Re: New member and new to RA in KC

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Welcome to a great group! We have very supportive and

caring people here, and our moderators, and

a, are forever searching for information for us.

You are right, there is no way to tell what kind of

course your RA will take. There is no " normal "

anymore for me, unless you count not ever knowing how

you are going to feel from day to day, or hour to hour

normal lol.

I have had RA for 6 years, at least that was when I

was dx, I know I had it earlier than that, but just

called it aches and pains as I was 45 and figured I

was just " getting up there " . Well, I am 51 now and

have been on many meds for my RA. My combo at this

time is Methotrexate and Enbrel, and it is working

very well, I also take Ultracet and Mobic. I do not

have any x-ray findings of any bone damage, and my

blood work is always good. I started on

Hydrochloroquine (Plaquenil) and did really well on it

for almost 2-1/2 years, and I hope that it is good for

you too! Give it about 6 to 8 weeks to kick in, and

remember to get your eye exams regularly.

It is very frustrating dealing with this disease, in

particular because there is no set way it will affect

you. However, if you get a good doctor who puts you

on aggressive and early RA medications, you have a

very good chance of not having any bony erosions or

deformities and continuing to live your life much as

you did, with compromises of course for those pain

flares and fatigue. I still ride my horse, as not as

I used to, but I still do and I consider that a very

positive thing. I need more help getting up and down,

but I have adjusted and use steps or a bucket to

mount, and a friend's firm grip on my horse so he does

not move. Once I am on, I feel like my old " normal "

and I love my riding. Great therapy.

Don't give up hope - there is life after RA - maybe

not exactly what you had planned, but you will learn

to adjust to the RA and all it brings, and keep on

going. For me, yes, I have flares and still am tired

a lot of the time, but my life still goes on pretty

much as it did at the time I was dx. I did have to

stop making jewelry, which I miss, but have just

started up a little business with my daughter and best

friend on ebay selling horse tack. I will be doing the

Arthritis Walk the end of this month here in

Riverside, CA, so my legs and feet will get a work out

that they have not had in a while, but I am going to

do it!

Take heart, ! Hang in there! We truly do

understand what you are going through, and are there

for you -

Kathe in CA

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Kathe

" To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

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