New - My story so far (if anyones intrested lol)

HayleyPotter

Hiya everyone!
My names Hayley and i am 23. I was diagnosed with arthritis March 2010. I had been in pain for a long while but stopped going to see my doctor after she constantly told me there was nothing wrong with me and blamed my pain on me being overweight.

Finally when the pain got too much i changed docs and they got me to see a rheumatologist who diagnosed me. They put me on methotrexate, i was told it was very affective but after 9 months nothing improved, not even a little. In the mean time my life had gone so down hill. I used to be so active, going out with friends never letting anything stop me doing what I wanted to. However my university work started to suffer, I stopped going out, I started to feel lonely and it felt like my whole life revolved around whether I was in pain, i was so frustrated with myself for not being able to do simple tasks like open a can or turn a key. it really was awful.

FINALLY in January I started a relatively new type of treatment called ETANERCEPT, brand name ENBREL. I inject myself in the leg once a week and I can honestly say that these injections have been a miracle to me, I feel at least 80% better and I feel they have given me my life back. I can now do everything that I used to, I no longer feel restricted and depressed, i am so happy again. Down side is that i pick up a lot of infections, ive had an abscess and was in hospital with blood poisoning, nut being (almost) pain free is amazing.
I still have my off days where i ache n i still have a few swollen and tender joints, but this is things i can live with i look forward to reading all of your stories
hayley x

traluvie

Hi Hayley,

Welcome to the forum, i am 32 with inflammatory arthritis and osteo.

I am so happy to read your story and here that enbrel is working for you, make the world of difference when you are feeling bit better and it must be nice to be able to do things you love again and to have your confidence back..A lot of people will be really pleased to hear your story as not many people post when things are good as they are often busy enjoying themselves(fairplay) You are a breath of fresh air..
I hope you continue to have things the way they are now, and how is uni now??

Nice to have met you and i look forward to seeing you around the forum..x

HayleyPotter

aww, thanx so much for your reply, I wasn't sure anyone would lol. I joined the site because i was talking to my grandad (who also suffers from arthritis) about only knowing older people who have it and he was saying that there would be plenty of younger people too and that there was this site where people came to talk. I think its really nice to talk to people who have suffered the same as you, lets face it, i don't think anyone can truly understand the pain and discomfort unless they have been through it themselves.
And you are 32! still a young age to have it as well. I thought immaturely that it was only older people that had it until I was diagnosed lol. University is going great thank you. Well its gone great my Graduation is in February so i look forward to a COMFORTABLE graduation lol (i was always worried about walking up the steps cos that was one propblem i had previously lol).

I think ill be continuing to read through the forum, i love reading about others experiences!

Hayley x

liesa

Hi Hayley and welcome xx

i was on methotrexate for a year and it did nothing, was also taking plaquenil same time and no chage at all... now i dont know what i have... was diaginsed with palindromic rhuematism 25 years or so ago, spent 5 years taking penicillimine, stopped that for my last pregnancy

then i was told it was rhuematoid arthritis, then told osteo, then told poly arthritis,
now my Gp wrote an email to my OT and he stated that i have chronic pain... now blood tests are showing up in flamation...
i have also had my left knee totally replaced...
i know that there isnt a day that has gone by that i dont have pain... many days its my thunb on right hand, constanly both ebows but right worse then left... right hip sore and unable to walk at times, left knee still weird.. constant pain all over that leg... left ankle...

but i have requested a gastric bypass which funding has been allowed for and hopefully it will be feb next year

xxx

traluvie

I was quite ignorant to arthritis myself..
I thought it was just a few aches and pains lol,, when it hit me last year and my rheumy said inflammatory arthritis and osteo it was a shock..I thought at my age lol..Mine started with a pain in my finger and has gradually worked it's way around my body..I have taken hydroxychloroquine for around 6 months now and has helped alot in regards to pain and swelling,,my main problem now is my mobility, i have something going on in hips and back which is under investigation and doing my nut in, but i'm still smiling(just lol)
You have done a great job with uni and must be very proud of yourself, your graduation will be an amazing achievement..

I am sure you will have fun reading some posts, you may even think were a little crazy lol, i think it is the arther that has affected the brain lol..
Have fun..x

HayleyPotter

liesa, so sad to hear you are in that much pain, it really is awful when you go to sleep in pain, wake up in pain, its a constant cycle, it can get quite depressing. I hope the doctors find out what is ultimatley causing you this discomfort soon! so many diagnosis' you must not know where you stand!

Hopefully the gastric bypass will help, in time reliving pressure off your joints. I need to lose weight but i find it so hardddd...we all have our downfalls and mine is food lol.
My boss at work has just had a gastric bypass around 3 months ago, shes only recently came back to work and the difference is unbelievable. She is still recovering but she says she feels tons better already

hayley
x

liesa

Thanks Hayley, think the drs just 'poopoo' m... had enough of this game... i wish i could wear something visible to show that im hurting, because im a big girl its hard to see swelling, so they dont know how to treat it if the results show one thing one day then something or nothing the next... having people here who know exactly what im going through helps so much... my Dr says its arthritis so arthritis it is...

dreamdaisy

Hi Hayley, it's nice to meet you and I am glad that you have found here. There are plenty of young 'uns like yourself on here, and more than a few who are considerably younger. People do assume that arthritis is only for the elderly and why wouldn't they? People assume all sorts of things about stuff they don't know, I know I do!

I am glad the enbrel has helped you so much, it does work wonders for some and that is a good thing. We all react differently to the meds but whilst this is working for you you get on with life and enjoy it as much as you can - that is a very big part of the secret of living with arthritis. I wish you well and keep in touch. DD

tkachev

Hayley thanks for sharing. I'm so glad you have now found a medication that works so well for you. I am sure this will be encouraging for other sufferers ignored by their GP and for those due to start on this medication. I'm on the Humira injection and it made a difference to me too pain wise.Its made life a bit easier although still have damaged joints giving me grief.

Elizabeth

Fedup

Hi Hayley

Welcome to the forum . I am 34 years old and have recently been diagnosed with Enteropathic Arthritis, after 18 months of tooing and froing to the doctor and rheumatologist.

Im sure you will get lots of support and advice from people here, we all knid of know what everyone is going through and since I joined I have been made very welcome and have found that people here are always willing to listen when you want to have a moan and also are full of some really useful and helpful advice.

I look forward to seeing around the forum.

J xx

woodbon

Hi, Welcome to the Forum.
I'm sorry that you have to suffer all this at such a young age, but I'm glad you now have the drugs that help you. You are not alone by a long way, if you wait and see, their are quite a few people in your age group, who have similar problems.

I do hope that you find this forum useful and supportive. I certainly do. Its good to have people who understand what you'r going through to talk to. Take care, love Sue.xx 56 in years but 16 in my mind! :eek:

valval

hi welcome from me as well so sorry you had to come find us as you will see quite a few children get it as well it is such a shock how it affects the whole body the exhaustion used to drive me nuts and the not knowing how you are going to be each day i am 50 so not so young but there lots of youngsters who pop in val

frogmorton

Hi Hayley

lovely to meet someone so chirpy and a success story too

You are so welcome here and l hope you will decide to stay.

Love

Toni xx

suzygirl

Hi Hayley and welcome from me. I thought Ihad responded before but can't see the post!!

Shame you had to 'find us' but great news to hear that the enbrel is working for you, it will give hope to others myself included as I have to start a new med soon and mtx is out for me.

Take care

ironic

Hi Hayley,
Lovely to hear that the medication has worked for you. What a turnaround for you, it is nice when we get a positive post.

I hope your granddad is doing ok and congratulations for your graduation in February. Well done you...

Lv, I x

skezier

hi Hayley,

welcome from me as well and what a good post its good to hear that Enbrel has worked so well and others about to start it will be encouraged as well.

hey its no joke having this bone shift when your younger, i am old and haggard now but the oa started in my teens so i do know the impact it can have but you have done so well and long may it continue for you. really am pleased. nice to meet you. Cris x

Liesa if you look in just leaving you a (((( )))) and a hope you have had a decent night and get a better day. x

CJHunter

Hi Hayley an welcome. Thanks for telling your story and how u came to find us.
You will meet some lovely people with many different stories along the way

Take care, nice meeting you.

prefabkid47

Hi Hayley
Welcome to the forum we try,in addition to supporting each other,also pass our own experiences to others and hopefully raise the spirits and encourage others.....you have just done that.

charlielou86

Hi Hayley, I completly understand how you feel and what you ahve gone through - i was eventually diagnosed with arthritis when I was 18 and have struggled with it since. I am now off all my medication hoping to have a baby. I am 25 now and recently married - luckily i could walk down the aisle on my wedding day. I write a blog to help me and share my experiences - it may be useful to you if you want a read the link is on my profile. Hope things continue to improve for you x

Starburst

Hello Hayley,

Welcome to our lovely forum. It's really good to hear a positive story and I'm very happy for you. I'm also 23 and was diagnosed 2 years ago, so I know it's not easy being young with RA.

Thank you for sharing your story. It's inspirational and really helpful for forums members to read, especially when people are struggling.

Long may your painfree days continue!

Take good care,
Sophie x

mp1952

Hi Hayley

Glad to read that enbrel is working so well for you. I have has a very good rssponse to Humira..

I worry a bit about infections but so far haven't had anything serious. I see you had blood poisoning.. Do you know how you got that? What were your symptoms?

Marion