New here and new to RA

[Guest guest]

Hello there!

My name is Jill. I am 37 years old and... up until now, was in great

health. I was just diagnosed with RA about a month ago, although I

believe I had some subtle symptoms going back about 2 years or so. But

the catalyst that sent me to a rhummy was the typical pain in the

hands and feet. After it started to affect my hands and feet, it

seemed to spread pretty quickly (ankles, wrists, shoulder). I had some

blood work done and I have a rheumatoid factor (I think it was at 63).

The initial blood work did not show anything in the sed rate or the

other thing (some sort of antigen or soomething). I had another work

up done at the rhummy's and will find out about them tomorrow... so

maybe that's changed.

My rhummy put me on etodolac for the pain. Nothing else yet. It did

help initially, but after about a week, the pain had returned. I

called the doctor to ask him for something else because not only was

it not working, but the pain was getting worse and spreading.

Specifically to my neck, which is awful. Sleep was becoming an

issue... etc... So he put me on prednisone. It was just that 6 day

packet. After the first 24 hours on it, I was like... %98 better. I

cried because I forgot how it felt to be normal (I've been suffering

pretty bad since the end of July). Today, it has been a week since I

finished up the pred pack... and slowly but surely the pain is

returning. I go back for a recheck tomorrow. I guess I am wondering

what I should and shouldn't do... as I am completely new to all of

this. I have hesitation to get involved with the heavy duty drugs.

Afterall, I am not even remotely crippled with pain. It's just

moderate, annoying pain. I fear the crippling pain though.. and WILL

take drugs if it will increase my chances of never having that kind of

pain.

So I am sorta throwing out the question for those of you who are well

versed in this subject and have been dealing with this disease for

awhile.... If you could go back to when you were first diagnosed, is

there something you wish you did or did NOT do? Do you wish you tried

this or that drug initially. I realize everyone is different and that

what worked for you might not have worked for another. But... I'd like

to hear them all, as a reference. I am kinda confused about how to

proceed. I have only seen my rhummy once. He talked about different

treatments... aggressive to non-aggressive. He made me feel like I was

the in charge of how to proceed. We could take it any direction I saw

fit... I could be wrong about that. Like I said, I go for my second

appointment tomorrow, so maybe he has a plan based on HIS blood work

results (i went to my reg. doctor first, way back in the summer... and

then it took 6 weeks to finally see this rhummy and now is the recheck

since then). I don't know....

Also, I'd like to throw this out there.... Ever since I stopped taking

my birth control pills (2 years ago), weird things have happened to

me. I keep getting ovarian cysts... my periods are insanely heavy and

painful... and now that I think about it, it is also when all of this

subtle pain started. Anyone think it could be related. I asked my

rhummy and he poo-pooed it.... but you never know?

Alright, I've rambled enough... I am off to work... which by the way,

you guys will appreciate this, I am a house cleaner. Imagine cleaning

other people's homes with RA pain? Not fun. The only respite I have is

that I am back in school for graphic design and I am almost done. So

hopefully before this gets out of control, I'll be working a much less

physical job. Fingers crossed anyway...

Thanks for any advice!

Jill