I'm new and coming to terms with my diagnosis....

Katiebelle · 25. Oct 2011, 12:08

Hi All,
I hope i am posting in the right place?!
So yesterday I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis after a year of being prodded, poked, x-rayed, stabbed repeatedly with needles and being injected with radio-active stuff! To say i'm a mess is an understatement! In the past 24hrs i have sobbed, made jokes, been lost for words and now i feel really quite angry over the whole thing! I suppose that this is completely normal and of course to be expected.
My Rheumatologist is going to start me on Sulfasalazine so i guess i will just have to wait and see (and hope and pray!!) that things start to improve for me. Currently several of my fingertips are affected as well as my wrists, lower spine, shoulder and elbow. I have had 'aches and pains' since i was about 25 but last year after turning 30 and barely being able to get out of bed in the morning because i was so so stiff, i decided to go and get checked out. And well, here I am, cross, confused and quite scared about the future.
I spent a bit of time on this forum last night, just reading things and thought that i would like to join, everyone seemed so helpful and compassionate and it made me feel a bit better that there are people out there in similar situations to me although i will admit that many, many posts made me cry a little harder!!
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Kate x

dreamdaisy · 25. Oct 2011, 12:22

Hello, Katie, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. I too have PA, I've been on sulph for years (and a few other bits and pieces too) but I guess was lucky in some ways as things gradually worsened and by the time I found out what was what I was quite used to it all.

Having a diagnosis can lead to a progression of emotions which are similar to those of grief because it is a grieving process: your life has changed and the future is suddenly far more uncertain (I know that no-one has a guaranteed future but an arthritic one is a little more daunting). I am fifteen years into it all and even now, every now and again, the unfairness bites. We are a knowledgeable bunch on here, we understand pain, distress, fear and worries - please try not turn to Mr Google too much for info on drugs etc, talk to us. AC produce some very useful leaflets and info, so have a look at those too. Above all be kind to yourself over the next few days, give yourself time to absorb the news (understanding may take a little longer). I wish you well. DD

tjt6768 · 25. Oct 2011, 12:27

Hi Kate. Welcome to the forum hun.
I started sulfa yesterday too..
I've had what I now know to be sero neg arthur for a couple of years now, took a while to get the diagnosis. So I'm a newbie to the RA scene as well although I've had osteo for many years though...

Anyway, the emotions thing is very normal, although I've mainly been stuck in the joking phase since I was a teenager, lol..

Best of luck with the meds.. We can compare effects? Lol

barbara12 · 25. Oct 2011, 12:47

Hi Kate
And a very warm welcome to this lovely forum, now you have us lot to rant at, sorry I cant give you any advice apart from we do all understand those emotions.
So dont forget we are always when you need to let off steam, or get advice.
You take care

mig · 25. Oct 2011, 13:09

Hi and welcome,Come to the right place people on here have helped me so much,they are such a caring gang,have you had a look at chit chat yet?anyhting but arthur on there,shows you what nutters we lot are but it certainly makes you laugh.Mig

valval · 25. Oct 2011, 13:39

welcome you will feel so much better when they find some meds that suit you sorry you have arther we all understand the ups and downs it all causes but are here to help all we can val

julie47 · 25. Oct 2011, 13:55

Hi Katie
welcome to the forum from me too.

It is good that you now have a diagnosis and can be treated accordingly.
I hope that the sulpha helps and that you start to feel some improvement soon.
Keep your chin up and telling those jokes.

Love juliepf x

mp1952 · 25. Oct 2011, 14:57

Hi Katie

Welcome to the forum..

You will find lots of help here.

Things WILL improve for you. I hope the sulphasalazine starts working for you very soon.

Marion

suzygirl · 25. Oct 2011, 15:28

Hi and welcome, I hope the sulfa helps you.

Turbogran · 25. Oct 2011, 16:24

Just want welcome you to the forum there is a great crowd of people on this forum who are all so helpful and careing. looking forward to see you posting more

Katiebelle · 25. Oct 2011, 16:46

Thank you all so much for your lovely welcome messages, it means a lot! I hope I get the chance to know you all a little better!

K x

bubbadog · 26. Oct 2011, 06:21

Hi Katie, Welcome to the forum, it's a great place to help you come to terms with whats happened. We laugh, cry and rant together and we comfort our friends when they need it. You did the right thing coming here and will find peace in this big family of ours. bubbadog/Amanda.xx

Fedup · 26. Oct 2011, 07:29

Hi Katie

Welcome to the forum

its full of lovely people who im sure will be able to help you.

I cant offer any help with your form of arthritis as I have a different form, but I too am newly diagnosed and am also around your age so I do know how you feel I have been through most of the emotions you mention, im sure with the right meds and support you will begin to feel better soon, there is so much advice out there now for the condition, things you can do to help with some of the effects of the illness, and of course ask away here there are many people on the forum who are a wealth of knowledge and im sure there will be someone who can answer your questions.

Good luck and keep us updated as to how your doing.

J x

dibdab · 26. Oct 2011, 11:38

Hi, welcome. Glad you found this wonderful site-there's so much support and positive encouragement here, and a safe space to vent the frustrations, fears etc. I'm sure we all go through that array of emotions, but gradually it becomes anew form of normal and folks are often really happy to help and support if you can work up the courage to share with them about how it affects your life and what help you need to get by.

Hope the sulfa gives you respite soon. Keep your chin up.
Blessings

Deb x

stlucia · 26. Oct 2011, 11:58

Hi Katie,

It's lovely to meet you and I'm sorry that you are having to go through all of this. I'm a similar age to you (and have had RA since I was 16). Once you find medication that works for you things get easier and much more manageable. xx

scorpio · 26. Oct 2011, 18:55

Katiebelle wrote:

Thank you all so much for your lovely welcome messages, it means a lot! I hope I get the chance to know you all a little better!

K x

if you get a chance, read my 1st post here, it may sound similar to you - i cried whilst typing it........i have had poliarticular psoriatic arthritis since my early 20s and my psoriasis was covering more than half my body and the psoriasis affecting everything i can think of, including my jaw
chin up and smile - try pushing for methatrexate and/or humira - i am a new man

I'm new and coming to terms with my diagnosis....

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