Just Venting before my fourth Rheumatology appt. tomorrow...

Hello, I think everyone who reads this web site can relate to the emotions that you express.  Situations are different,  but the fear of unknown is universal.   I don't have the question about kids and starting a career, but I wonder if I can stay in my present career until I retire.  This is an unforgiving disease, with periods of calm, then flareups.  Keep reading this site, and get inspiration from people who keep tackling this disease and questions about meds.

Yes, this disease is very scary, and so are the meds. I was diagnosed with RA almost a month ago. I am 51. It seemed every day added another swollen and red joint in my hands. I could see deformity beginning in my index fingers. It was painful to walk and move my toes. My regimen is Enbrel 50 mg weekly and 1000 Naproxen daily. I am still stiff and slightly sore in my hands but my feet have almost no pain. The warnings for this med are incredible. But I also have a 70-year-old friend who has this disease with total hand deformity. I am sure she wished she had this med years ago. The new meds supposedly stop the progression. Which is worse, deformity and pain or possible shortened life. It is a difficult choice to make, one that should be discussed with your rheumy. If you are not comfortable with the answers you receive, a 2nd opinion could be warranted, especially because from your description, your symptoms sound acute. I wish you well in your journey. You are not alone - we are all on the same path together. Hugs! :)

I'm getting to the party late, but I would suggest that if your rheumatologist continues to remark about when you should've been treated, you gently ask him to stop. It sounds like you've found a doctor who will treat you aggressively and that's a good thing and I'm glad you found somebody you can trust, but hearing that you fell through the cracks can only upset you. One of the keys to dealing with this disease is to deal with today and tomorrow and not look back. Looking back and wondering what if will only drive you crazy.

Although it is true that generally, the lifespan of people with RA is shorter than average, it's quite possible that that has changed. With the relatively recent introduction of the biologic drugs, the prognosis of RA has changed so significantly that right now, it's not known how it will affect things like life expectancy and general health, but the thinking is that the prognosis definitely is much better now than it was even 10 years ago. And even if it wasn't, the decrease life expectancy is an average, which means that some people live until a ripe old age. You just never know.

You can still have a family and an awesome career. Yes, you have to go off the meds when you're trying to get pregnant, although I have heard of people taking prednisone while trying to conceive as it is safer than the other drugs. Once you are pregnant, the good news is that you will likely go into remission that will last until about 6-8 weeks after the birth. I know several women who have RA, who have families and careers. Once your disease is suppressed, you can get back to living your life. There is no reason not to dream. Yes, you will have to deal with this disease for the rest of your life and sometimes it will hijack your life, but there is good reason to be hopeful.. I'm not trying to be Pollyanna and tell you that it's going to be all rainbows and unicorns - this disease can be hard to live with, but you will find a way to make your life about life, not the disease. Have you considered counseling? It can be very helpful in helping you through the adjustment phase.  You can also check out our section for newly diagnosed for tips on coping withlife in general.

If you want to go back to school, you might want to check out my latest post about how to get help to ensure that your experiences is a success.