Re: New Here and learning!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

 

I am relatively new to RA too.  I experienced my first flare last December. 

Nothing showed up in my bloodwork either.  I was prescribed Prednisone & Mobic

at first.  I had short periods of time when I felt back to normal & great but

then soon my symptoms would return.  My rheumy told me that it was possible that

I had Palindrimic RA.  Later, my symptoms returned & stuck around.  My rheumy

said that sometimes RA will do this & can affect people in many different ways

during the onset.

 

I was prescribed Methotrexate along with the other meds about 8 weeks ago.  It

took a few weeks to get into my system.  It seems to be helping me a lot.  I

have noticed that though I still have morning stiffness, I have so many more

" good " days and spend a lot less time suffering in bed.  I have also noticed an

increase in energy level.

 

I hope this helps.  I remember feeling very angry at my dr (and myself) when it

seemed that I could not get a firm diagnosis and was in so much pain. For me MTX

has been a positive thing.

 

Connie

 

 

From: Rohr Family <abrohr@...>

Subject: [ ] New Here and learning!!

Date: Friday, September 25, 2009, 3:18 PM

 

Hello to you all! I am a 28 yr. old woman from KS. I have recently been

diagnosed with RA. I have fought with that diagnosis for about 6-8 months

because nothing was showing up in my blood work and part of me still does not

want to believe it. I do have a lengthy family history of SEVER RA so I know I

should not be surprised, but because of my family history I am having a hard

time thinking about what my future holds.

At this point I am just learning the lingo and I am currently wondering if I am

in the middle of a flare up since in the last 2-3 weeks I have started up again

with swelling and pain after it had kind of gone away? I have been on

Plaquenil(?) and for approx. 6 months and I have just received a second opinion.

Both doctors agree whole-heartedly on everything including starting me on

Methotrexate. I am very fearful of any drug past plaquenil since I have seen

many of the complications and side effects these drugs can cause. In fact my

father has had almost EVERY worst case scenerio you can imagine from nearly

every drug on the market.

I don't know that I have a question here I guess I just need to find " someone "

besides my Dr. who can help me talk through some of this. My hubby is a great

listener but I need someone who understands what I am saying, and talking to my

father is out of the question. (It's a long story). Does anyone one have

anything good to offer me??

Amy

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

I just joined the group recently but have had RA about 20 years.

I started out with NSAIDS, Plaquenil, Prednisone, and then Methotrexate was

added along with Folic acid. The MXT relieved the pain and I was tapered off

prednisone and plaquenil. I had some problems last year and my GP wanted me to

see another Rheumy to get a second opinion about taking MTX. He also agreed

that MTX was the first line choice for treating RA. I take the tablsts every

thursday night and the folic acid every morning. Blood work is taken monthly.

I haven't had a problme with side effects. I may be more tired on Friday but I

had attributed that to working but it could be the Mtx. There a lots of newer

medicine you can take if MTX doesn't work for you, but they all have side

effects to. But RA needs to be treated aggressively to prevent damage.

Good luck, hope your pain free soon.

>

> Hello to you all! I am a 28 yr. old woman from KS. I have recently been

diagnosed with RA. I have fought with that diagnosis for about 6-8 months

because nothing was showing up in my blood work and part of me still does not

want to believe it. I do have a lengthy family history of SEVER RA so I know I

should not be surprised, but because of my family history I am having a hard

time thinking about what my future holds.

> At this point I am just learning the lingo and I am currently wondering if I

am in the middle of a flare up since in the last 2-3 weeks I have started up

again with swelling and pain after it had kind of gone away? I have been on

Plaquenil(?) and for approx. 6 months and I have just received a second opinion.

Both doctors agree whole-heartedly on everything including starting me on

Methotrexate. I am very fearful of any drug past plaquenil since I have seen

many of the complications and side effects these drugs can cause. In fact my

father has had almost EVERY worst case scenerio you can imagine from nearly

every drug on the market.

> I don't know that I have a question here I guess I just need to find " someone "

besides my Dr. who can help me talk through some of this. My hubby is a great

listener but I need someone who understands what I am saying, and talking to my

father is out of the question. (It's a long story). Does anyone one have

anything good to offer me??

>

> Amy

>

[Guest guest]

Amy, welcome!

I think you should go on the Mtx. There are different doses and injections and

tablets, but it's so important to be aggressive early on! I have had RA since

age 4, so didn't have much chance to deal with it. Back then they didn't know to

push hard early and my mother was not aggressive for me. I am in pretty good

shape, but the deformity is there. I recently did an article on kids with JRA

and was shocked to see SO LITTLE deformtiy in them! Why? Methotrexate. The Dept

Had at Univeristy of Michigan JRA dept assured me that MTX put an end to

wheelchairs.

I take it and Enbrel and NSAIDs. I understand your fear of side effects but the

disease is even more devastated if not treated.

BTW I also took Plaq for years and it did help, but was not strong enough, I

think.

Good luck!!!!

Sharon

> >

> > Hello to you all! I am a 28 yr. old woman from KS. I have recently been

diagnosed with RA. I have fought with that diagnosis for about 6-8 months

because nothing was showing up in my blood work and part of me still does not

want to believe it. I do have a lengthy family history of SEVER RA so I know I

should not be surprised, but because of my family history I am having a hard

time thinking about what my future holds.

> > At this point I am just learning the lingo and I am currently wondering if I

am in the middle of a flare up since in the last 2-3 weeks I have started up

again with swelling and pain after it had kind of gone away? I have been on

Plaquenil(?) and for approx. 6 months and I have just received a second opinion.

Both doctors agree whole-heartedly on everything including starting me on

Methotrexate. I am very fearful of any drug past plaquenil since I have seen

many of the complications and side effects these drugs can cause. In fact my

father has had almost EVERY worst case scenerio you can imagine from nearly

every drug on the market.

> > I don't know that I have a question here I guess I just need to find

" someone " besides my Dr. who can help me talk through some of this. My hubby is

a great listener but I need someone who understands what I am saying, and

talking to my father is out of the question. (It's a long story). Does anyone

one have anything good to offer me??

> >

> > Amy

> >

>