Newbie - possible arthritis - feeling glum

barbara12

Hi pinkteapot
And a very warm welcome to the forum, I am so glad your appointment went well, I know you must be worried, and please dont apologise for feeling scared, it really is normal, and will settle down.
Its early days and you are seeing all the right people, and getting some great advice off here.
This forum has been a life saver for me, all the support and laughs are priceless.
Wishing you well with everything
Love
Barbara x

julie47

Hi pink teapot
I am glad that the rhummy appointment went well and that you have decided to go ahead with further investigations.
I think the sooner you get to the bottom of these problems and start the right medication it is better for you, rather than letting them fob you off and the matter getting worse.
Good luck with the ultra sound on the 5th. You will have to remind me of pocket duties..

Take care and enjoy this sunshine
Love Juliepf x

keith1971

I had no idea either, hence me putting off treatment - it was only one finger afterall! Over the last few months though the niggling aches & pains have increased. I'm still fully mobile (but won't be auditioning for Riverdance any time soon!) and determined to stay so........that fat finger now isn't so fat but I can only bend it halfway despite steroid injections.

It is frightening, you're not alone there. I think it's the not knowing what's going to happen in the future & it all being kinda outta your direct control. This forum has definitely helped me mentally, try not to read the bad stories & then apply them to yourself - everybody is different.

My wife and I are trying for baby no.2 so I've just started taking Sulfazine as this is safe when you're making babies! Though it may cause a decrease in sperm count, something you won't have to worry about

Keep us updated with how things go.

x

pinkteapot

Thanks Barbara, Julie and Keith.

Keith - you're right - it's the future that's scaring me. How things are today really isn't bad at all. If it is PA, it's the fact I've no idea how it'll progress that's upsetting me. I think I'm feeling a bit like the future I thought I was going to have is being taken away from me. And that my body's letting me down. And that it's not fair on my husband; he's already had to take over some bits that I do at home.

I know I just need to take things one step at a time. Next step is the ultrasound on 5th April. My brain keeps running ahead though. :???:

Sorry guys; I'm on a real downer today, I know. I'm guessing a bit of a rollercoaster is normal to start with.

keith1971

No need to apologise - I'm in the same boat, teary eyed one minute & then trying to think positive the next. This past month is really the only time I've fully understood what's going on & actually taken it seriously. I feel betrayed by my body to be honest.....I've always taken pretty good care of it over the years (I'm 39)!

And yes, feeling like it's not fair on your partner is an idea we share. I'm still doing everything I need to do but feel very tired come 6pm (we have a 3yr old son). I guess I'm lucky in the fact that it's my wife who works & I get to stay home and be full time daddy. I find I'm okay (though achey) when I'm up & about but if I sit down for 15mins everything gets a little stiff again. Morning stiffness too is something that's just started hitting me (not the morning stiffness I'm used to )

You're right - just try and take one step at a time. Get a proper diagnosis, see what the scans show up, then you can start to tackle things if they need to be tackled.

I think trying to keep a healthy mind is as important as keeping a healthy body - something I'm working at daily because it's very easy to panic & start feeling sorry for yourself. You read about people on here who can't walk or move their arms properly etc. & you immediately think that's going to happen to you too......but no two people are alike & the severity of this disease is different for all of us. I'm trying to focus on the good stories I've read & keeping myself fit with a good exercise programme & a super healthy diet.

x x

pinkteapot

(self-pitying post removed!)

dreamdaisy

It must be so tough if one is used to good health to suddenly find that things aren't working as they should. If it is PA then it has been caught good and early which means that hopefully the meds can do their stuff and slow the progress of it all. Having said that, however, no-one can predict how your PA (if that is what it is) will develop or at what rate. Everybody is different and every body is different. Stop dwelling on what might be and keep a sense of proportion if you can: something is up, yes, but steps are being taken to find out exactly what - that is a good thing. Keep as positive as you can - ask us any questions that crop up and we will do our best to help with answers but bear in mind that most of us are much, much further down this road than you. DD