All new to me...

I am 31 and just recently diagnosed. So I understand where you are coming from. I have just decided that their must be some reason that this was a cross I must bear in my life. I will keep you in my prayers. I refuse to let this disease change my dreams. I may hae to make modifications but it will not make me change them. Just keep your head up and use this forum as much as you can. It has really helped me as well as many others.

The last thing that we should do is let it make us want to run away and not actually live! If you ever need to talk all of us our going through this together.

God Bless.

I know how you feel. I am 47 and have had ra since I was 19 years old. I am now in a wheelchair and facing many joint replacement surgeries. When I was first diagnosed I was in denial and just ignored it,because I was so young. I also refused to take many meds because I was afraid of the side affects and I refused to take any pain meds. If I would have taking the pain meds I may have been able to keep walking. My advice to anyone who has just been diagnosed is to take pain meds and any othere meds your doctor wants you to take so you can keep doing the things you want to do. I dont want anyone else to end up like this! Ill keep you in my prayers!

I'm 51, and was diagnosed 10 years ago.  I was living in Florida, and I had no health insurance.  When the Dr said I had RA, I had no idea how severe and PERMANENT it is. He just told me to take Naproxen for the pain,, and that was it, I went on my merry way.   I came back home to get my job back as well as my health ins.  (THANK GOD I DID)!  It's has been a roller coaster.  The meds caused me to get severe infections, all the time.  What is that saying, The cure is worse than the disease, or something like that.  BUT, I have now learned to be very careful, almost to the jpoint of being OCD. 

I'm rambling, but just hang in there.  I FEEL how you FEEL.  I understand.  You can STILL be Girlie Girl!  You can!!

Hi Norma,

Your story sounds so much like mine when I was diagnosed with RA also at age 51.  Hang in there!  It takes awhile for the meds to take hold and for the inflammation that is making you feel so bad to come under control.  You made need to take some prednisone as a "bridge" to reduce the inflammation until the slower acting meds can take full effect. 

I remember thinking that I should cut my hair because it hurt my hands and shoulders to wash it and I didn't have the energy to primp.  Luckily I held off and now that my disease is under better control I can once again wash and style.  I cried a lot too, but that subsided as I went through the adjustment to having RA and as I began to feel better.

Keep reaching out to others and learn as much as you can about managing your RA.  Find someone to talk too.  The future for those of us that have RA is much brighter than it was even a decade ago.  I know its hard right now but as your meds begin to work you will begin to feel better and be able to return to the things that you were planning.  For now, lots of TLC, rest and support will help you make it through these hard early days with RA. 

Thinking of you,

Josephine 

Hi Norma,

I can appreciate  how you feel!  I'm 57 and was diagnosed 5 years ago.  I'm a musician (though not professionally) and when the Ra struck, I couldn't play the piano for a half hour without having pain for a week!  After I found the right medicine, I went back to it, and for several years I was able to play piano and guitar when I needed to, even to the point of literally "leading the choir" at church for several months when we were without an organist - and i played at the funeral of a very dear friend. 

    I also couldn't type this much without extreme pain! 

I think you're still in the waiting stage for MTX to kick in.  If it doesn't, or if things are unbearable, you can consider  talking to your doctor about adding another med.  I had to skip over methotrexate because of high liver enzymes, and was put right on one of the biologics, Remicade.  I ended up switching to Enbrel, and have mostly been happy with it - nothing is perfect!  But having some choice gives you some sense of control over your life, if not the disease.

     I would be pretty annoyed with the doctor who just assumed old injuries.  Osteoarthritis does creep up in old injuries, but the pain of RA is of a different sort. I too had things overlooked because 'You look too young to have these problems'.  Before the diagnoses, I told my podiatrist that something was happening (shape changing) in my ankle, and he refused to do more xrays unless I was going to have surgery.  I got a shot of cortisone in my hand for a very stiff thumb for 'DeQuervain's tendinitis" from an orthopedist.  But shortly after my wrist swelled up halfway to my elbow and my GP said "uh oh! - I guess we'd better do those RA tests again!" I think he felt guilty, being the good doctor that he is, that he didn't take it as seriously the first time.  He had thought it was 'only fibromyalgia'.  I actually had swelling in the bone marrow - talk about pain!  

   But the good news is, I am so much better now.  I do have to pay a lot of attention to taking care of myself - which bugged me terribly at first until I realized - who better to do it?  It does mean slowing down - and prioritizing.  A visit to the mall is not a fun trip for very long.  I can't take long walks - my only previous form of regular exercise.  Instead I now have a recumbent bike in my living room.  I still play a little guitar & piano occasionally but have had wrist damage after all, from the beginning, which has taken its toll.  I have had to figure out how to do things differently.  I spent a few $$ on a veggie chopper (Proctor Silex $12) for those days when I can't chop veggies. But most days I can.  I wear only one kind of shoe, with orthotics.  I simplify as much of my life as I can, so I can pay attention to the most important things - my health, my husband, my job, and a few close friends.  And try to remember what I've still got and not focus on what I've lost.  Because it can drown me in self-pity if I do.  If I don't take care of myself, I'm miserable to myself and everyone around me.  that's the biggest incentive to take some of the meds - to stay on top of things but be cautious at the same time.

Hope I haven't said too much!  One last thing: some people feel better (less pain) if they avoid red meat, or even most meat.  Fish is better, veggies are even better. 

Blessings and best wishes for a good response to meds!

Ellen

hi there,

I am 21 years old (diagnosed at 11). I understand your frustrations. I believe that we are given life challenges for a reason and to be honest with you, I wouldn't have had my life any other way. Arthritis has been a blessing and curse. It brings me incredible pain and it also brought me closer to my family, friends and new dreams. I am now living at home with them because I couldn't handle college. RA will change your life, only you will determine whether it's for the better or the worse. I blog now to talk about my journey. I am trying to find a way to live without meds. You can read my blog at: http://thetruthaboutjra.wordpress.com. I have found a lot of other friends with RA through the blogging world. You can also check out: http://sorejointsandsoaringdreams.blogspot.com and http://thelifeandadventuresofcatepoo.blogspot.com

I am giving you these website because I have really found comfort in reading about others who struggle with RA. It feels like a family of RA bloggers now and it is good to have them to turn to when it's hard.

The best thing you can do is stay positive and ask your family to give you support in your time of need. I could no tlive without my family.

Good luck and be in touch!

xo robin

I am 43 yo recently diagnosed and am very mad.  I am a nurse so I have seen the devastation of this disease.  The doctor told me and i have cried swore and been generally pissed at the world.  5 years ago had brain surgery for a aneurysm now this.

I sit in this chair typing and wanting to scream because it feels as if someone is pulling on my hips in seperate directions.  I do believe in meditation etc but right now I am like you and too mad to see or find a way to turn this around into a manageable thing.

Take care of you the best you can.  Email me if you want to #$#%#@%  or cry

I believe in God and their must be a reason for this. Trust that he will guide you to a great life among your loved ones...hang in there you are a very strong minded and will survive it all...My opinion is keep your chin up high and search for the light in your life...one day at a time...Tito de la calle 20.