Re: New here and newly diagnosed

[Guest guest]

Hi Gayle,

I'm Jodie, 39 and have three children ages 13, 10, and 3. I've had my RA

diagnosis for about a year and a half but suspect I've had RA for longer than

that. Before I made it to my first rheumy appointment, I think I was taking

Aleve or something similar for my pain and swelling. You can also try cold gel

packs on your knee if it's inflamed and hurting. Other than that, I'd say rest

your knee if you can, but that's hard for you with the little ones(and the

stairs), I know!

Just a few more weeks until your appointment. I still can't believe how fast

October came and went! Hope you feel better soon.

Jodie

[Guest guest]

my suggestion is to goto your primary doctor and ask for a NSAID drug like

motrin or naproxin. Try that first before going to something heavier. I'm up

to Tramadol during the day for work and Percocets at night at this point. I'm

also on Orencia as well. Been on Methotrexate both oral and injectable (broke

me out in hives), Enbrel (stopped working after 2 years), and Plaquneil (broke

me out in hives in 4 days with intense itching). I hope you don't have the same

reactions I have had with medications. Agressive treatment can be the best to

stopping the joints from being destroyed. I have had RA now for 3 years, will

be 4 in May.

[ ] New here and newly diagnosed

Hi,

My name is Gayle, I'm 37 and I was diagnosed this summer with RA. I didn't

have a lot of symptoms at the time, but was concerned because I was feeling some

stiffness. My mother has RA and I've watched her make her way through two

shoulder replacements and one knee replacement, among many, many other

surgeries. So I had all the testing done and it turns out, I won the genetic

lottery and am the lucky one with the diagnosis!

I'm a Kindergarten teacher and now that we are well into the school year, I am

really starting to have a hard time with my right knee. I have always been a

very active, involved teacher, spending a lot of time sitting on the floor or

kneeling next to my students, but this is really becoming a challenge. I

certainly can't rely on my students to help me off the floor! Once I get home

from work, I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children to take care

of. My daughter will be six this month and my son is 14 months and has just

started walking. Keeping up with them is getting more challenging as well. Oh,

and did I mention that I live in a multi-level house? I have to go up and down

stairs all the time.

I haven't seen my Rheumatologist since July. I was supposed to check in with

him in October, but of course, lots of things got in the way. Where did October

go? So now that I'm having pain, I have made an appointment but it isn't until

the end of November. What do I do for the pain until then???

Thanks for reading this novel of an introduction. I'm looking forward to

getting to know people in this group. I have a lot of questions that need

answers and I hope as I start on this journey I can provide support to others as

well. Thank you!

Gayle

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[Guest guest]

Gayle,

   You can take arthritis aspirins and maybe also heating pad will help with the

pain.  I know I'm a genetic lottery too.  My Dad had it when he was alive.  My

brother and I have it. 

   I'm seeing a  Rheumatologist and am taking medication Methotrexate.  Seem to

help me.  I don't have the strength like I used to when I was younger.  I'm a

caregiver and had to lift a client (90 lb) from the wheelchair to the hospital

bed and didn't work. The client's Mom wound up calling 911.  I felt so bad for

him.  At least I didn't drop him on the floor.  Geez I was embarrass. 

    I hope these ideas help you.  Soon the end of November will come and you

will see the Dr.  I have to see mine every 6-8 weeks and get a blood test done

too.  I wish you luck and if that doesn't help can call the your Dr and ask what

you can do.

 

 

                                                                                \

            Christa 

From: Gayle <gblipson@...>

Subject: [ ] New here and newly diagnosed

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 4:12 PM

 

Hi,

My name is Gayle, I'm 37 and I was diagnosed this summer with RA. I didn't have

a lot of symptoms at the time, but was concerned because I was feeling some

stiffness. My mother has RA and I've watched her make her way through two

shoulder replacements and one knee replacement, among many, many other

surgeries. So I had all the testing done and it turns out, I won the genetic

lottery and am the lucky one with the diagnosis!

I'm a Kindergarten teacher and now that we are well into the school year, I am

really starting to have a hard time with my right knee. I have always been a

very active, involved teacher, spending a lot of time sitting on the floor or

kneeling next to my students, but this is really becoming a challenge. I

certainly can't rely on my students to help me off the floor! Once I get home

from work, I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children to take care

of. My daughter will be six this month and my son is 14 months and has just

started walking. Keeping up with them is getting more challenging as well. Oh,

and did I mention that I live in a multi-level house? I have to go up and down

stairs all the time.

I haven't seen my Rheumatologist since July. I was supposed to check in with him

in October, but of course, lots of things got in the way. Where did October go?

So now that I'm having pain, I have made an appointment but it isn't until the

end of November. What do I do for the pain until then???

Thanks for reading this novel of an introduction. I'm looking forward to getting

to know people in this group. I have a lot of questions that need answers and I

hope as I start on this journey I can provide support to others as well. Thank

you!

Gayle

[Guest guest]

Gayle,

You could call the rheumatologist's office and ask about what you can

do for the pain until your appointment. Also ask to be placed on the

cancellation list.

Good luck!

Not an MD

On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 6:12 PM, Gayle <gblipson@...> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> My name is Gayle, I'm 37 and I was diagnosed this summer with RA.  I didn't

have a lot of symptoms at the time, but was concerned because I was feeling some

stiffness.  My mother has RA and I've watched her make her way through two

shoulder replacements and one knee replacement, among many, many other

surgeries.  So I had all the testing done and it turns out, I won the genetic

lottery and am the lucky one with the diagnosis!

>

> I'm a Kindergarten teacher and now that we are well into the school year, I am

really starting to have a hard time with my right knee.  I have always been a

very active, involved teacher, spending a lot of time sitting on the floor or

kneeling next to my students, but this is really becoming a challenge.  I

certainly can't rely on my students to help me off the floor!  Once I get home

from work, I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children to take care

of.  My daughter will be six this month and my son is 14 months and has just

started walking.  Keeping up with them is getting more challenging as well.  Oh,

and did I mention that I live in a multi-level house?  I have to go up and down

stairs all the time.

>

> I haven't seen my Rheumatologist since July.  I was supposed to check in with

him in October, but of course, lots of things got in the way.  Where did October

go?  So now that I'm having pain, I have made an appointment but it isn't until

the end of November.  What do I do for the pain until then???

>

> Thanks for reading this novel of an introduction.  I'm looking forward to

getting to know people in this group.  I have a lot of questions that need

answers and I hope as I start on this journey I can provide support to others as

well.  Thank you!

>

> Gayle

[Guest guest]

>Hi Gayle,

You can take Tylenol Arthritis this has work before for me. This will give you

some relief untill your next appointment. Good luck at work and with all your

children.

Mousie in Calif.

> Hi,

>

> My name is Gayle, I'm 37 and I was diagnosed this summer with RA. I didn't

have a lot of symptoms at the time, but was concerned because I was feeling some

stiffness. My mother has RA and I've watched her make her way through two

shoulder replacements and one knee replacement, among many, many other

surgeries. So I had all the testing done and it turns out, I won the genetic

lottery and am the lucky one with the diagnosis!

>

> I'm a Kindergarten teacher and now that we are well into the school year, I am

really starting to have a hard time with my right knee. I have always been a

very active, involved teacher, spending a lot of time sitting on the floor or

kneeling next to my students, but this is really becoming a challenge. I

certainly can't rely on my students to help me off the floor! Once I get home

from work, I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children to take care

of. My daughter will be six this month and my son is 14 months and has just

started walking. Keeping up with them is getting more challenging as well. Oh,

and did I mention that I live in a multi-level house? I have to go up and down

stairs all the time.

>

> I haven't seen my Rheumatologist since July. I was supposed to check in with

him in October, but of course, lots of things got in the way. Where did October

go? So now that I'm having pain, I have made an appointment but it isn't until

the end of November. What do I do for the pain until then???

>

> Thanks for reading this novel of an introduction. I'm looking forward to

getting to know people in this group. I have a lot of questions that need

answers and I hope as I start on this journey I can provide support to others as

well. Thank you!

>

> Gayle

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Gayle:

    I hope you call your Rheumy and get a RX for some pain meds. until you see

him.  It must be so hard for you with 2 small childdren, and a K teacher.

 

One of my daughters teachers, grade 2, used to sit on the floor with all the

kids.  She had an injury and she could not do the floor, so she had a rocker

brought in, and that did the trick.  This might be an option for you too.

 

I hope your RA pain gets under control for you.  Pain is just so very wearing on

us.

 

Wishing you many pain free days ahead.

 

Hugs,

 

Barbara

From: Gayle <gblipson@...>

Subject: [ ] New here and newly diagnosed

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 7:12 PM

 

Hi,

My name is Gayle, I'm 37 and I was diagnosed this summer with RA. I didn't have

a lot of symptoms at the time, but was concerned because I was feeling some

stiffness. My mother has RA and I've watched her make her way through two

shoulder replacements and one knee replacement, among many, many other

surgeries. So I had all the testing done and it turns out, I won the genetic

lottery and am the lucky one with the diagnosis!

I'm a Kindergarten teacher and now that we are well into the school year, I am

really starting to have a hard time with my right knee. I have always been a

very active, involved teacher, spending a lot of time sitting on the floor or

kneeling next to my students, but this is really becoming a challenge. I

certainly can't rely on my students to help me off the floor! Once I get home

from work, I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful children to take care

of. My daughter will be six this month and my son is 14 months and has just

started walking. Keeping up with them is getting more challenging as well. Oh,

and did I mention that I live in a multi-level house? I have to go up and down

stairs all the time.

I haven't seen my Rheumatologist since July. I was supposed to check in with him

in October, but of course, lots of things got in the way. Where did October go?

So now that I'm having pain, I have made an appointment but it isn't until the

end of November. What do I do for the pain until then???

Thanks for reading this novel of an introduction. I'm looking forward to getting

to know people in this group. I have a lot of questions that need answers and I

hope as I start on this journey I can provide support to others as well. Thank

you!

Gayle