Re: Newly Diagnosed Parrish

[Guest guest]

Welcome Parrish:

The people here are very supportive and caring, and

there is lots of information to be gleaned from

reading the posts. We share info on meds, doctors,

treatments, family and friends, pets, whatever is

going on in our lives, good or bad, and how our RA is

affecting us. Being overwhelmed is a very common

feeling when you get a diagnosis such as you did, and

we will do what we can to help you through.

You can have a seronegative RA, which would be that

the RF factor is negative, and you still have RA. I

was dx 7 years ago with RA and my first med was

Plaquenil. I did very well on this medication for

almost 2-1/2 years until the med lost effectiveness or

the RA became more aggressive, which ever it was. I

had no problems with the Plaquenil, it is less

harmful, I believe, than the other meds like

Methotrexate, and so I was happy to have been able to

be on it for so long.

I was then moved on to other meds, tried a few, and am

now on Enbrel, Methotrexate, Mobic, and Ultram ER.

I also have fibro and take meds for that, as well as

dx of OA and raynaud's. I am 52, married for 24

years, and mother of two children. My grandma had RA

and was very crippled by the end of her life, but I am

very hopeful that this will not be the case with me,

because there are many more meds available to us now,

and more in the works.

I keep as active as possible, we live on a small farm,

and I have horses, chickens, and other fowl, and dogs

to care for. They get me up and out of bed each

morning! I have had to make some compromises in what

I can do, and need help at times, but I am happy with

where I am in my RA journey, and credit that to early

and aggressive treatment. That is very important.

I wish you the best - if it were me, I would go for

the Plaquenil first, and then on to the other meds.

It worked well for me, but might not for you, although

I hope it will. Take care - and let us know what you

decide.

Kathe in CA

--- Parrish Blaszka <parrish_blaszka@...> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I am new to the group (just joined last night).

> After

> a couple months of join pain, limited movement

> (primarily in my wrists & hands), swelling, I was

> diagnosed with RA. My RF & bloodwork came back

> negative as did my x-rays. However, MRIs of my

> wrists

> did show sufficient evidence to my rheumatologist

> that

> RA was likely.

>

> I am only 30 and feeling a bit of the " why me " .

> There

> is no genetic link nor other reason that I can

> attribute my getting RA to.

>

> Right now, I am trying to sort through the best

> medication option. I am likely debating between MTX

> or

> Plaquenil. My concern is that since I am only 30, I

> am

> looking at being on some medication for at least the

> next 50 years (I hope!). Most of my concerns are

> around long-term use and the risks associated.

>

> Would appreciate some insight into either

> medication.

> Good, bad, otherwise.

>

> Sorry to totally unload on you all. Just feeling a

> bit

> overwhelmed at the moment.

>

> Thanks!

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the nice message below! I am leaning

towards Plaqunil. Also starting to take Omega-3

tablets & tumeric. I also saw the note about pineapple

& pure cherry juice, so I might give those both a

whirl.

Does anyone know what the alcohol comsumption

limitations are with Plaquenil? I'm not a serious

drinker nor does alcoholism run in my family. However,

it's nice to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the

day or with dinner.

Thanks!

-Parrish

--- Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...> wrote:

> Welcome Parrish:

>

> The people here are very supportive and caring, and

> there is lots of information to be gleaned from

> reading the posts. We share info on meds, doctors,

> treatments, family and friends, pets, whatever is

> going on in our lives, good or bad, and how our RA

> is

> affecting us. Being overwhelmed is a very common

> feeling when you get a diagnosis such as you did,

> and

> we will do what we can to help you through.

>

> You can have a seronegative RA, which would be that

> the RF factor is negative, and you still have RA. I

> was dx 7 years ago with RA and my first med was

> Plaquenil. I did very well on this medication for

> almost 2-1/2 years until the med lost effectiveness

> or

> the RA became more aggressive, which ever it was. I

> had no problems with the Plaquenil, it is less

> harmful, I believe, than the other meds like

> Methotrexate, and so I was happy to have been able

> to

> be on it for so long.

>

> I was then moved on to other meds, tried a few, and

> am

> now on Enbrel, Methotrexate, Mobic, and Ultram ER.

> I also have fibro and take meds for that, as well as

> dx of OA and raynaud's. I am 52, married for 24

> years, and mother of two children. My grandma had

> RA

> and was very crippled by the end of her life, but I

> am

> very hopeful that this will not be the case with me,

> because there are many more meds available to us

> now,

> and more in the works.

>

> I keep as active as possible, we live on a small

> farm,

> and I have horses, chickens, and other fowl, and

> dogs

> to care for. They get me up and out of bed each

> morning! I have had to make some compromises in

> what

> I can do, and need help at times, but I am happy

> with

> where I am in my RA journey, and credit that to

> early

> and aggressive treatment. That is very important.

>

> I wish you the best - if it were me, I would go for

> the Plaquenil first, and then on to the other meds.

> It worked well for me, but might not for you,

> although

> I hope it will. Take care - and let us know what

> you

> decide.

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>

>

> --- Parrish Blaszka <parrish_blaszka@...>

> wrote:

>

> > Hi,

> >

> > I am new to the group (just joined last night).

> > After

> > a couple months of join pain, limited movement

> > (primarily in my wrists & hands), swelling, I was

> > diagnosed with RA. My RF & bloodwork came back

> > negative as did my x-rays. However, MRIs of my

> > wrists

> > did show sufficient evidence to my rheumatologist

> > that

> > RA was likely.

> >

> > I am only 30 and feeling a bit of the " why me " .

> > There

> > is no genetic link nor other reason that I can

> > attribute my getting RA to.

> >

> > Right now, I am trying to sort through the best

> > medication option. I am likely debating between

> MTX

> > or

> > Plaquenil. My concern is that since I am only 30,

> I

> > am

> > looking at being on some medication for at least

> the

> > next 50 years (I hope!). Most of my concerns are

> > around long-term use and the risks associated.

> >

> > Would appreciate some insight into either

> > medication.

> > Good, bad, otherwise.

> >

> > Sorry to totally unload on you all. Just feeling a

> > bit

> > overwhelmed at the moment.

> >

> > Thanks!

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>