Re: Newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

The positive R. factor and CCP tests, along with your description of

symptoms, sounds definitive to me. Knowing you have it, though a

shocking thing, is actually a positive, because now you can treat it.

Two and half years after my diagnosis, I am feeling very well and

happy. I wish the same for you.

Sierra

>

> Hi,

> I am still not convinced that I have this disease, but I do know

something is terribly wrong with my body. I have had problems with my

back over the years. What I was told was either a muscle spasm, or

degenerative disk disease. This has happened to me less than 10

times. But when it did I could barely move. Anyway...I don't know if

it has anything to do with what is wrong with me now. I have been

having pain basically all over my body, at different times. It was in

my neck, my arms and hips really bad for a while. That went away then

it has been in my left calf down to my heel, in that tendon region.

Anyway...it's hard to explain it all. Through as series of blood

tests my Dr. told me I had a high rheumatoid factor. It was 108 the

first time. To make a long story short, I went to a Rheumatologist

and he tested me 7 months later and the rheumatoid factor was 180. He

also did a CCP antibody test and it was 52H. He said this confirmed a

diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. He

> gave me a prescription for Prednisone 2 10mg tablets a day for 7

days. Then call him back and let him know if it helped. It did

not...I was feeling better before I started taking it. I had some

kind of eye infection or something going on the same day I started

taking the medicine. Anyway...I am waiting for him to call me back

and tell me what to do next. I have been trying to make some informed

decisions on this, if in fact I do have this disease. I have been

reading different alternative ways to treat it and about medications.

I am at a loss to decide what to do. Any help would be greatly

appreciated.

> I work 5-6 nights a week 8 hours at a time on my feet. I have

been having more and more trouble just making it through the night.

Also I have mind numbing fatigue. I just don't understand what is

happening to my body.

> Thank you,

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

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call rates.

>

>

[Guest guest]

It sure sounds like the way my RA started. From everything I've

read and been told, the sooner you get started trying to find a

combination of meds that work for you, the sooner you'll start to

feel better. Even more important, aggressive treatment early can

prevent, or at least slow the progression of, serious problems later

on.

>

> Hi,

> I am still not convinced that I have this disease, but I do know

something is terribly wrong with my body. I have had problems with

my back over the years. What I was told was either a muscle spasm,

or degenerative disk disease. This has happened to me less than 10

times. But when it did I could barely move. Anyway...I don't know if

it has anything to do with what is wrong with me now. I have been

having pain basically all over my body, at different times. It was

in my neck, my arms and hips really bad for a while. That went away

then it has been in my left calf down to my heel, in that tendon

region. Anyway...it's hard to explain it all. Through as series of

blood tests my Dr. told me I had a high rheumatoid factor. It was

108 the first time. To make a long story short, I went to a

Rheumatologist and he tested me 7 months later and the rheumatoid

factor was 180. He also did a CCP antibody test and it was 52H. He

said this confirmed a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. He

> gave me a prescription for Prednisone 2 10mg tablets a day for 7

days. Then call him back and let him know if it helped. It did

not...I was feeling better before I started taking it. I had some

kind of eye infection or something going on the same day I started

taking the medicine. Anyway...I am waiting for him to call me back

and tell me what to do next. I have been trying to make some

informed decisions on this, if in fact I do have this disease. I

have been reading different alternative ways to treat it and about

medications. I am at a loss to decide what to do. Any help would be

greatly appreciated.

> I work 5-6 nights a week 8 hours at a time on my feet. I have

been having more and more trouble just making it through the night.

Also I have mind numbing fatigue. I just don't understand what is

happening to my body.

> Thank you,

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> How low will we go? Check out Messenger's low PC-to-Phone

call rates.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi , you wrote " He also did a CCP antibody test and it was 52H.

He said this confirmed a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. " It's my

understanding that this is a fairly new, definitive test to

positively confirm RA. I know I was not convinced when diagnosed 25

years ago, and have periods of time where pain has been more

tolerable than others so it was easy to dismiss or forget that the

RA was there. Now though I am relying more and more on meds to get

me through the day. I just worked a shift at a concert last night,

spent 6.5 hours on my feet serving beverages, boy oh boy are my legs

and especially feet paying the price.

The brain fatigue sounds familiar too, I also have Fibroymyalgia and

one symptom is sleep disturbance which can make the brain a little

fuzzy. RA can have an impact on our brain, or any other internal

organ as well I believe.

Good luck, hope you find some relief.

> >

> > Hi,

> > I am still not convinced that I have this disease, but I do

know

> something is terribly wrong with my body. I have had problems with

> my back over the years. What I was told was either a muscle spasm,

> or degenerative disk disease. This has happened to me less than 10

> times. But when it did I could barely move. Anyway...I don't know

if

> it has anything to do with what is wrong with me now. I have been

> having pain basically all over my body, at different times. It was

> in my neck, my arms and hips really bad for a while. That went

away

> then it has been in my left calf down to my heel, in that tendon

> region. Anyway...it's hard to explain it all. Through as series of

> blood tests my Dr. told me I had a high rheumatoid factor. It was

> 108 the first time. To make a long story short, I went to a

> Rheumatologist and he tested me 7 months later and the rheumatoid

> factor was 180. He also did a CCP antibody test and it was 52H. He

> said this confirmed a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. He

> > gave me a prescription for Prednisone 2 10mg tablets a day for

7

> days. Then call him back and let him know if it helped. It did

> not...I was feeling better before I started taking it. I had some

> kind of eye infection or something going on the same day I started

> taking the medicine. Anyway...I am waiting for him to call me back

> and tell me what to do next. I have been trying to make some

> informed decisions on this, if in fact I do have this disease. I

> have been reading different alternative ways to treat it and about

> medications. I am at a loss to decide what to do. Any help would

be

> greatly appreciated.

> > I work 5-6 nights a week 8 hours at a time on my feet. I have

> been having more and more trouble just making it through the

night.

> Also I have mind numbing fatigue. I just don't understand what is

> happening to my body.

> > Thank you,

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > How low will we go? Check out Messenger's low PC-to-

Phone

> call rates.

> >

> >