New to RA

[Guest guest]

Two years ago, I noticed two lumps on the back of my knees. Within a

week my feet, ankles, knees, wrist and hands were swollen and very

painfull. My primary care doctor acted like it was no big deal. I

couldn't think straight, couldn't stand the pain. The doc said take

advil. I was taking 20 advils a day with no relief. Finally saw a

rheumatologist who just looked at me and said you have RA. Put me on

Prednisone and took blood test. I have a negative RA test result but

a positive CCP test for moderate RA.

I have been on methotrexate it caused severe vomiting and diarrhea.

I would pass out. Then Arava caused severe head pain, I thought my

brain would explode. Then Imuran again severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Now the doc wants to put me on Enbrel. I am scared to death of the

side effects.

I'm on 10mg of prednisone for the swelling and percocet for the

sciatic pain going down my left leg and Ambien CR to help me sleep.

I was put on Amitriptyline 50mg because doc says I also have

fibromyalgia and depression. The Amitriptyline made my muscles jerk

and my restless legs go crazy, (Sleep lab diagnosed RLS six years

ago), I was walking around so groggy I couldn't think but I could not

fall asleep so I stopped taking it. I also have Hashimotos

underactive thyroid for which I take levoxyl.

I have no joint pain never have. All the pain is in my ligaments,

tendons, and muscles and nerves.

I have a doc with no bed side manner. I have no one to talk to. I'm

up all night. I feel very alone and frustrated. I had breast cancer

in 1999 and my right breast was removed it had traveled to the lymph

nodes and I had to have Chemo. I handled all that by myself and did

fine. Because the doctors knew what had to be done and did it.

This disease is frustrating. The docs don't seem to know what to do.

My biggest fear is that I have no idea of what to do. My life is

slipping by. I didn't fight and win over cancer to live like this.

I would like to hear from other people with multiple syptoms of

Rheumatoid disease so that I don't feel like I'm the only one.