Guest guest Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Sorry that your reaction to the confirmation of your RA diagnosis caught you off guard, Abby. I wish it were a mistake, too. I think you're having very normal emotions. Hope that the MTX helps and that you'll be feeing better about things very soon. I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] RA diagnosis > > > > It was strongly suspected I had RA but to hear those words from the > rheumatologist this past visit seemed to hit me differently. The > other two times I saw her she said she suspected it. This time she > didn't use those words....she used the diagnosis RA. Even though I > knew it deep down as all the pieces fit, I wonder inside if she is > wrong. Something inside me yells out that maybe she is wrong after > all. Maybe this aching and pain is in my head and it's a dream and > will go away...maybe it's a mistake. > > She said the Sulfasalazine has done all it will do at this point for > my symptoms but I'm still having too much joint pain and it needs to > be treated more. She said it's ok to treat myself with low dose > prednisone on occasion but to use very cautiously and that if I use > it frequently that I should just take it everyday. (Let me just say > that this is not advisable for everyone and shouldn't be done by > everyone--- but because I prescribe medications for others that is > the ONLY reason that I am doing this and I am only taking the > prednisone during an unbearable flare and if it gets too frequent > will take it daily). > > I was given a prescription to start methotrexate too. I decided to > wait and start it on Sunday. Easier for me to remember to take it on > Sundays. I am very new to that med. I didn't want to take it. > > I imagine my reaction to this is normal but dang..... I keep thinking > it must be a mistake. It's kind of scary and frustrating. It's not > the end of the world and it's certainly doable....I have a positive > attitude....but it's frustrating to hurt so often and I really didn't > expect to react this way. > Thanks for hearing me out if you read this far. Thanks. > > Abby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Sorry that your reaction to the confirmation of your RA diagnosis caught you off guard, Abby. I wish it were a mistake, too. I think you're having very normal emotions. Hope that the MTX helps and that you'll be feeing better about things very soon. I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org [ ] RA diagnosis > > > > It was strongly suspected I had RA but to hear those words from the > rheumatologist this past visit seemed to hit me differently. The > other two times I saw her she said she suspected it. This time she > didn't use those words....she used the diagnosis RA. Even though I > knew it deep down as all the pieces fit, I wonder inside if she is > wrong. Something inside me yells out that maybe she is wrong after > all. Maybe this aching and pain is in my head and it's a dream and > will go away...maybe it's a mistake. > > She said the Sulfasalazine has done all it will do at this point for > my symptoms but I'm still having too much joint pain and it needs to > be treated more. She said it's ok to treat myself with low dose > prednisone on occasion but to use very cautiously and that if I use > it frequently that I should just take it everyday. (Let me just say > that this is not advisable for everyone and shouldn't be done by > everyone--- but because I prescribe medications for others that is > the ONLY reason that I am doing this and I am only taking the > prednisone during an unbearable flare and if it gets too frequent > will take it daily). > > I was given a prescription to start methotrexate too. I decided to > wait and start it on Sunday. Easier for me to remember to take it on > Sundays. I am very new to that med. I didn't want to take it. > > I imagine my reaction to this is normal but dang..... I keep thinking > it must be a mistake. It's kind of scary and frustrating. It's not > the end of the world and it's certainly doable....I have a positive > attitude....but it's frustrating to hurt so often and I really didn't > expect to react this way. > Thanks for hearing me out if you read this far. Thanks. > > Abby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 > I was given a prescription to start methotrexate too. I decided to > wait and start it on Sunday. Easier for me to remember to take it on > Sundays. I am very new to that med. I didn't want to take it. > > Abby Abby, i was very frightened of MTX, but my pain is GONE because of it, and I have had almost no side effects. I started with a low dose and gradually moved to my current dose of 20 mg. I could feel my body getting used to it and had various sensations along the way. Now, the only side effect is next-day fatigue. Many people on this site suggested taking it at bedtime, which I do, on Thursday nights. I have Fridays off, and I lay low. I get some housecleaning done, maybe a couple of errands, but a nap is definitely needed in the afternoon. If you work on Mondays, you may want to reconsider your decision to take MTX on Sundays. Good luck! Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 > I was given a prescription to start methotrexate too. I decided to > wait and start it on Sunday. Easier for me to remember to take it on > Sundays. I am very new to that med. I didn't want to take it. > > Abby Abby, i was very frightened of MTX, but my pain is GONE because of it, and I have had almost no side effects. I started with a low dose and gradually moved to my current dose of 20 mg. I could feel my body getting used to it and had various sensations along the way. Now, the only side effect is next-day fatigue. Many people on this site suggested taking it at bedtime, which I do, on Thursday nights. I have Fridays off, and I lay low. I get some housecleaning done, maybe a couple of errands, but a nap is definitely needed in the afternoon. If you work on Mondays, you may want to reconsider your decision to take MTX on Sundays. Good luck! Sierra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Abby, Your reaction is completely normal. We all wish it was a dream (bad dream). I knew the diagnosis was coming for 9 months. My mom has it and when I would tell her how I was feeling, she'd say 'Yep, that's exactly how it feels' every time. But for all those months my rheumatologist would just say it 'probably is RA' or something like that. I knew. Still, the day he said he was ready to call it RA for sure, it was such a big blow. Even expecting it. Even knowing myself that was the correct diagnosis. It's hard to describe how I feel about RA. One on hand I am glad for it, because it forced me to make many changes in my life, and they were all positive changes (less stressful job, better home environment, eating better and exercising). I consider the RA is part of who I am, not a separate thing. I accept the limitations RA causes, like the fact I have to try not to over do it, if I travel I need a day of rest after I get to my destination, I can't wear sexy (bad for your feet) shoes, etc. I have no choice but to accept the limitations. I try to not fight against those things or be angry that I have to accept them. But on the other hand, I also see it as a struggle between me and the RA. I will not let it get out of control and this is my main goal: I will not end up disabled and disfigured like my mother is. That is why I have a positive feeling about the drugs. They are the best tool to keep me in control of the RA, and not the other way around. Jennie > > > It was strongly suspected I had RA but to hear those words from the > rheumatologist this past visit seemed to hit me differently. The > other two times I saw her she said she suspected it. This time she > didn't use those words....she used the diagnosis RA. Even though I > knew it deep down as all the pieces fit, I wonder inside if she is > wrong. Something inside me yells out that maybe she is wrong after > all. Maybe this aching and pain is in my head and it's a dream and > will go away...maybe it's a mistake. > > She said the Sulfasalazine has done all it will do at this point for > my symptoms but I'm still having too much joint pain and it needs to > be treated more. She said it's ok to treat myself with low dose > prednisone on occasion but to use very cautiously and that if I use > it frequently that I should just take it everyday. (Let me just say > that this is not advisable for everyone and shouldn't be done by > everyone--- but because I prescribe medications for others that is > the ONLY reason that I am doing this and I am only taking the > prednisone during an unbearable flare and if it gets too frequent > will take it daily). > > I was given a prescription to start methotrexate too. I decided to > wait and start it on Sunday. Easier for me to remember to take it on > Sundays. I am very new to that med. I didn't want to take it. > > I imagine my reaction to this is normal but dang..... I keep thinking > it must be a mistake. It's kind of scary and frustrating. It's not > the end of the world and it's certainly doable....I have a positive > attitude....but it's frustrating to hurt so often and I really didn't > expect to react this way. > Thanks for hearing me out if you read this far. Thanks. > > Abby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Abby, Your reaction is completely normal. We all wish it was a dream (bad dream). I knew the diagnosis was coming for 9 months. My mom has it and when I would tell her how I was feeling, she'd say 'Yep, that's exactly how it feels' every time. But for all those months my rheumatologist would just say it 'probably is RA' or something like that. I knew. Still, the day he said he was ready to call it RA for sure, it was such a big blow. Even expecting it. Even knowing myself that was the correct diagnosis. It's hard to describe how I feel about RA. One on hand I am glad for it, because it forced me to make many changes in my life, and they were all positive changes (less stressful job, better home environment, eating better and exercising). I consider the RA is part of who I am, not a separate thing. I accept the limitations RA causes, like the fact I have to try not to over do it, if I travel I need a day of rest after I get to my destination, I can't wear sexy (bad for your feet) shoes, etc. I have no choice but to accept the limitations. I try to not fight against those things or be angry that I have to accept them. But on the other hand, I also see it as a struggle between me and the RA. I will not let it get out of control and this is my main goal: I will not end up disabled and disfigured like my mother is. That is why I have a positive feeling about the drugs. They are the best tool to keep me in control of the RA, and not the other way around. Jennie > > > It was strongly suspected I had RA but to hear those words from the > rheumatologist this past visit seemed to hit me differently. The > other two times I saw her she said she suspected it. This time she > didn't use those words....she used the diagnosis RA. Even though I > knew it deep down as all the pieces fit, I wonder inside if she is > wrong. Something inside me yells out that maybe she is wrong after > all. Maybe this aching and pain is in my head and it's a dream and > will go away...maybe it's a mistake. > > She said the Sulfasalazine has done all it will do at this point for > my symptoms but I'm still having too much joint pain and it needs to > be treated more. She said it's ok to treat myself with low dose > prednisone on occasion but to use very cautiously and that if I use > it frequently that I should just take it everyday. (Let me just say > that this is not advisable for everyone and shouldn't be done by > everyone--- but because I prescribe medications for others that is > the ONLY reason that I am doing this and I am only taking the > prednisone during an unbearable flare and if it gets too frequent > will take it daily). > > I was given a prescription to start methotrexate too. I decided to > wait and start it on Sunday. Easier for me to remember to take it on > Sundays. I am very new to that med. I didn't want to take it. > > I imagine my reaction to this is normal but dang..... I keep thinking > it must be a mistake. It's kind of scary and frustrating. It's not > the end of the world and it's certainly doable....I have a positive > attitude....but it's frustrating to hurt so often and I really didn't > expect to react this way. > Thanks for hearing me out if you read this far. Thanks. > > Abby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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