for ksanders58

[Guest guest]

Hello & welcome to the group!

I am Steph in Virginia. I am 30 and was diagnosed with RA in 1999 when I

was 22. Mine also came on very suddenly. My RA is quite rare in the fact that it

only affects my left side. My current meds are Ibuprofen, Methotrexate, Folic

Acid, Flexerill & Remicade. I have been on Remicade for 8 years without any

problems. I'm currently helping a friend stay on Enbrel and they have a program

that helps you appeal your insurance to cover Enbrel. Visit www.enbrel.com. I

was unemployed for 2 months in 2004 and Remicade's maker, Centocor gave it to me

for free for 4 treatments. They were wonderful.

Don't give up. It is really depressing in the beginning but there is hope.

Take care,

Steph in Charlottesville, VA

i am a 38 year old female who was diagnosed with ra two years ago. it came on

suddenly in my knees and muscles. i began to have pain in my feet and then

wrists. it eventually led to the loss of my job, although, due to the fact i

worked for a physician he was sympathetic but i was just missing way too much

work. i have been on methotrexate from the onset and have gone through plaquenil

and sulfazine. my insurance wouldn't cover enbrel or orencia. i also had my

rheumatologist relocate to a different state. the one i saw for the first time

two weeks ago was only concerned with my pain medication, so now i am traveling

2 hours to continue to see my original doc.i also have fibromyalgia and severe

depression. i am hoping to find others in my shape with hope possibly and

understanding of what i face on a daily basis.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The 2008 Charlottesville Arthritis Walk is Sat. May 3 at UVA's Stadium

The Walk raises both awareness of the prevalence of arthritis and money for

research & programs for people with arthritis! The Cville walk includes a

simultaneous Dog Walk as well.

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change

the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- Still Getting Things Done