Information and opinions on Rheumatoid Arthritis from LeighAnn at MyRACentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980 http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980 http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/88658/box Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:58:17 -0400 LeighAnn Ok so my 1 year anniv of my RA dx is coming up on Oct. 8th and I am thinking WOW really a year already?? I mean i am doing waaaay better than I was a year ago. but at the same time I am thinking holy crap I am still hurting and faking that smile in public and I am still waiting for the "this is all a joke, boy was I wrong" shoe to drop. It hasn't, and won't. Here I thought I was doing sooo well, feeling better on th whole, and managing to look... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/88658/box http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/84661/day Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:01:38 -0400 LeighAnn I am fan of the social networking sites, inparticular Facebook. It has allowed me to reconnect with lots of old friends and its fun. :) The one thing on FB I can't or at least wont do is air my medical issues. Very few if any of my friends know I have RA, only my very dearest friends know. Days like today where I would love to write in the status line of FB "is having a heck of a RA day." And it would be great to get the uplifting and... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/84661/day http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/69707/real Mon, 04 May 2009 17:27:45 -0400 LeighAnn Howdy fellow friends! I hope you are all doing well. Its been a while since I have posted and thought it was time that I own up to my stupidity. :)  I have been taking my RA meds for 8 months now and I feel so close to my "normal" self that its unbelievible. We recently moved and I packed the entire house and unpacked it all for the most part on my own. I did trigger a mild flare but was able to manage it with medication. After the move... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/69707/real http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/55594/life Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:51:35 -0500 LeighAnn Its been a long time coming and fitting that its a new year as well. Back in Sept. I wrote a post titled "I want my life back", I am pleased to say that now that its closing in on the middle of January and I am actually getting my life back. I have been on my medication mix since the 1st of Oct 2008 and do feel tons better. I am not always so tired feeling like I got hit by a truck or having to carry around a 10 ton weight all day. Getting... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/55594/life http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/50476/tired Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:26:28 -0500 LeighAnn Can you believe the holidays are upon us already!? Yesterday was a wonderful thanksgiving as I was so thankful for have been feeling so much more like my old self the past few weeks. I have been on prednsoine for about 8 weeks now but have stepped down to the point that I have just a few more days left on this medication. I have gained nearly 15 lbs while on this medication which has really messed with my head as I was already on the heavy side.... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/50476/tired http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/46932/added Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:24:18 -0400 LeighAnn Prednisone. I have a love hate relationship with this drug now. I love that I am feeling sooo much better. I hate that now that I am stepping down on my dose I am starting to feel more - everything. Now add on the added weight I have gained while on this little pill. I am by no way "skinny" never have been. I'm one of those women that just try to be happy and not look too long in the mirror. :) lol I noticed this morning when it took me an extra... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/46932/added http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/46423/nasty Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:07:46 -0400 LeighAnn Ahh the love affair is starting to fizzle. I have been stepping down the last few weeks from prednisone and have finally reached the maintance dose that I will hold steady at for the next few weeks until my methotrexate and Humira kick in. Ahh the waiting game. I really loved the boost I got from Pred and how I had so much energy, lack of pain and felt like ME again. I have started to feel some of the achiness and pain come back and while I am... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/46423/nasty http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/45040/love Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:57:15 -0400 LeighAnn I'm in love with a drug! I have been taking prednisone for 8 days and I love it - despite all its flaws. I am sleeping at night, I am cleaning my own house, I am playing with my kids, I have my energy back, I don't hurt like I did - the pain is 90% gone - and I feel like my old self again! I love those little white pills! I admit the love affair was doomed from the start, I've already started stepping down the dose and it won't be long and I'll... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/45040/love http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/43985/fina Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:13:14 -0400 LeighAnn It's official. Yesterday I went to my new dr and what a great change it was to be listened to and actually heard. I was seen by both the dr and her PA, and they both came to the same conclusion - I have RA. Out of the 7 items you could  have to have RA I had 5 without any blood labs or films -and you must have at least 3.  It may seem odd but I am sooo relieved to finally know. I mean I have known for a while but now I have 2... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/43985/fina http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/43042/happy Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:12:28 -0400 LeighAnn My oldest child, my son, is almost 7 and just joined the Cub Scouts. He's having such a great time and just learned that he will get to go on his first camping trip NOv.1. This isn't just any camping trip, its a FAMILY camping trip. I was sitting in a pack meeting and the lady starts talking about the event and I swear I felt every one of my joints turn to concrete and begin to cry out. As she kept talking about tents and hour long hikes and... http://www.healthcentral.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/c/66980/43042/happy