I'm new to all this but not now to RA!

Ria

Hello all,

Just discovered this website and want to introduce myself - my name is Ria. I've had RA for 35 years since aged 10. Despite it flaring up at 22 and affecting my hips to such an extent as to making me 'disabled', I have led an active and fulfilling life. I have a 20 yr old daughter and 12 yr old son (both born by caesarean section due to no hip movement !!). 5 years ago my 20 yr marriage ended after he took a liking to my (then) best friend of 15 years, and all the emotional stress begun. After the devastating news that my sister had breast cancer my RA flared up with a vengeance. I am taking meloxicam, Tramadol and hydroxychloroquine although my Rheumatologist is putting me on MTX soon. After the birth of my daughter my then Rheumatologist told me to only come to clinic if I needed an SOS appointment. he was trying to be helpful i think?! So with life keeping me busy and the fact that I see myself as 'normal' and push myself to the limit, I only saw him once in 20 yrs. The downside is i've missed all these new drugs as was only on an NSAID. I'm in excruciating pain and have such limited movement at the moment that i'm praying the new meds work. That coupled with feeling sick and the tiredness from the Tramadol is making me wonder if i'll ever get back to how I was and able to enjoy life again! Has anyone else felt like this and can offer any advice.
God, reading this back sounds like i'm a miserable cow doesn't it??? i won't blame you all if you don't reply LOL!


Ria x

bertyboy

hi Ria , welcome to the forum i am sure you are not a miserable cow , i dont know much about RA and the meds used but there are lots on here that do and i am sure some body will know more x

jillyb1

Welcome , Ria , it really sounds as if you've been through the mill a few times ! Sorry to hear your in so much discomfort , suggest you get your GP to send you back to the rheumy asap as you shouldn't have to struggle alone like this . Very glad you found us though , there are some lovely caring people on here ready to laugh or weep with you whenever needed . Hope to chat with you again soon . Jillyb

hileena111

Hi Ria
Welcome to the forum....I've got OA so dont know a lot about RA drugs but I hope you get sorted soonb

Love
Hileena

tiggernut

Hi Ria,
I have RA I was diagnosed at 15 but after the frozen shoulder came back to life it lay dormant until I had my 2nd son at 30.
However, for the 1st year when I was 30 I was only given voltarol so although the pain was not too bad the RA was running riot through my body. I now have deformed hands barely any grip and 5 artificial joints.I now take, Votarol, Hydroxychloroquine,prednisalone, mtx injections plus either Tramadol and Co-Dydramol. Lately I seem to have many off days when I just feel crap!! I have an on going foot problem which may be an infection which according to my rhuematology nurse is the reason for me feeling crap!
Having said all that I live a normal life and won't let it beat me lol!
A little tip if the mtx makes you feel sick take it at night before bed so you can sleep through the sickness period. That's what I did before I went onto injections which give no side effects.

Anita

ironic

Hi Ria,

Welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear you are in so much pain though. I hope you have your Rheumy appointment soon so you can start to get the help you need. I am taking Hdyrox and mtx combined with dicofenac which I rely on at the moment.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on.
Lv, I x

coco67

just wanted to say welcome and i hope things get sorted for you soon,

traluvie

Hi Ria,

Welcome form me too..
I am 31 i have inflammatory arthritis in many joints and OA in knees..
Can be a very painful at times and quite depressing when you are unable to do the things you love... So you not a miserable co at all luvie.. we are entitled to feel like that.. I have only had symptoms for 10 months but am now abloe to say i am on a concoction of drugs that have made me feel a bit better..
I believe you should go and see your GP to discuss pain meds and a trip to rheumy again is def needed...
Wish you well and look forward to seeing you around..xx

Ria

Thank you all for your kind comments. it's lovely to know there are others out there who understand!
I didn't explain very well - i'd only been on NSAID since aged 10 until now (45) but I saw Rhummy last week & they've started me on hydrox, and tramadol and apparently will be taking MTX. So although feeling unwell at the moment i'm hoping it improves. Like some of you, i didn't have much pain and thought the disease had 'burnt itself out' over the years, however, it was slowly destroying other joints and I just got stiffer and stiffer until this mega flare up. Now I understand what pain is!!
I will keep you all informed and look forward to reading your posts.

Ria x

tkachev

Welcome Ria and glad you found us.
I found R.A can grab you very quickly so all the pain comes in one big swoop. I do hope the new meds will help you. I expect some will help at first then they might wear off but don't give up as there will be stronger meds to follow if required.
Sorry to read about your marriage. That must have been terrible for you but you sound like a fighter. And you have brought up 2 lovely children despite the R.A. so nothing holds you back.
I look forward to seeing further posts from you.Hope the pain calms down very soon,

Elizabeth

prefabkid47

Hi Ria
Welcome to the site,we are full of aches and pains and information.Feel free to moan as much as you like,we all do it and often feel better for it afterwards.
Incidentally have OA and RA.Of course meds and their effectiveness vary from individual to individual,usually something does the trick.
Ron

constable

Hi Ria,

I cannot help you as I have OA but just wanted to welcome you to the forum. All the people on here are really nice, and any help you need we will try and help. You are not being a miserable cow, you are at your wits end by the sound of things. Totally understandable after what you have been through. Everyone on here has a moan or rant at times, you have to for your own sanity.

Shall look forward to seeing you around the forum, do try vals cafe for a virtual cuppa and chat.

Karen xx

bubbadog

Hi Ria, Welcome to the forum! Hope you enjoy on here! Amanda/bubbadog

stickywicket

Hi Ria,

No, not so much 'miserable old cow' as someone who's learnt to cope with all this stuff throws at us and come out smiling. Well done you!

I hope the meds soon work for you. I'm on methotrexate & hydroxychloroquine and they do a great job for me. There are always peaks and troughs with arthritis and stress, of any kind, can play a big role in the troughs. You've had a lot to handle. No wonder yours is making its presence felt right now.

I'm sorry you've missed out on the new meds by not seeing a rheumatologist regularly but you seemed to have gained a 'can do' attitude that can be virtually as important as the meds.

I don't know about 'getting back to where you were'. I don't know where you were for a start. In any case it's probably more helpful to focus ahead and see where you can go from here. I'm pretty confident you'll learn 'to enjoy life' again as you seem to be determined to do so. I've had RA for 50 years and I enjoy my life very much. I do hope you can too once the meds are sorted.

frogmorton

Hi Ria

welcome from me too

I hope you find this forum as helpful as l have and that you soon satrt giving us lot help too beinga bit of an old hat

Love

toni xx

julie47

Hi Ria

Welcome to the forum and I hope the drugs you are on soon bring your Ra under control.

Take care
Juliepf x