanks for your input I am very afraid i will end up having to find a new job. I will be lost as those kids are mine too thats how I feel. It is very demanding I have been coming hoe and my knees, ankles, hands and elbows are so tender, stiff and swollen i don't feel like doing anything else. It is the only type of job I have every done I have worked in the childcare field for 12 years so i really hope i can hold off for a long time. Thanks Angie > Hi Angie...When all four of our kids were in school, I went to college > [graduated with honors] and got a degree in early childhood to teach pre schoolers, > something I wanted so bad. I loved my job with the little ones but struggled > with the pain for 7 years until my doctor insisted I quit. I knew he was right. > It is such a physically demanding job that it is not for people in chronic > pain. It was hard for me to give up after I worked so hard at school. You may > have to think about another line of work. It will make a big difference. Good > luck. Judy > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 How long have you had RA. Did you have a time when you didn't think you would be able to keep your line of work. I question myself daily. I love working with them as they are " my kids " i don't know anything but that. All my kids are being pottytrained so they are in underwear or pull-ups. Some days i have trouble helping them pull or push their pants down. I also don't have alot of help I usually do all the lifting, changing and being on my feet most of the time. Thanks for any info. > I'm taking Humira, Naproxin, Ultraset. I have a daycare and with help everything is okay. The hardest part to me is changing diapers on the floor as I will not use a changing table. My son fell off of a changing table in a daycare when he was 8 months old so they scare me. Other than that I don't have any major problems. I do have flareups. The fatigue is the worst for me usually but at times I do have pain. For my hands I have found that a manicure heated mit (you can buy them at Sally Beauty Supply) helps a lot. I put my hands in it with lotions and vinyl gloves for about 15 minutes. The moist heat really helps a lot. > > Becky > [ ] new member Angie > > > Hi I am newly diagnosed with rheumtoid arthritis. I have > been in great pain and swelling in my joints since May. Very > relieved that i now know what is causing this but I don't know if i > can deal with all this. It seems so much too handle. I am 30 years > old and work as a teacher of 2 to three year olds in a daycare > center so I am having problems with the pain and swelling as I have > to be active with them. My doctor has but me on hydroxychloroquine, > methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone. Does anyone know how long > before i feel any relief and if there are any secrets to deal with > the pain and swelling. Thanks for any help > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2004 Report Share Posted July 17, 2004 Welcome to the group Angie. I hope your meds will help you and you can continue doing daycare. Is there a teenager that you could hire that could be your helper? I was watching my grandson but when he got so big and weighed 25 lbs, I couldn¹t do it anymore. It broke my heart to stop watching him, but I felt his safety was in jeopardy so I had to stop. Hopefully you will get some relief quickly. a > Thanks for your input I am very afraid i will end up having to find > a new job. I will be lost as those kids are mine too thats how I > feel. It is very demanding I have been coming hoe and my knees, > ankles, hands and elbows are so tender, stiff and swollen i don't > feel like doing anything else. It is the only type of job I have > every done I have worked in the childcare field for 12 years so i > really hope i can hold off for a long time. > > Thanks Angie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2004 Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Angie, Your physician has you on a good combination of meds, but the dosages are fairly low. If you don't see some improvement very soon, please call him and tell him. The prednisone should help fairly rapidly - usually no more than a few days, but, perhaps, you need more. If the pain and swelling are interfering with your ability to do your job, let him know ASAP (this week). Often, prednisone is used to bring very quick relief while waiting for the slower acting meds (in your case, MTX and hydroxychloroquine) to have an effect, and then the prednisone is phased out. According to the s Hopkins RA information below, MTX has an onset of action of as early as 4 to 6 weeks, 2 to 4 months for hydroxychloroquine. http://www.hopkins-arthritis.som.jhmi.edu/rheumatoid/rheum_treat.html#dmards Good luck, and please let us know how you are doing! I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] new member Angie > > > > > > > Hi I am newly diagnosed with rheumtoid arthritis. I have > > > been in great pain and swelling in my joints since May. Very > > > relieved that i now know what is causing this but I don't know > if i > > > can deal with all this. It seems so much too handle. I am 30 > years > > > old and work as a teacher of 2 to three year olds in a daycare > > > center so I am having problems with the pain and swelling as I > have > > > to be active with them. My doctor has but me on > hydroxychloroquine, > > > methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone. Does anyone know how > long > > > before i feel any relief and if there are any secrets to deal > with > > > the pain and swelling. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2004 Report Share Posted July 19, 2004 , Thank you very much for your input. I talked to my doctor today as i am in so much pain and it hurts to move. He has me taking 2 of the prednisone plus gave me tylenol 3. He wants me to give the medicines some more time as i have only taken the methotrexate once. I go back and see him August 10 but then i have to figure out what I am doing since my husband can't take me downtown to his office all the time. I don't know, but i am hoping he may have another office elsewhere. Thanks for your input and listening to me I don't really talk about it much to anyone They just don't understand the pain i don't think. Thanks again Angie > > > Welcome to the group, Angie! > > > > > > How long have you been on that combination of meds and how much of > > each > > > are you taking? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I'll tell you where to go! > > > > > > Mayo Clinic in Rochester > > > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester > > > > > > s Hopkins Medicine > > > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org > > > > > > > > > [ ] new member Angie > > > > > > > > > > Hi I am newly diagnosed with rheumtoid arthritis. I have > > > > been in great pain and swelling in my joints since May. Very > > > > relieved that i now know what is causing this but I don't know > > if i > > > > can deal with all this. It seems so much too handle. I am 30 > > years > > > > old and work as a teacher of 2 to three year olds in a daycare > > > > center so I am having problems with the pain and swelling as I > > have > > > > to be active with them. My doctor has but me on > > hydroxychloroquine, > > > > methotrexate, folic acid, and prednisone. Does anyone know how > > long > > > > before i feel any relief and if there are any secrets to deal > > with > > > > the pain and swelling. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.