New Here....Just Diagnosed

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2003
New Here....Just Diagnosed
14
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 11:14am

Hey everyone,


My name is Bethie. I live in the Boston, MA area with my DH and three wonderful feline children. I was diagnosed less than a month ago, after finally admitting to myself that I needed to see a doctor about the pain and stiffness that had been plaguing me.


I really like the rheumatologist that I have found. She is very nice and seems very knowledgable. She has put me on 10mg of prednisone every day, but has already given my

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Thu, 07-07-2005 - 1:37pm

Hi Bethie and welcome!

Molly

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 07-08-2005 - 6:46am

Dear Bethie,
Well welcome to the board, Sorry about the diagnosis and having to post here. RA is a pretty yuk disease to have and like many of us here you will get to know your body well in the coming months and recognise good days & bad days.
Hobbling of a morning will reduce as your RA gets under control, but it is so important to have agressive good treatment early on to get the disease under control, with every flare comes the inflammation and resulting joint damage.
Hang around you will learn some valuable information here, which will assist you not only understanding the disease process, but how and ways to cope. As well as armimg your self with information about medications & treatments so you can in the make to some degree an informed decision on what type of treatment you want.
Some docs are very conservative, others agressive. You will find ALL drugs have side effects, but that does not mean you will have them.
I personally chose aggressive treatment, because I went undiagnosed for many years, So by the time I was diagnosed I was very sick. I take MXT (methotrexate 20mg tab weekly) and my body knows when it is due. Prednisone 2.5 mg daily (am currently weaning down )Enbrel injections twice a week (thank god the best drug since sliced bread- it has put me in a remission of sorts --although my feet dont know this)

There is two golden rules with RA regarding your joints. MOVE IT OR LOOSE IT
and REST JOINTS IN A FLARE

Welcome to the board. Lell. PS I love you time line thing I need a few of those. 1 for stopping smoking. 1 for ummm weight (will need to be very long) 1 for days till lottery win & retirement.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2003
Wed, 07-13-2005 - 10:13am

Hi Molly,


Thanks for the welcome and all the great information. I really appreciate it.


I heard from my doctor last Friday. The blood work came back positive for RA. I am slightly upset that it is

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 07-13-2005 - 10:44am

Bethie,
Welcome to our board! Yes it sucks having RA, but as with life in general there are amazing wonderful days, and days you should just stay in bed. I see Molly our wonderful CL has posted lots of info and links ~ she is bursting with knowledge and a terrific researcher. The ladies on this board are brimming with wisdom and experience and the support is rock solid.

Good luck on your journey. My RA has been a wonderful life lesson. (Today I'll take that comment with a grain of salt, LOL) But true, it teaches you many things, one of is to really appreciate life around you and how important the "little" things really are.
You'll never feel so blessed on that morning when you roll out of bed and your feel don't feel like two bricks hitting a wall! Moments of Bliss!

Taking care of yourself is the most important lesson. On days when you feel crappy, don't run a marathon (or do 25 loads of laundry), plan your day around long bubble baths a good book or if you work, a "light" day. On days where you feel great, take it easy but do go for a bike ride or plant a small tree, lol. And maybe do 5 loads of laundry. (didya guess I have a hang up about laundry?)

And good luck on finding the almighty cocktail and putting your symptoms to bed.

Again...Welcome.
Namaste
Holly

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Wed, 07-13-2005 - 1:43pm

((((((((((( Bethie ))))))))))))), it was so good to hear from you.

Molly

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Wed, 07-13-2005 - 1:45pm

Holly, I found a new avatar for you!!


Molly

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 07-13-2005 - 2:19pm
Tee hee hee Molly. Where do you get this stuff???
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2005
Wed, 07-13-2005 - 10:39pm
Molly!!!!!! Hahahahahaha!!!


Edited 7/13/2005 10:40 pm ET ET by vickid1947

Avatar for donnaldy59
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-19-2001
Thu, 07-14-2005 - 9:26am

Hi Bethie - welcome and sorry you were diagnosed with RA!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Thu, 07-14-2005 - 1:30pm

  • Where do you get this stuff???

Hmmmm....should I give away my secret???

Molly

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