just me

Health Interests

Rheumatoid Arthritis,  Psoriatic Arthritis

Drugs I am Taking

Methotrexate,  Mobic alternates with Motrin,  Folic Acid,  Calcium with D,  Vitamin C

About Me

I am still active, or try to be. I am definatley not as active as I used to be and I am getting FAT! It all seemed to begin a year after my hysterectomy. Started out with a Severe Vitamin D deficiency the doc called my symptoms "Adult Rickets". With supplements my D was back in range, took 8 months but symptoms persisted, now comes the Sero -Negative Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis and some Osteo Arthritis! I had 3 three bouts of trigger finger ( painful locking) 2 of which required surgical repair. On the third, I took the injection and went to rheumatologist at my family docs suggestion. God Bless that Rheumy! 2 years prior of increasing pain and stiffness seems like all joints mostly hips hands, fingers and shoulders are affected,Even my back and neck. I feel like an old lady. I used to be able to tough it out and hide my symptoms in public, then die when i got home at the end of the work day.. now you can tell something isnt right by my gait and the constant snap crackle popping noises my body makes when I walk. Seronegative always made me think perhaps it was a mis diagnosis. I think that is what kept me in denial so long. There is more but this all i can type my hands are hurting. I really didnt have anyone I could even talk to about all this. Thank God for this site. It has made a huge difference in getting me to accept that RA is my reality and I am choosing to live with it, not shrivel up and hide anymore. As an ER Nurse, I felt like a freak and that no one can have so many aches and pains on a constant basis like this. Sure there are some good days but still more bad,even now with treatment I have not made alot of progress,the few times I tried to quit taking meds, wow, reality snapped back in, I went back on them and I was again better. Not in remission by any means but definately better. Those trial and error days are over now, I will not stop taking my meds again on my own accord. I used to think sero negative made me in a mild category and I should not complain. I have never been sick or had to take medicine before this.So in the beginning I guess I just freaked out. Some days, I still have some difficulty coping with the pain. I dont ask for narcotics because as an ER nurse, I do not want to be labeled as a drug seeker.(those judgmental clinicians! I wish I didnt know how they see people with chronic pain)but in the beginning, when i was awaiting my rheumy consult, I was on Norco and it helped me to be more myself. I only took it at night when i came home from work, but it helped so much was able to keep going to take care of the family after work, feed them,do some light housework and attend school activites etc...usual mommie, wife duties. Without it ( past 4 months) I creak through the day at work, not as productive and when i get home I just die on the couch.