New to the group

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I've just joined the group and have already been reading some of the

posts. I was diagnosed with RA in December. I was having so much pain

I just wanted to cry all the time. It hurt all over! Every joint and

even my muscles hurt. The doc started the Methotrexate, first two

pill a week for a few weeks, then three pills and now we are up to

four pills a week. It made me have a sore throat and terrible neck

pain. So he told me to break the dose up. I take two pills at lunch

on Fridays and then eat lunch, then I do the same at dinner time.

Eating after taking the pills helps to make the pills go down and not

dissolve in my throat, which was causing the neck and throat pain. I

also take Folic acid, Naproxen and Tylenol. Anyway, I'm still having

a lot of pain and I have Baker's cyst behind my knees which make my

legs burn. I had to put an eggshell foam pad on my bed to help the

leg pain. Overall the pain is nothing like it was, at least now I can

function most days. But the day after I take the Methotrexate, I just

feel like I've been zapped of all my energy and my stomach is upset.

I just feel plain terrible for about 24 hours. My husband is very

sweet and supportive. He had a near fatal stroke about three years

ago and is disabled. I am his only caregiver. It is very frustrating

that I can't always do the things I was accustomed to doing. I work

full time and I use to be able to do everything on the weekends like

clean house, do laundry, mow the yard, etc. He can't do any of these

things. Now my housekeeping has really slipped and I'm dreading

Spring because I know the yard is going to need attention and I'm not

sure I can do it. I can barely get the grocery shopping done and keep

the dishes washed. Some mornings just getting out of bed is a chore.

I also have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is why it took so long to

diagnose the RA. They just thought it was my low thyroid manifesting

all these symptoms. I know you all have probably been through the

same things and possibly worse, so if you have any suggestions on how

to continue to function please let me know. I am really sick of

feeling badly all the time. Thanks for listening.

Christie