New RA patient

August 15, 2009

I was diagnoised about 1yr ago with RA. I had no idea what to expect but my

Rhuemy & 25yr old daughter gave me all the bad news to expect. I have gone thru

prednesdoine ,Embrel and now on Humira every week. I am very frustrated because

I see I can control the pain but my joint damage in my fingers is getting worse.

My energy level is verly low and according to my Rhuemy my inflamation does not

come down. I have lost alot hair & that is very devastiting for me. I live in

Calif. I am married, 53yrs old and have a very supporting husband but I have

very terrible mood changes due to how I feel and think sometimes he thinks I am

very moody & hard to deal with.

Mousie

August 16, 2009

Hi Mousie - welcome to the group. I'm sorry you have had the dreaded " RA "

diagnosis. It takes a while sometimes to find the right combo of medications as

each person is different. Have you tried Methotrexate? It is a DMARD (Disease

Modifying Anti-rheumatic Drug). I take 0.8ml once a week and folic acid every

day except the day of the injections and it helps. I also take Sulfasalazine

(another DMARD) twice a day. Sometimes you have to take a combination of meds in

order to get the relief you so need. I'm still working on finding my combo - its

been about 3 years for me, but with no insurance, it slows the process way down.

What are you taking for pain? Either your Rheumy or your PC should be able to

help you with that as well. The mood swings are a definite result of your

frustration over not feeling well AND just having this disease. Are you taking

any kind of anti-depressant? I take 20mg of Celexa daily - there are minimal to

no side effects and it helps to keep me on a more even keel.

I'm happy to hear how your hubby is being so supportive. That's so important,

too. Please remember, you're not alone. Vent, holler, complain, share or

whatever you need to here. We've all been there/done that/bought the t-shirt and

still wearing it.

Wishing you pain free days ahead.....Doreen

I was diagnosed about 1yr ago with RA. I had no idea what to expect but my

Rheumy & 25yr old daughter gave me all the bad news to expect. I have gone thru

prednisone,Enbrel and now on Humira every week. I am very frustrated because I

see I can control the pain but my joint damage in my fingers is getting worse.

My energy level is very low and according to my Rheumy my inflammation does not

come down. I have lost alot hair & that is very devastating for me. I live in

Calif. I am married, 53yrs old and have a very supporting husband but I have

very terrible mood changes due to how I feel and think sometimes he thinks I am

very moody & hard to deal with.

Mousie

August 16, 2009

Hi Mousie,

It's very frustrating to go through all the changes. I'm sure the hair

loss is fom one of the meds. I am on humira, and don't really have any

problems with it. What other meds are you on? The hair loss will stop,

when your body gets use to the meds. I take mtx, which causes hair

loss, but I don't even have much hair loss now.

Sometimes, if you can tolerate NSAIDS, they can calm down the

inflammation. My rheumy tells me the mobic is the best, not so bad on

the tummy. Which I do have problems from time to time. I'm on

prevasaid to help wih my tummy problems.

I was diagnosed in 02 with RA, but lived with it a long time without

being treated. It takes a bit of time to get the right meds that work

for you. It's a long process, but you can do it. It's nice to have this

group for support, it's gotten me through a lot of rough times.

I know what you mean about mood changes,lol We all have them, and our

spouse just has to live with it. It gets better, just make sure he

knows about your disease, so he can try to understand.

I'm glad your here, stay with us, and let us help you. I look forward

to getting to know you, and if ever need a ear, you can always email me.

Take care,

Tawny

>

> I was diagnoised about 1yr ago with RA. I had no idea what to expect

but my Rhuemy & 25yr old daughter gave me all the bad news to expect. I

have gone thru prednesdoine ,Embrel and now on Humira every week. I am

very frustrated because I see I can control the pain but my joint damage

in my fingers is getting worse. My energy level is verly low and

according to my Rhuemy my inflamation does not come down. I have lost

alot hair & that is very devastiting for me. I live in Calif. I am

married, 53yrs old and have a very supporting husband but I have very

terrible mood changes due to how I feel and think sometimes he thinks I

am very moody & hard to deal with.

>

> Mousie

>

August 16, 2009

Irish, it seems you understand what I am going thru. It is hard to function but

I try my best without going crazy.

Mousie

From: iafowl31260@... <iafowl31260@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] New RA patient

Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009, 2:11 PM

I understand how you feel. In my taking the methotrexate and a host of

other meds for different things, my hair is so thin and combs out. I used to

have very long hair and after having surgery after surgery for different

things I just keep it cut short and or wear a hat. My mood swings got better

after a while and my kids or family just did not understand what was going

on. Pain will make you do or say things and you don't realize it until

someone brings it to your attention or stop coming around. I have moderate to

severe RA and take methotrexate only now. Am on monitoring stage with the

Rituxin med and not due another transfusion. The meds work for a while until

my body decides it has had enough and quit working. With the right meds and

support you will get better. There is no cure for what we have and so

adjusting to it and getting in a comfortable way with it is what you have to do.

But do not let it stop you from doing things. My motto is " If I do not

move I will not move " .

Irish aka Ms Pisces

August 18, 2009

From: tdianaok <tdianaok@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: New RA patient

Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009, 2:27 PM