RA for 7 months

By massagediva Friday, February 27, 2009

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I was diagnosed with Ra about 7 months ago. I feel like my life has been stolen. I have a very 'good' rheumy, but so far we haven't found the right cocktail of medicines to stop the horrible flares. Now, normally my day job is that of a massage therapist. I became a massage therapist, leaving a career as a theatre professor, after battling a brain tumor. I love massage. I love what I do so very much. I specialize in helping cancer patients and chronic pain conditions...this was before the RA diagnosis. I'm terrified I'm going to have to give up doing what I love to do. Right now, I subcontract at a day spa where I'm the only LMT. My boss doesn't get the RA thing. I've had to explain it to this Barbie Doll eight times. I've had to explain it to the other Barbie Doll who is STUDYING TO BE A NURSE at least a dozen times. They don't get it at all. I'm really scared I'm going to asked to leave because lately I've had one episode after another that has caused me to have to reschedule clients. Being on immunosuppresents, I'm vunerable to every little illness clients bring in...then I'm out again! Three weeks ago, my jaw locked up. Then last week, I had bronchitis and strep together. This week's crisis was my hands swelling up to more than twice their normal size. If I hadn't gone into to my rheumy, I might have had permanent nerve damage at the very least. To top this all off, prednisone makes me horribly depressed. I'm on 15 mg right now. That's low for some, but it's really bad for me. I'm on cymbalta now, but it's only been two weeks. I had been on Effexor XR for years for migrianes. I know I'm rambling here but I'm so grateful to find a group of people who understand what I'm going through.

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Jamie

2/28/09 1:03am

Dear MassageDiva,

I understand you feel. "Having my life stolen" very aptly describes how the newly diagnosed feel. I know I keep saying "I just want my life back". I am still in denial because I think that maybe the diagnosis is wrong and this will all just go away. Other people just don't get it and probably never will. Your line of work will be very hard on your body. I used to love to give my husband a massage but now my hands are too weak and sore.

I did great on the prednisone, it was weaning off of it when the depression really hit hard. I am a pharmacist so I can help you a little bit with the Cymbalta. I take it too. The literature states 4-5 weeks for it to start working but in my experience it takes longer and the benefits just keep getting better over time (months/years) I increased from 60 to 90 mg after weaning off the prednisone. After two months at the new dose I am really feeling the benefits now. The two most common causes of treatment failure with anti-depressants are 1. taking too low of a dose 2. not taking it for a long enough treatment period. People are afraid to increase their dose, if you really aren't responding after 3 months you may consider it.

Hang in there and give it some time.

Jamie

massagediva

2/28/09 3:23am

Thanks for the info about the Cymbalta. I take 60 mg twice a day, well three times right now. I was on Effexor for years but it seems to have stopped working with the Arava or other RA meds. Prednisone and I just aren't a good match. I can't wait for the swelling to go down and wean off of it. I think I'm in denial much of the time too. I keep thinking the diagnosis must be wrong, or I'll just get over this...etc.. I need to start keeping a log so I can see what it is that is triggering these flares. A few weeks ago, my jaw locked shut for 4 days. Now, I lost weight but I don't recommend this!

purplefrog

7/15/10 12:48am

did you ever have adverse side affects with the cymbalta? I am on week 3 of trying it out and I just got weened off my Zoloft. My psychiatrist thought that cymbalta might help as an anti-depressant and a pain reliever. I dont really know if it has been helping but I have been having orthostatic hypotension from it. Are side effects common, if I keep taking it will the side effects probably dissipate?

RA for 7 months

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