Rheumatoid Arthritis

[livingwith]

I was diagnosed with Ra just about 4 months ago. To say the least it was a shock. I though the stiffness,swelling and pain were just my age catching up with me.
I am now at the stage where my Dr. is trying different drug therapy to find what will work for me. At this point it has not been to succesfull.
I think the hardest thing to cope with is the depression I miss the mobility that I used to enjoy-hiking,sparring,exploring the city(SF) just to name a few.
It makes me angry at times and ve...Read the full article

[halvard]

RA is very manageable. Once you are put on a TNF inhibitor like Enbrel, (entanercept) it could work in as little as 4 days, or longer. Is this Dr. giving you anti-inflammatories like Namubetone or Celebrex and telling you to take an Advil otherwise? I lived in SF - homeopathic - as everyone says. Oh yes. Been there done that. WHAT drug therapy are you on.....TYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELENOL? This disease is seriously progressive and debilitating if not treated with the proper care. Do not expect your family or friends to understand.

If that is your only health issue, be comforted by the fact that IF you have a good Rheumatologist - obviously SOMEONE must have sent you to one and I would like to know how - you will be fine with today's advanced medicine. No reason why you have to panic. You just need to learn how to inject yourself which is not a rat's butt deal next to what people are dealing with Aids and other illnesses.

I do not understand why you are so depressed, unless you have other illnesses which I wonder about.

Ellie-ritis





You really do not need to over-react like this. The drugs available today are amazing. So w

[Flexible]

Do not give up hope - keep your hope in today and tomorrow. Listen to your body telling you to rest - take a nap. Help your joints heal with sleep in addition to taking your medicine. When discouraged because simple tasks are so hard or impossible, keep trying. You'll get frustrated with all the messes that result from trying, but hope comes in each small success. You already know how different your movements are when you try to get up, walk, stretch, attempt to open bottles, etc. Learn from your successes and your mistakes.

Your life partner is exactly what you have described. He or she is going through the same emotional roller coaster, but without the joint pain. Your life partner and you have many wonderful goals to achieve, but they may be delayed or altered as you both learn how to move forward from your onset. Keep a positive attitude, and never forget to give and receive affection, appreciation, approval and attention to each other.

When I was first struck with RA, the doctor thought it might have been some type of "bug" I picked up and was mimicking RA symptoms. However, he had a RA factor blood test taken just to be on the safe side. I was 27 years old when I was diagnosed with an initial RA factor of >2,000. My highest RA level (several years later) was over 5,000. I am thrilled at my last test this year, as my RA factor came down to >100. I turn 55 this fall.

As you know, being diagnosed with RA is mind crushing. My rheumatoid doctor discouraged us from having additional children. We had one child, less than a year old, when the RA struck. We waited a few years, and decided to try for one additional child. I was fortunate in the outcome, and very pleased to have two healthy adult children today.

The choices we make each day to have a positive attitude will help accomplish the goals we set when we married and continue to make new goals to this day. It keeps our hope alive.