Re: new here intro Kristi loooooong post

[Guest guest]

Hi Kristi:

Welcome! This is a wonderful place to come to for

information, support and care. We truly do understand

what you are going through, and you will find that it

really helps to talk with people who " get it " .

My first flare (although I had aches and pains in my

hands for quite a while before that, but as I was

making and designing jewelry, I figured it was just

overworking my hands) came on suddenly overnight. I

was reading that evening, holding a book up, and my

thumbs started to become very painful. I went to bed

and during the night, my hands started throbbing with

pain, and swelled up like little balloons. My feet

also swelled up. My doctor took one look at my hands

and asked if I had anybody with RA in the family -

yes, my grandmother. I knew then what she was talking

about and it scared me because my grandmother was very

crippled by it. Not the diagnosis I was expecting, a

little arthritis maybe, but RA? My age was 45, no way

was I getting RA at that age. But that was the dx,

and I have learned over the years to cope, to adjust,

and to live with it. It can be done! Don't loose

hope. Read everything you can find, library books,

internet sites, knowledge is power, and this group is

also wonderful for information too. I am still

learning.

Celebrex is an anti-inflammatory so it won't really do

anything to stop the pain, other than taking away the

inflammation which should help some. The pain is more

caused by the disease process itself which is

attacking your joints. To get control over that, the

rheumy will put you on (or should, as aggressive early

treatment of RA is extremely important) a DMARD which

is a disease modifying drug like Plaquenil or

Methotrexate, or others.

When I was first dx 8 years ago, I was put on

Plaquenil, Motrin, and Prednisone, then dropped the

Prednisone down within three months, and was on Plaq

and Motrin for almost 2-1/2 years with good result.

Then, as they do, it stopped helping, and I went on

and off other meds. My current meds are Mtx, Enbrel,

Mobic, and Ultram. I also take meds for fibromyalgia,

high blood pressure, and asthma.

No one can tell you for sure what your treatment

course will be like, or how the disease will affect

you. It is all so very individual. Our responses to

medications are different. Your doctor may have to

try a few meds before finding one, or a combo of meds,

that will help you, and you will have to be patient.

It takes some of them up to two months or so to kick

in.

You can try rice socks which you heat in the microwave

and form nicely to joints, hot baths or showers, and

heating pads for relief. Some people feel better

using ice. Rest as much as possible - there is no

getting away from the fatigue, so it is better just to

nap when you need to, or at least sit down, put your

feet up, and relax by watching t.v., reading, etc.

Housework should be done in small stages, I do one

room at a time, and no longer than one hour, or I will

pay for it. Somedays I can do more, some days nothing

at all, it all depends, and RA is very frustrating

that way.

You are not alone, we are here, and we have a whole

lot of information and knowledge, and have tried just

about every medication and treatment known to RA, so

you are in the right place. We are here to help you -

hang in there -

Kathe in CA

--- Kristi <venuslove106@...> wrote:

> Hello to everyone. My name is Kristi and I have

> gotten > a " preliminary " diagnosis of RA. I haven't

seen a Rheumatologist yet and my GP tested> me for

several > things, but I am not even sure what, except

that he> told me my I > didn't have Lupus but I have

RA factor. My symptoms> are constant pain > in my

ankle and wrist and extreme fatigue. I feel> so lost

and > confused. I > am supposed to see the Rheumy in

about 3 weeks. I> am on Celebrex > though. I can't

really tell if it is helping or> not. Did anyone else

> start with these type of symptoms? > Thanks for any

info. and hugs to all of you who are> suffering so >

much.

> Kristi

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Kathe,

Thank you so much for the welcome and your story! I appreciate the sharing.

I am trying to read everything I can get my hands on. My father-in-law was

diagnosed with RA about 4 years ago and he is becoming quite disabled from

activity. He, like most people here, describe having good days and bad ones. I

thought it strange and frustrating that there is no indication of what

precipitates a flare for everyone.. it is all individual it seems.

I wondered about the Celebrex. I was concerned that the pain and the symptoms

were my imagination because I have not had the swelling- just the pain. I am

pretty young and, according to my x-rays, have no joint damage that they can

tell. From what I have read, it seems that early diagnosis and aggressive

treatment is important to control the damage.

Is it common to be on prednisone for RA? I think I have read a lot of members

here that are on it, but I wonder if that is something that is common to start

off treatment with or if that comes later when other meds stop working?

Anyway, I thank you all for your encouragement and sharing your knowledge! I

am glad to be here! SMILES

Kristi

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