Re: Hi...I am new here. I was just diagnosed with R.A.

[Guest guest]

Hello, I'm 36 and was diagnosed about 18 mos. ago. You're NOT crazy. It's NOT

your weight and it's NOT the cokes, either. Get your hubby some quick info.

from the net. Obviously, losing weight will always make you feel better, but it

will NOT get rid of RA. Your rheumatologist probably has lots of pamphlets you

can take home. What medicine is he going to try you on first?

in Texas

bwf_dragonfly <bwf_dragonfly@...> wrote:

Hi,

I am 34 years old and just found out last week that I have R.A.

I am having a hard time with it. My Family Doc...took two weeks to get

my blood work back....

I feel like crap and everyone thinks I am crazy. I am fine some days

and others I wake up and can not walk.

My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being overweight, and

for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much better

when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

better.

My pain started in sept, and was in my shoulders. Now my knees are the

worst and my toes.

[Guest guest]

I was recently diagnosed with RA and Fibro. Oh too many times my

husband questioned my sanity over the past few years. He knows what

is going on with me is real now. He has gone to doc appointments with

me and I send links to his e-mail for him to read. Don't let the

hubby get to you. He may be scared and can't say what he's really

thinking!

Theresa

>

> Hi,

> I am 34 years old and just found out last week that I have R.A.

> I am having a hard time with it. My Family Doc...took two weeks to

get

> my blood work back....

> I feel like crap and everyone thinks I am crazy. I am fine some

days

> and others I wake up and can not walk.

> My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being overweight,

and

> for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

> I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much

better

> when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

> better.

> My pain started in sept, and was in my shoulders. Now my knees are

the

> worst and my toes.

>

[Guest guest]

I think most of us have dealt with " it's all in your head " . My own wife had

that attitude for a long time because she couldn't see any physical

difference. My older sister still says that to me after 17 years of

suffering the same fate as our mother, and she still thinks 'it's all in our

heads' even after her own daughter was suffering Fibro and some RA, and was

found dead one morning with a needle in her arm.

It takes time and some cooperation for the family unit to succeed is

handling the effects of RA on the family. Sometimes it never happens and the

family is broken up simply because you can't do the things you did before

'for no obvious' reason. I was lucky because we have been married since 1964

and are still on our honeymoon. I hope you and Kitt and the rest with this

family problem have the same luck as I.

Dennis in Eastexas

" It's not Rocket Surgery "

[ ] Hi...I am new here. I was just diagnosed with R.A.

> Hi,

> I am 34 years old and just found out last week that I have R.A.

> I am having a hard time with it. My Family Doc...took two weeks to get

> my blood work back....

> I feel like crap and everyone thinks I am crazy. I am fine some days

> and others I wake up and can not walk.

> My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being overweight, and

> for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

> I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much better

> when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

> better.

> My pain started in sept, and was in my shoulders. Now my knees are the

> worst and my toes.

[Guest guest]

You know, there are a lot of reasons that other people -- including

those closest to us -- don't want to believe we have RA, especially in

the beginning.

Your husband, for example, might be HOPING that cokes are causing your

pain because it's something that's in your control, therefore it would

only be temporary.

Sometimes other people want to believe that we are somehow responsible

for having RA (or some other calamity) because they can feel reassured

that it won't happen to them if they just don't do " X " (whatever they

attribute the cause to be).

And of course it's difficult for someone to immediately accept a serious

diagnosis, whether it's the person who's been given the diagnosis or the

people who love him/her. There are a lot of stages to get to the point

of acceptance... including denial -- believing that it must be a

mistake, bargaining -- believing that if we do something, it will all go

away-- anger, helplessness, etc.

Many people do make it through these difficult stages, but it's not at

all easy.

Take care,

--- In , " bwf_dragonfly " <bwf_dragonfly@...>

wrote:

> My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being overweight,

and

> for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

[Guest guest]

Did he not say anything about putting you on a DMARD (disease modifying

arthritic drug) like methotrexate?

Sue

On Thursday, January 18, 2007, at 12:26 AM, bwf_dragonfly wrote:

> I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much better

> when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

> better.

[Guest guest]

I have to disagree with you. Losing weight can make a HUGE

difference. True it will NOT cure RA...but does help.

I lost 20 lbs and went on bariatric diet after lapband surgery and had a 9

month remission!!! The more weight I lose the better I feel. Far less

fatigue and less back, hip, knee, ankle and foot pain.

I read somewhere that you feet carry 3 times your weight every time your

step so if you weigh 200 lbs then every step you take is 600lbs!!!! a 20

difference in weight makes 60lbs relief to your feet.

Drinking coke...well the regular will put weight on your. My hubby was

drinking 24 ozs of coke a day and gained nearly 70 lbs...stopped the coke and

lost 50 lbs without making any other lifestyle changes....so you hubby does

have

a point there.

Please keep in mind just as you the patient goes through stages of greiving

over the diagnosis so do those around you. So he may be in big time denial.

Take him with you to the doc so he can hear with his own ears. My hubby

felt the same way until he saw the x-rays, talked to the doc and saw those

patients in the waiting room that did not get any treatment with there horribly

disfigured hands, and legs and in wheelchairs.

Good luck

Toni

[Guest guest]

Hi, my name is Marina. First off, your are NOT crazy. There will

days that you make yourself feel like that. Especially if the pain

moves around. Don't let your family get to you. You have enough to

deal with that you don't need that added stress. Stress can make

your symptoms worse, as well. Do you have a follow up with your

rheumatologist? Feel free to ask any questions you may have. This

group is a wealth of information. I was diagnosed at the age of 32

and was fortunate enough to find this group. I'm a nurse and you

think I would have plenty of support from other nurses. Not the

case. It seems that this is one of those diseases that you don't

understand unless you have it. I didn't fully understand it until I

got it. Family and friends don't always get it because for the most

part, you don't look sick. We have all been there. You are NOT

alone in this. We are all here for you....Marina

>

> Hi,

> I am 34 years old and just found out last week that I have R.A.

> I am having a hard time with it. My Family Doc...took two weeks

to get

> my blood work back....

> I feel like crap and everyone thinks I am crazy. I am fine some

days

> and others I wake up and can not walk.

> My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being

overweight, and

> for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

> I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much

better

> when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

> better.

> My pain started in sept, and was in my shoulders. Now my knees

are the

> worst and my toes.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis, I have had RA for 6 years now.

I am still looking

for the right treatment. I am presently taking an injection of

methotrexate and 2 injections of enbrel.

lt is the hardest thing that I have ever had to deal with. " I HATE

IT! " But I am very lucky to have

a husband that takes such good care of me. He is so supportive. He has

bought me everything I need

from vibrating slippers to massagers to hot wax...He is great....and

sometimes I actually feel bad about him

taking such good care of me. He works all day and first thing when he

comes home is to give me a massage.

I am lucky.

My shoulders are horrible also but I have RA in almost every joint

possible including my jaws. I am overweight also and

even if I were skinny I would have got this dam disease.

If there is anything I can do or answer for you pls feel free to email

me here or privately...corinne@...

My toes are also really really bad.

Corinne

bwf_dragonfly wrote:

>

> Hi,

> I am 34 years old and just found out last week that I have R.A.

> I am having a hard time with it. My Family Doc...took two weeks to get

> my blood work back....

> I feel like crap and everyone thinks I am crazy. I am fine some days

> and others I wake up and can not walk.

> My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being overweight, and

> for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

> I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much better

> when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

> better.

> My pain started in sept, and was in my shoulders. Now my knees are the

> worst and my toes.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Would your husband be willing to go to the rheumatologist with you? If not,

you need to

get some books and educate him (and your family/friends) so they understand that

this is

not related to weight gain or sugar intake.

I'm sorry that you're going through a hard time. RA is bad enough, you need

supportive

people to get you through the day-to-day difficulties of this disease. Do know

that this

group is wonderful and there for you.

Paige

[Guest guest]

Tell your husband, before he starts his diagnosis of you, that he

needs to go with you to your next RA appt, and talk to the dr, you

are not crazy, and being overweight is not causing RA nor is

drinking soft drinks. People with RA need a lot of emotional

support. My significant other offers me very little support, so I

know how it can hurt. My sig. other used to stand in the bedroom

door and watch me struggle to get out of bed, I would be in tears

with the agony of each movement, and he would stand there watching

me, he either thought I was trying out for sympathy or faking it,

but he soon found out it was neither and now he will help me on my

bad days, even though he has resntment toward me over it at times.

Its tough and we have to be tougher. I don't ask for help any more

unless there is absolutely no other way. This reducesw my stress.

Stres is a biggie when you have RA.

Kitt

> Hi,

> I am 34 years old and just found out last week that I have R.A.

> I am having a hard time with it. My Family Doc...took two weeks to

get

> my blood work back....

> I feel like crap and everyone thinks I am crazy. I am fine some

days

> and others I wake up and can not walk.

> My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being

overweight, and

> for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

> I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much

better

> when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

> better.

> My pain started in sept, and was in my shoulders. Now my knees are

the

> worst and my toes.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

as with anything.... it is different for everyone... I came down

with an explosive onset RA two months post bariatric surgery... and

am sicker now after a 137 lb loss...than I was prior to losing

weight.

>

> I have to disagree with you. Losing weight can make a

HUGE

> difference. True it will NOT cure RA...but does help.

>

> I lost 20 lbs and went on bariatric diet after lapband surgery

and had a 9

> month remission!!! The more weight I lose the better I feel.

Far less

> fatigue and less back, hip, knee, ankle and foot pain.

>

> I read somewhere that you feet carry 3 times your weight every

time your

> step so if you weigh 200 lbs then every step you take is

600lbs!!!! a 20

> difference in weight makes 60lbs relief to your feet.

>

> Drinking coke...well the regular will put weight on your. My

hubby was

> drinking 24 ozs of coke a day and gained nearly 70 lbs...stopped

the coke and

> lost 50 lbs without making any other lifestyle changes....so you

hubby does have

> a point there.

>

> Please keep in mind just as you the patient goes through stages

of greiving

> over the diagnosis so do those around you. So he may be in big

time denial.

> Take him with you to the doc so he can hear with his own ears.

My hubby

> felt the same way until he saw the x-rays, talked to the doc and

saw those

> patients in the waiting room that did not get any treatment with

there horribly

> disfigured hands, and legs and in wheelchairs.

>

> Good luck

>

> Toni

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi,

> I am 34 years old and just found out last week that I have R.A.

> I am having a hard time with it. My Family Doc...took two weeks to

get

> my blood work back....

> I feel like crap and everyone thinks I am crazy. I am fine some

days

> and others I wake up and can not walk.

> My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being overweight,

and

> for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

> I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much

better

> when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

> better.

> My pain started in sept, and was in my shoulders. Now my knees are

the

> worst and my toes.

>

Thanks everyone for the support. RA is very new for me and until two

weeks ago I had no clue what it even was. I have not taken any of

the stronger drugs because I still occasionaly breastfeed my two year

old at this time and I have not decided if I want to have another

child yet. I have some worries about taking some of the stronger

drugs if I want to have another baby.

My hubby has given me no support and it has been real hard for me. I

tried to explain that I do not want his opinion or a lecture....I

just need him to be here for me. You would think that would be an

easy thing, but I guess not????? I have a 26 acre horse farm, and

breed horses and dogs. I train riders and horses and show both dogs

and horses. RA has really made my job and hobbies difficult. In

addition keeping up with a two year old child has been hard for me as

well.

Thanks for all the support.

[Guest guest]

If you had gastric bypass surgery this is a known " side effect " due to the

bypass part. But it is quite opposite for lap-band because there is NO bypass

or change in absorption and generally no disruption of gut flora. If you do

some research of gastric bypass and auto-immune disease you will find tons

of info.

Its the reason I refused gastric bypass...because I had done my homework

before surgery and found out tons of info the surgeons DO NOT tell you. There

is also a group called OSSG-gone_wrong. Its wonderful and very

informative however can be VERY graphic. This are post bypass patients many

who are

dying from the complications and side effects of the surgery. Many have been

able to get reversals...but many more never get well enough for that and die

while trying to get someone to reverse them.

I had a really bad flare but it was all in my lungs and called Kinase storm.

(not sure on the name now) Its was very serious. It happens after a

respiratory infection that turns your immune system on and it refuses to turn

off

even after the infection is gone.

When I went to my rheummy...he said...yeah...its common in people who have

had gastric bypass surgery. I had was pissed. I told him I did not have

gastric bypass surgery...he said well everyone who has had weight loss surgery

has

it. Funny that after a few calls to various other docs....the laughed at

how stupid my old rheummy was......he said this is why most rheummy's that are

very knowledgeable will not sign off and approve of patients having gastric

bypass surgery cause they know what will happen 2-3 yrs post op.

Toni

Posted by: " Faith " _fmt2002@... _

(mailto:fmt2002@...?Subject=

Re:%20Hi...I%20am%20new%20here.%20%20I%20was%20just%20diagnosed%20with%20R.A.)

_advoc84kids _ (advoc84kids)

Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:36 pm (PST)

as with anything.... it is different for everyone... I came down

with an explosive onset RA two months post bariatric surgery... and

am sicker now after a 137 lb loss...than I was prior to losing

weight.

[Guest guest]

Food for thought.... interesting Coca Cola, I am a Foodservice Manager In

Hospitality and Hospital. When you eat out at a restaurant and use sugar in your

coffee, those little packets are 1 gram, a 12 ounce can of Coke has 39 of those

sugar packets included. Giving it up and drinking diet is better and healthier

for you.

Faith <fmt2002@...> wrote: as with anything.... it is different

for everyone... I came down

with an explosive onset RA two months post bariatric surgery... and

am sicker now after a 137 lb loss...than I was prior to losing

weight.

>

> I have to disagree with you. Losing weight can make a

HUGE

> difference. True it will NOT cure RA...but does help.

>

> I lost 20 lbs and went on bariatric diet after lapband surgery

and had a 9

> month remission!!! The more weight I lose the better I feel.

Far less

> fatigue and less back, hip, knee, ankle and foot pain.

>

> I read somewhere that you feet carry 3 times your weight every

time your

> step so if you weigh 200 lbs then every step you take is

600lbs!!!! a 20

> difference in weight makes 60lbs relief to your feet.

>

> Drinking coke...well the regular will put weight on your. My

hubby was

> drinking 24 ozs of coke a day and gained nearly 70 lbs...stopped

the coke and

> lost 50 lbs without making any other lifestyle changes....so you

hubby does have

> a point there.

>

> Please keep in mind just as you the patient goes through stages

of greiving

> over the diagnosis so do those around you. So he may be in big

time denial.

> Take him with you to the doc so he can hear with his own ears.

My hubby

> felt the same way until he saw the x-rays, talked to the doc and

saw those

> patients in the waiting room that did not get any treatment with

there horribly

> disfigured hands, and legs and in wheelchairs.

>

> Good luck

>

> Toni

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Most family Docs do not prescribe the meds you need for RA, you need a RA

Doctor, I have a Family Dr that works with my RA Doc. Different Docs for

different things, Have your family Doc refer you to a RA Doc.

Theresa <pinnlady@...> wrote: I was recently diagnosed with

RA and Fibro. Oh too many times my

husband questioned my sanity over the past few years. He knows what

is going on with me is real now. He has gone to doc appointments with

me and I send links to his e-mail for him to read. Don't let the

hubby get to you. He may be scared and can't say what he's really

thinking!

Theresa

>

> Hi,

> I am 34 years old and just found out last week that I have R.A.

> I am having a hard time with it. My Family Doc...took two weeks to

get

> my blood work back....

> I feel like crap and everyone thinks I am crazy. I am fine some

days

> and others I wake up and can not walk.

> My husband thinks it is all in my head, blames me being overweight,

and

> for drinking Coke and says that it what is causing my pain.

> I had my first appointment with a Rheumatoligist and felt much

better

> when I talked to him. I am on 800 mg of Advil and some days feel

> better.

> My pain started in sept, and was in my shoulders. Now my knees are

the

> worst and my toes.

>