New Here - Newly Diagnosed

July 18, 2004

Hello everyone,

I just joined today and just found out last week at my second visit

to the RA Doc that I have RA.

I am 37 years old, have asthma and am a junk food junkie.

It is somewhat of a relief to find out why it was getting more and

more difficult for me to walk and suddenly, in March of this year, I

found myself unable to use (or make a fist whith)either one of my

hands.

I am taking Predinsone (and folic acid and Naproxen Sodium) until the

Methotrexone kicks in and I am really hoping that it works, although

the doc tells me it's not going to work as well as the Prednisone.

All these years I thought arthritis was *just* pain, but I didn't

know it's an autoimmune disease, that it disables the joints and robs

a person of their strength, not to mention can destroy the joints too.

I seriously thought (and am not completely convinced that it's not)

that the pain, stiffness and immobility was caused by the chiropractor

that I had started seeing a year ago for a sore left shoulder.

I finally quit seeing the chiropractor because I kept getting worse -

and he was attempting to adjust all of my joints.

Since I started taking the Prednisone, 90% of my symptoms are gone,

except for the stiffness in my left hand and I am still having a hard

time making a fist.

What surprises me the most about RA is how potentially dangerous the

drugs are that are used for treatment.

I am still grappling with the fact that the pain and stiffness is not

going to go away on it's own. I've always bounced back from things

in the past - illnesses and injuries.

Since I just joined today, I haven't had a chance to read the

messages that you all have posted, but I will start doing that

tonight.

Take care,

Becky

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