33 yr old with arthritis

darren666

hi! i have never done this before , i am 33 yrs old and just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. i have it bad , its all over my body not just in one place. i am always tired and in pain, the doc has put me on medication such as - dihydracodeine that didnt work then he put me on tramadol but that just makes me ill . i have an appointment to go to hospital next week to see a medicine consultant and i was wandering if anybody could tell me what to expect? also i have many problems with social security i do not think they believe me they are always sending me forms to fill in and i have to get sick notes regularly and i am too ill to cope with all this. plus trying to keep my young family positive as my kids have seen their dad get worse and worse. i really hate being in this body and hope there is sum1 out there who can help me. thanks!

mellman01

Hi Darren sorry I can't help as I have OA but I will say this you have come to the right place for advice and help so just hang on and someone will get back to you, I know it's easy to get down with this type of illness so I sympathise with you 100%, been there got the T shirt, just hang on a bit and one of the many RA sufferers will answer.


Regards

Mell

woodbon

Hello,
You are having a bit of a time of it at the moment arn't you? Everything seems to come at once and its very hard to cope. You must have been shocked with the diagnosis, a lot of people have the idea that arthritis is for 'old people' and dosn't touch them, but unfortunatly, this is far from the truth. You'll get lots of replies from people who are your age and they can offer you tips and tricks to help cope, but at the moment you much be feeling a bit down, so try and rest and just get a little exercise, walking or something.

I expect the hospital will be able to sort your drugs out, so that the pain becomes a bit easier to live with. Modern drugs have a lot to offer people with RA these days and although you will not be cured by them, a lot of people live ordinary lives, with children and work.

As for the DWP people, I'm afraid we all have to fill in so many forms to claim anything and I am doing that just now. Some of them seem badly worded and it can be hard to answer them properly. My advice would be, don't lie, but do make sure that you tell them as much about your bad days as you can. Don't say that you can manage when you know that to do so would make you ill. Think also about the days that you can't do anything and how unpredictable RA is. Get some help from the CAB, if you have any problems with the forms! Remember they aren't getting at you personally, its all of us!!! :roll:

All this is a shock for you and you need some time to get used to the idea of having RA. The Helpline here are very good and can send you lots of useful information, as well as listening to you problems.

I hope things start to improve for you very soon, take things easy,
Love Sue

suziev

darren666 wrote:

hi! i have never done this before , i am 33 yrs old and just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. i have it bad , its all over my body not just in one place. i am always tired and in pain, the doc has put me on medication such as - dihydracodeine that didnt work then he put me on tramadol but that just makes me ill . i have an appointment to go to hospital next week to see a medicine consultant and i was wandering if anybody could tell me what to expect? also i have many problems with social security i do not think they believe me they are always sending me forms to fill in and i have to get sick notes regularly and i am too ill to cope with all this. plus trying to keep my young family positive as my kids have seen their dad get worse and worse. i really hate being in this body and hope there is sum1 out there who can help me. thanks!

hi darren
firstly am 34, with RA and with a young family too and what i mostly want to stay is hang on in there it's going to get better
this is the hardest point and you have gone through the first hurdle getting a diagnoses. when you see a consultant they will ask lots of question and examine you (best undies needed ) maybe more blood tests. tell the consultant everything, write it all down before you go which helps. any drugs they give you take time to work don't except an over night miracle, it's normal for about 3 months to get into your system. you also need some painkillers discuss that with the consultant but your gp should help you with that really.
as for social security they are a pain in the bum, see your gp and ask for a longer sick note, i think i got mine every 6 weeks till i was classed as long term then they leave you alone.
as for your family, kids take things on board much easier then adults they will roll with what ever happens try not to worry about them stress just makes the RA worse.
also what i was told and i know to be true we all going through a grieving process, when i finally found out what was wrong my head was in bits for weeks, why me, what if's, what will happen to me.
but like i said it will get better hang on in there and you have found a great forum that will really help you
suzie

minky67

Hi & sorry to see your suffering.
I have OA too so not much help on the meds side of things.

Just a thought have you tried halving the dose of Tramadol (50 in stead of the full 100 dose ) to see if that helps? Or take paracetomol 4 hourly for a bit of releif til you see the consultant.
Do you take any anti inflammators, i.e Ibuprofen or Diclofenenics.?

Take care & i hope somebody comes along that can advise on RA .
Good luck with your appointment.
debs

debsmartin

Hi Darren

Sorry to hear that you are suffering, I echo the other posts but its a shock to your system when first diagonosed it was for me, you have got a hospital appointment so thats good, they will soon get you on some stronger tablets that will help with pain, my hospital offered me a steroid injection which really helped me whilst the proper drugs kicked in - as it was said earlier they take about 3 months to start to help. Its was good advice to make a list of questions to ask as its so easy to forget what you wanted to ask my doctor laughs when I get my little note book out. Hang on in there it does get better, you have found a brill forum to get help and advice

debs

tkachev

Hi Darren
I was diagnosed at 36 with R.A. I waited a year before seeing G.P but was diagnosed immediately and sent to see specialist.They will check how many joints are painful and will possibly X-ray and refer you for blood test.They can assess which, and how much medication will help you.
The nature of R.A is variable.For many of us it came on suddenly and unexpectedly.
I also have 3 young children,2 disabled so have had problems looking after them as I would like.It is difficult not to worry them and they still want that contact as before but you can tell them that the Doctors will help you but it might take a little while.
Medication has moved on a lot since mine started in 1999.
Try to stay positive and in the meantime get help as much as you can.I do understand that is not easy with so much pain.
Hope to see you posting in the future.
BEst wishes
Elizabeth

joyful164

Hello Darren
Well, here is an oldie, I'm 65, but believe my arthritis has gone back much longer than 2005, when it was first diagnosed. All sorts of other names were put to my pains. When I was in my teens, it was growing pains.
Anyway, I am so sorry that you have it at such a young age. With a young family too. If you are able to hurry your appointment up with the Medicine clinic. Would this be the pain clinic? They will soon sort out what would be best for you. In the meantime, if you are struggling with these forms, perhaps you could ring CAB or try and get in to see them. You do need to get your benefits sorted as soon as possible. They will know how to do these forms to your benefit. Do you work? How old are your children? It must be difficult for them to understand If you can, try and keep active every day and try to stay positive. Whenever I can, I bury myself in my art and put my music on. It helps me forget the pain. I do manage to work through it and I am having a bad day myself today, but my art is helping me.
If you have really deep down worries, the Helpline are there to help you.

Theres nothing more. Everyone else has said it. But only to say glad you have found us

Joy

Wonkylegs

HI Darren,

as someone who has RA and was diagnosed in my early 30's I can understand what a blow it has been for you.

everyone has already said about seeing the consultant, so all I can add to that is to go with someone else if you can (so that you have two pairs of ears listening ) and take a list of questions with you.

I would also urge you to ring or message the Arthritis Care Helplines team (free number at top of this page) as they will have helped loads of us through similar times, and they have all got arthritis so they know how tough life can be when you are first diagnosed.

Also they may have info they could send you to help you explain things to your young family.

good luck & keep posting!

woodbon

When I first went on to tramadol my GP warned me that they may make me sick and told me to ring for anti nausia tablets if needed. I felt a bit sick the first few days that I took them, but, after that I got used to them.

Maybe you could get some anti-sickness pills and see if they help? I hope you can get good pain relief to make life much better for you. Sometimes it takes a while for the docs to find something that works for you, so do go back soon if you don't feel better. Take care, Sue

carol101

Hi Darren sorry to hear your story.

I can't help much as i have OA but i'm only 35 and although only diagnosed in Aug this year, have suffered pain on and off since i was 17.

As someone else has said before, this is the hardest bit, being newly diagnosed and not knowing what to expect. You feel like all of a sudden you have no control of your life.........this will pass!

I can not comment on your pain as mine is only in my lower spine but i still do a physical, 40hr week job. I do have bad days where i'm in pain or feel down but as i'm learning to cope with it all these are getting fewer and fewer.

You just learn to adjust..........honestly!

Everyone on here are so very helpful and kind and they understand because they have been through it theirselves. These guys on here have seen me through my darkest days and got me out in the sunshine again

If every you need a chat, feel free to PM me

Carol X

eckstardeluxe

Hi Darren

I am 33 also with a very young family so your post really struck a cord with me. I have OA so can't really help re the RA.

It's ok to be frightened and anxious about what the future holds. A cliche but time heals. It takes time and you never really fully come to terms with it but you do learn to adapt. You just have to accept some things you can't do and find substitutes for them.

I haven't been on in a while, people message me and think I'm ill and are worried, I'm doing ok, I've just been doing some things in my life I'd dreamed of but never had the time before. I can do these things with my illness and it is giving me a new lease of life.

You will get there, keep posting, this forum and the members are true angels in my opinion, they have helped me so much, especially after a bad breakdown a few months back.

Take care xx

page35

Hi Darren
i too am 33 and have RA and a young family, there are a few of us .
sorry you havent got meds that have helped you so far but sure they will find something to help you and things will start to look brighter
i took a couple of drugs that didnt really help but i now take methotrixate (sorry i cant spell) and it has helped me so much, everyone is different and it might take awhile before they find a good drug for you. but dont lose hope.
best wishes


Alex good to see a post from you glad things are on the up
enjoy

sharmaine

Hi Darren
Welcome to the forum. I don't think I've seen you post before. I don't know much about RA (my OH uncle has it) but I have OA in quite a few places and it's a bloody nuisance. I think arthritis gets us all down from time to time. It's only natural. The thing is to try and be positive. Keep seeing your GP and hopefully they'll get the balance of medication right for you.

Can you get your GP to write you a letter to show the Social? I'm sure your GP would be happy to support you in this.

Your family will be there for you. Without love from our families coping with arthritis would be so hard. Rest when you're feeling bad and keep posting on here.

Sharmaine

tandbex

Hi Darren

This is the first time that I have posted a reply on this forum. I've just turned 39 and was diagnosed with RA in September this year, two weeks before I got married!

I too was a keen amatuer sports person who enjoyed all kinds of physical activity - even the gardening.

When I came down with RA, my world felt as though it was going to end right there and then. However, contacting such forums and support groups and my wife, they are helping me pull through this dibilitating disease. My consultant has now upped my MTX dose to 15mg, with numerous other drugs that i shall not bore you with.

Keep strong, my wife is my stronghold and your family will be too! Read as much as you can, there is quite a bit of garbage out there but the mainstay is good if you go on websites like this.

Best Regards

Tony

elnafinn

Hi Tony

Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on getting married!

I wish you well with your journey with arthritis. You seem to be coping well and having a loving OH and family certainly helps lighten the load. Keeping positive and laughter also helps.

I hope you post again to let us know how you are going on and offer your help to others.

Luv
Elna x

darren666

hi there. i would just like to thank everyone for answering my post and all the advice and care n support that u have all given, its much appreciated. got my big day today at the hospital so hopefully they will sort me out and i will be pain free. i also hope that u lot have all been good boys n girls this yr or santa will not come! once again thanks to u all and i will keep u updated .

elnafinn

Hi Darren

Just to wish you well with your appointment today. Please let us know how you get on. Hey, we are all so very good on here that santa hopefully will be kind to us and give us sacks of energy and good health :roll:

Look after yourself,

Luv
Elna x

tkachev

They seem to give out Methotrexate(MTX) a lot sooner nowadays.It may take a time for the rheumatologist to find the correct level of medication to help you-they tend to start low to monitor the effects
In the early days R.A can seem very severe, and you may get more flare-ups in future, everyone is different.
Hope the appointment goes well and you get help with your pain and inflammation.
Take care
Elizabeth

zimmerman

Hi Darren,

I was diagnosed in Jan 2008 and it has been a journey not just for me but my family as well (including the dog). It does get better when you get the right meds inside you but it can be a long process to find the correct one. If you want to chat more feel free to mail me.

Zimmie

amyhemsworth

darren666 wrote:

hi, im 22 years old and have been diagnosed for about 8 yrs, i have been on allsorts of medication since i was about 13, my current one is methotrexate and so far its doing ok, the odd sickness feeling comes along now and again , have you had this mentioned to you? whick parts of the body do you suffer from?

bertyboy

hi darren
sorry to hear of your problems but you have come to the right place to get advice and support , as has been said its all form filling and CAB are very good keep a diary of how you are and what you can and cant do on a daily basis even the simplest thinks you need help with as its all relavant , hope you get your meds sorted andget some relief xxx

cutieclaire

Hi hun,

Hope you are feeling a little better. I am 33 to and I have not long found out about having RA and like you I have polyarthritis which RA in more the 5 joints.
I know what you must be feeling, I felt almost angry and diddnt want any of it and really upset at the same time.
The Rhemmy was so so helpful and yeh like the other people have said, blood tests, examinations, xrays, altrasounds, OT and Physio. Its all ok and people are fantastic.

The DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) are another matter entirely and cant comment about them really but I would fill in as many forms as poss to see what you can get and keep on with it. I understand how much pain you are in and just keep that in mind.

As for your children, I have a 2 and 4 year old and with my hubby working and I am off sick at the moment, I still have to do things, like take Beth to school. Mornings are the worst 2 and its hard at times. They really do understand in there own ways. They find adaption so much easier tan us!!

Hope you are able to overcome all these issues and being on here really helped me so hopefully it can help you 2.

Love to all family and take care
xxx Chin up and keep on plodding xxxxx

Claire xx