Re: New to the group Just wanted to say hello!

[Guest guest]

Hi Nichol, I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so poorly. When the doctors

diagnosed you with RA did they start you on any program to slow the

progression of the disease. And are you seeing the doctor on a regular

basis to try to minimize the damage?

Lots of people speak of the benefits of long term antibiotic treatment. I

tried this, didnt work for me but doesn't mean it won't work for you. I'd

be suspicious of the fevers and ask the doctor if he would consider this

type of treatment for you. (If you are looking for medication type

treatments) Fevers are often part of a flair but that in itself would make

me tend to believe it might be a hard to fight bacteria at work. I suggest

you post your questions at http://health./ate/drweil and see what

information he comes back with.

Odd that you don't notice it in many joints since RA tends to generally

affect the joints first. The overall body pain sounds more like

fibromialgia, but that is for a doctor to diagnose.

I don't know about the lumps on your legs, hoping someone else in here can

help you with that.

Please write out all of your symptoms before going to the doctor so you

don't forget any of them while you are in discussion.

Wishin you better days Nichol, and best of luck at the doctors, let us know

how it goes and what you learn.

Dorey

www.LivingWithRheumatoidArthritis.com

----- Original Message -----

From: " snrkfamily " <snrkfamily@...>

<Rheumatoid Arthritis >

Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 3:59 PM

Subject: New to the group Just wanted to say hello!

> Hi my name is Nichol and i'm 33 years old, Married and have three

> wonderful Children. I have been very sick the past year. And after a

> huge batch of test they diagnosed me with

> RA. It started last year I ran a fever for 4 weeks of

> about 99 - 103 degrees. I couldn't even get out of bed I was so

> stiff and sore. I ached all over and just felt like I sould die at

> any

> moment. I then started getting these bumps all over my legs. They

> ended up telling me it was called erythema nodosum. These bumps were

> on my legs from the knee on down, for about 6 weeks and I couldn't

> even walk very well. My

> ankles were red and tender and about twice the size they regularly

> are. I got well and was doing ok until about 6 weeks ago. Then I

> started running the fever again but no bumps. I felt like I had been

> ran over with a mac truck. I had the fever for 2 1/2 weeks this

> time.

> I went to the dr. and they ran all kinds of tests. I am also very

> very anemic.

> So they did more tests and came to the conclution that I have RA. I

> have to see a rheumetologist but I can't get in to see one until

> July.

>

> So here is my questions. Are these bumps I had related to the RA?

> My

> joints arn't hurting that much anymore but my muscels are killing me

> when ever

> I

> do anything. From walking to typing on the computer. Is this normal?

> I

> have always ached here and there but when I get these fever

> episodes.

> I feel like my life is falling apart. I feel like a Hypocondriact?

> But, I really feel awful. The only joints that really bottered me,

> is I have these really swollen joints in my thumbs right at the

> bottom where my hand connects to my thumb. And it feels like all the

> tendens are huge and sore. If I bump them I know they are there and

> they still hurt but, never got red. They

> are on both thumbs. My feet also hurt really bad but not the whole

> foot just one section on the outer joints in the foot. (The small

> ones) but, I think it is funny because they are on both feet the

> same

> place. Both thumbs the same place. My knees are just really stiff

> adn I also just have generalized body

> aches. It takes me like 2 hours to get going in the morning. How

> long

> will this last? Last summer I was out for like 12 weeks please don't

> tell me it is going to be a repeat!! Please help me with any

> information to read. Links that help you ext. Thanks so much

>

> Nichol

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Nichol and welcome to the board. It's not unusual for it to take quite a while to get in for the first appointment with a rheumatologist but if you have RA or some similar disease it is necessary to see one. I'm not familiar with your erythema nodosum and I haven't been bothered with muscle pains but I have had bad joint pains until I got the correct medicines at the correct dose. That took about a year and a half for me and now I'm pretty well controlled on 15 mg Methotrexate once a week and 6 mg/kg Remicade every 8 weeks. Until we got the medicines right I had to take Prednisone (a corticosteroid) starting at 40 mg daily so I could get out of bed and be somewhat functional.

Most RA medicines take several weeks to months to become effective but Prednisone usually helps the symptoms of RA within a day or two. However, it does little to stop the progression of the disease and it usually has troublesome side effects (weight gain, mood swings, bone loss, and several others). I think Prednisone is great when you need it to be able to function but it is not good just to relieve tolearable pain or to improve beyond just being functional. If you have trouble functioning before your appointment with a rheumatologist you might see your regular doctor and ask about Prednisone. For example, I'd rather take Prednisone than be out of it for 12 weeks.

There is no cure at present for RA or related diseases so it is permanent but with proper medications you will get much better. A site I like with a lot of easily readable information is http://arthritisinsight.healthology.com/ where you can read about related diseases, medications, and general information. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: snrkfamily

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 3:59 PM

Subject: New to the group Just wanted to say hello!

Hi my name is Nichol and i'm 33 years old, Married and have three wonderful Children. I have been very sick the past year. And after a huge batch of test they diagnosed me withRA. It started last year I ran a fever for 4 weeks ofabout 99 - 103 degrees. I couldn't even get out of bed I was sostiff and sore. I ached all over and just felt like I sould die at anymoment. I then started getting these bumps all over my legs. Theyended up telling me it was called erythema nodosum. These bumps wereon my legs from the knee on down, for about 6 weeks and I couldn't even walk very well. Myankles were red and tender and about twice the size they regularlyare. I got well and was doing ok until about 6 weeks ago. Then Istarted running the fever again but no bumps. I felt like I had beenran over with a mac truck. I had the fever for 2 1/2 weeks thistime.I went to the dr. and they ran all kinds of tests. I am also very very anemic.So they did more tests and came to the conclution that I have RA. Ihave to see a rheumetologist but I can't get in to see one untilJuly.So here is my questions. Are these bumps I had related to the RA?Myjoints arn't hurting that much anymore but my muscels are killing mewhen everIdo anything. From walking to typing on the computer. Is this normal?Ihave always ached here and there but when I get these feverepisodes.I feel like my life is falling apart. I feel like a Hypocondriact?But, I really feel awful. The only joints that really bottered me,is I have these really swollen joints in my thumbs right at thebottom where my hand connects to my thumb. And it feels like all thetendens are huge and sore. If I bump them I know they are there andthey still hurt but, never got red. Theyare on both thumbs. My feet also hurt really bad but not the wholefoot just one section on the outer joints in the foot. (The smallones) but, I think it is funny because they are on both feet thesameplace. Both thumbs the same place. My knees are just really stiff adn I also just have generalized bodyaches. It takes me like 2 hours to get going in the morning. Howlongwill this last? Last summer I was out for like 12 weeks please don'ttell me it is going to be a repeat!! Please help me with anyinformation to read. Links that help you ext. Thanks so muchNichol

[Guest guest]

Hello Nichol,

Im sounlds like mine i have a lot of skin problems with my R/A more so seems to be rashs and infected burn type lesions than bumps but i cant remember all the way back mine really kicked in in 1999 and ive been sick since i was 27 well that would of been about 91 LOL so i hate to say this but theres no cure for R/A but theres some good meds that helps just takes time finding the right ones , as for me ive still not fould them but i suffer R/A and O/A both with some secandary dieases that come along with R/a , yes you get R/A youll most likely get some other immune related dieases allso what fun we have me my kuckle joints of the feet are the only ones so far the R/A has damaged and yes R/A does get both joints on both sides but usualy the dominate side is the worst just because you use it and it wears more is the way it was explained to me but sometimes i think the other is worse for me theres links in the

groups home page and im sure harold , susan , nina and others have some great ones and search google as images and web youll get plenty of results .

later john snrkfamily <snrkfamily@...> wrote:

Hi my name is Nichol and i'm 33 years old, Married and have three wonderful Children. I have been very sick the past year. And after a huge batch of test they diagnosed me withRA. It started last year I ran a fever for 4 weeks ofabout 99 - 103 degrees. I couldn't even get out of bed I was sostiff and sore. I ached all over and just felt like I sould die at anymoment. I then started getting these bumps all over my legs. Theyended up telling me it was called erythema nodosum. These bumps wereon my legs from the knee on down, for about 6 weeks and I couldn't even walk very well. Myankles were red and tender and about twice the size they regularlyare. I got well and was doing ok until about 6 weeks ago. Then Istarted running the fever again but no bumps. I felt like I had beenran over with a mac truck. I had the fever for 2

1/2 weeks thistime.I went to the dr. and they ran all kinds of tests. I am also very very anemic.So they did more tests and came to the conclution that I have RA. Ihave to see a rheumetologist but I can't get in to see one untilJuly.So here is my questions. Are these bumps I had related to the RA?Myjoints arn't hurting that much anymore but my muscels are killing mewhen everIdo anything. From walking to typing on the computer. Is this normal?Ihave always ached here and there but when I get these feverepisodes.I feel like my life is falling apart. I feel like a Hypocondriact?But, I really feel awful. The only joints that really bottered me,is I have these really swollen joints in my thumbs right at thebottom where my hand connects to my thumb. And it feels like all thetendens are huge and sore. If I bump them I know they are there andthey still hurt but, never got red. Theyare on both thumbs.

My feet also hurt really bad but not the wholefoot just one section on the outer joints in the foot. (The smallones) but, I think it is funny because they are on both feet thesameplace. Both thumbs the same place. My knees are just really stiff adn I also just have generalized bodyaches. It takes me like 2 hours to get going in the morning. Howlongwill this last? Last summer I was out for like 12 weeks please don'ttell me it is going to be a repeat!! Please help me with anyinformation to read. Links that help you ext. Thanks so muchNichol__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thank you for all your imput! I just love being able to come to a

place and talk with others about what is happening in my life. I

don't feel like anyone around here even understands. To answer any

of your questions. I am not currently on any medication. Other than

800mg of ibuprophen three times a day. The dr. first put me on rx

Sodium Neprozen, but It didn't do anything for me and I couldn't

even get out of bed. So he switched me to this. He doesn't feel

comfortable giving me anything else for the RA and has refered me to

the reumy. When I get my fevers I am in a full blown flare up. I

can't even move practically, crawling to the bathroom. It feels like

I am a bathtub of water. Expecially from the waist on down. My hips,

Knees and feet. The right side more dominate on joint pain and the

left side now more on the muscel pain. I have read a book or two on

RA. And I guess that muscel aches are part of RA but, usually are

seen in older patients. I guess its from the inflammation in the

tendens and muscsels. But, I will have to ask the reumy about that.

Anyways. I need to get up and move around. Thanks for all who

listens.

Nichol

> Hi my name is Nichol and i'm 33 years old, Married and have three

> wonderful Children. I have been very sick the past year. And after

a

> huge batch of test they diagnosed me with

> RA. It started last year I ran a fever for 4 weeks of

> about 99 - 103 degrees. I couldn't even get out of bed I was so

> stiff and sore. I ached all over and just felt like I sould die at

> any

> moment. I then started getting these bumps all over my legs. They

> ended up telling me it was called erythema nodosum. These bumps

were

> on my legs from the knee on down, for about 6 weeks and I couldn't

> even walk very well. My

> ankles were red and tender and about twice the size they regularly

> are. I got well and was doing ok until about 6 weeks ago. Then I

> started running the fever again but no bumps. I felt like I had

been

> ran over with a mac truck. I had the fever for 2 1/2 weeks this

> time.

> I went to the dr. and they ran all kinds of tests. I am also very

> very anemic.

> So they did more tests and came to the conclution that I have RA. I

> have to see a rheumetologist but I can't get in to see one until

> July.

>

> So here is my questions. Are these bumps I had related to the RA?

> My

> joints arn't hurting that much anymore but my muscels are killing

me

> when ever

> I

> do anything. From walking to typing on the computer. Is this

normal?

> I

> have always ached here and there but when I get these fever

> episodes.

> I feel like my life is falling apart. I feel like a Hypocondriact?

> But, I really feel awful. The only joints that really bottered me,

> is I have these really swollen joints in my thumbs right at the

> bottom where my hand connects to my thumb. And it feels like all

the

> tendens are huge and sore. If I bump them I know they are there and

> they still hurt but, never got red. They

> are on both thumbs. My feet also hurt really bad but not the whole

> foot just one section on the outer joints in the foot. (The small

> ones) but, I think it is funny because they are on both feet the

> same

> place. Both thumbs the same place. My knees are just really stiff

> adn I also just have generalized body

> aches. It takes me like 2 hours to get going in the morning. How

> long

> will this last? Last summer I was out for like 12 weeks please

don't

> tell me it is going to be a repeat!! Please help me with any

> information to read. Links that help you ext. Thanks so much

>

> Nichol

[Guest guest]

Hi, Nichol,

Make sure to ask your doctor your questions, too. Sometimes the

answers you get on lists like these are biased or just not accurate.

S

> Hi my name is Nichol and i'm 33 years old, Married and have three

> wonderful Children. I have been very sick the past year. And after

a

> huge batch of test they diagnosed me with

> RA. It started last year I ran a fever for 4 weeks of

> about 99 - 103 degrees. I couldn't even get out of bed I was so

> stiff and sore. I ached all over and just felt like I sould die at

> any

> moment. I then started getting these bumps all over my legs. They

> ended up telling me it was called erythema nodosum. These bumps were

> on my legs from the knee on down, for about 6 weeks and I couldn't

> even walk very well. My

> ankles were red and tender and about twice the size they regularly

> are. I got well and was doing ok until about 6 weeks ago. Then I

> started running the fever again but no bumps. I felt like I had been

> ran over with a mac truck. I had the fever for 2 1/2 weeks this

> time.

> I went to the dr. and they ran all kinds of tests. I am also very

> very anemic.

> So they did more tests and came to the conclution that I have RA. I

> have to see a rheumetologist but I can't get in to see one until

> July.

>

> So here is my questions. Are these bumps I had related to the RA?

> My

> joints arn't hurting that much anymore but my muscels are killing me

> when ever

> I

> do anything. From walking to typing on the computer. Is this normal?

> I

> have always ached here and there but when I get these fever

> episodes.

> I feel like my life is falling apart. I feel like a Hypocondriact?

> But, I really feel awful. The only joints that really bottered me,

> is I have these really swollen joints in my thumbs right at the

> bottom where my hand connects to my thumb. And it feels like all the

> tendens are huge and sore. If I bump them I know they are there and

> they still hurt but, never got red. They

> are on both thumbs. My feet also hurt really bad but not the whole

> foot just one section on the outer joints in the foot. (The small

> ones) but, I think it is funny because they are on both feet the

> same

> place. Both thumbs the same place. My knees are just really stiff

> adn I also just have generalized body

> aches. It takes me like 2 hours to get going in the morning. How

> long

> will this last? Last summer I was out for like 12 weeks please don't

> tell me it is going to be a repeat!! Please help me with any

> information to read. Links that help you ext. Thanks so much

>

> Nichol