Newbie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2

Comments

  • dibdab
    dibdab Member Posts: 1,498
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Rick, welcome along- it's a journey of discovery for all of us and really important to have the folks on here who will travel with us. No question is dumb- most of us are full of questions and the folks here seem to have done it, tried it, changed it, struggled with it or got to grips with it! Hope you soon find a treatment that suits you.

    Deb
  • Heather65
    Heather65 Member Posts: 262
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Rick glad your feeling better today its suprising what a chat with a friend can do ,hope all goes well for you tomorrow :)
  • tjt6768
    tjt6768 Member Posts: 12,170
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    yep.. One day at a time fella.. Best way.. Madame DD is a very wise lady indeed.. :D
    Glad your call helped Rkid. And you're having a better day.

    I'm done in tonight, lol.. Self inflicted though.. Did not take my crutches with me today. I've strapped the knees up though. Everything is hurting BUT it's a good feeling knowing it's cos I've done summat. Past couple of years have been awful and like you, been spent stuck at home :roll:
    Catch you later, take it easy :D
    e050.gifMe-Tony
    n035.gifRa-1996 -2013 RIP...
    k040.gif
    Cleo - 1996 to 2011. RIP
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi all thanks for the welcomes and best wishes 8)

    Was a bad one this morning but been up since about 3.30 and things have eased a bit now thankfully. Think i'll be sitting around praying for the phone to ring today, but everyday is another nearer getting things sorted, so thats a positive.
    I must say thanks again to all of you for your support, it makes all the difference and helps enormously in the difficult moments.
    Hope you all have a pain free day, take care
    Rick xx
  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    A belated "hello and welcome" from me Rick" (late for everything as usual :roll: ). I am so pleased that your GP was so on the ball with a rheumatology referral for you and really do hope you get a diagnosis soon.

    Tillyxxx
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Tillytop et all :)

    Yesterday was a bad one, so much pain, spent most of the day in bed.
    But on the plus side I had a call from the rheumy yesterday and shes put me back on a half dose (20mg) of pred to top up the steroid injection I had on Friday. Shes also sent an in depth report to my GP and is fast tracking treatment due to the speed and severity of the onset of this wonderful gift I have been given!
    No blood results yet but its expect due to the 4 day weekend, but at least things are moving forward as quickly as they can.
    Took the pred yesterday afternoon and by the evening things had eased alot and I actually slept okish for the first time in a few days. Things seem much more manageable this morning, so onwards and upwards :D
    Thanks for all the concern and support, its very much appreciated, Rick xx
  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Rick

    So sorry you had such a rough day yesterday - but really glad the pred has given you a degree of relief. I am so pleased though that the doc is doing everything he can for you and is acting speedily because, in the long term that can only be a good thing.

    You are obviously managing to maintain your sense of humour despite everything -and that is impressive!

    Thinking of you and hoping that today is a better day.

    Tillyxxx
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you tillytop 8)

    Unfortunately I've already worked out you cant turn this off for a while, or run (haha!) away from it, so you just have to grin and bear it and make the most of the better days.
    My motto is if you don't laugh you'll cry so you have to try to put a cheery spin on even the darkest of moments if you can.
    To think 4 weeks ago today I was at work, demolishing a building, loading skips by hand and digging too. Was my last day at work and things have changed a bit since then, digging into my breakfast is hard enough! But what was taken for granted then is now a goal/ big achievement, and you just have to modify expectations. As I say, onwards and upwards is the only way to go.
    I hope you're having a good, pain free day tillytop, take care, Rick xx
  • fowls48
    fowls48 Member Posts: 1,357
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Rick
    Welcome to the forum i aslo have R A and quite new to the forum .The people are lovely here and will help all they can .


    karen xx
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for the welcome Karen :)

    The short time i've been here, i've already found out how lovely and helpful the people on here are, its invaluable to have people to talk to and who understand how you're feeling.

    Hope you have a pain free day, Rick xx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm very pleased the increased pred is helping. It always works for me. Yes, yours has come on exceptionally quickly but at least the medics have responded in like manner. I hope they'll soon have you stabilised on some long-term meds. Meanwhile, your upbeat attitude will be your biggest asset. I don't like to give this monster the satisfaction of taking it too seriously.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Stickywicket,
    Yep the old pred is doing the trick today, still cant stand for more than a few minutes at a time but at least I can get comfortable sitting down. Yep, sounds as if i've been fortunate in how quickly i'm getting looked at and hopefully it'll get managed sooner rather than later.
    You have to try and be upbeat, if you don't laugh you'll cry and as you say, don't let b*****d grind you down.
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Rick
    Im so sorry I am late seeing your thread, the others have said everything really , I just want to add my support and say a warm welcome to the forum, and I am glad to see you are a little better x
    Love
    Barbara
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Barbara,
    Thanks for the welcome, it great to have so much support on here, it can make things easier when you're having a tough time.
    Tkae care, Rick x
  • creakybones
    creakybones Member Posts: 31
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Rick - im a newbie too and like you symptoms came on very quickly. I started waking up feeling as if id fallen down a cliff! Aching all ovr. I do have chrons disease and you can get a form of arthritis linked to that so I am assuming thats what wrong with me. Im on pred plus painkillers atm - had an mri yesterday on the top of my spine which is very painful and am seeing a rheumy next week.
    Best wishes to you - it is difficult being self employed as no work = no pay but more important to get yourself sorted first.
    Xxx
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi creakybones, thaks for the welcome :)

    Sound like you've had a similar experience to me, not nice! Good luck with your visit to the rheumy, hopefully they will be as good as the one I saw, she was excellent.
    Yep its not great no work/pay 4 weeks today since I last worked, but I cant worry too much about that right now, as you say I need to get sorted first and get a diagnosis and idea of what the future holds and then I can look into what I might/might not be entitled too in the way of financial help.
    Take care, Rick xx
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning all,
    Just an update on things here, got my appointment through for my xrays today, Tuesday morning, not bad since it was only last Friday when I saw the Rheumy. At least things are going through quickly 8)
    Todays been ok again, taking the oral pred on top of the steroid injection along with the painkillers has largely made things bearable.

    Take care, Rick x
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This is going wonderfully quickly - it took me five years to be referred, then a further two before I began the first medication. This rapid response to your plight should stand you in good stead: if it is proven to be RA then the sooner you start some treatment the better. Let us know how you get on, yes? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That is good news. You'll be the envy of many on here. It's not a good disease to have but, if you have it, it's best sorted out as quickly as possible and full marks to your medical team.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,
    Yep, I know i've been very fortunate to get this far so quickly, my GP and Rheumy have been great. I think the way to go is get it to come on quickly, can't say I've enjoyed being in agony and not knowing what to do with myself but its obviously forced the docs to get things sorted quickly!
    I (was) also a very infrequent visitor to the docs, since leaving school 25 years ago I can't have visited more than once a year on average, so prehaps that helped?
    Anyway, can't wait for Tuesday to get here now (sounds weird looking forward to going to the hospital???) and i'll keep you all informed to the outcome.
    Thanks for all your support, you're all wonderful, Rick xx
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well, went to the hospital for my 6 xrays today, and was in and out in 10 minutes and out before my appointment time!!!!! :shock: How good was that?
    Still waiting for blood test results though, that was 11 days ago :roll: Still things are progressing. Off to docs later to see if I can take stronger painkillers, been pretty bad the last few days, and took me 10 minutes to get to my feet after getting out of the car today.
    Someone's nicked my left ankle and replaced it with a balloon and replaced my right knee with a water melon, so i'm not best part happy about that!
    Anyway chin(s) up and hopefully it'll all settle down soon,
    Take care, Rick xx
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That's pretty good going for the X-rays. I hope you get the results as quickly.

    As for the balloon and the watermelon - I advise extra long trousers if you don't want to get a name for yourself. Don't get involved in any crime as you'd be far too obvious on CCTV. (Also I hope the additional pain relief helps.)
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • mig
    mig Member Posts: 7,154
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hope you get results soon .Mig
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm beginning to think my deodorant has stopped working how quickly they get me in and of the hospital!
    I think I need extra wide trousers to get my legs through :roll:
    As for crime, being able to walk far enough to start doing anything criminal would be a start!
  • refereerick
    refereerick Member Posts: 71
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi all,
    Sorry not been posting for a few days, I have been lurking though! :oops: Been in a lot of pain recently. I had a steroid injection 16 days ago now and it seems like it isn't doing much. I spoke to the consultant who put me 20mg of Prednisolone on top (I was on 40mg before the jab) but I'm still in severe pain, especially in my left ankle/foot and right knee, which are extremely swollen. I was told by a GP that the injection can take up to a couple of weeks to kick in, anyone else have experience of this? i'm at the end of my tether now, and its a huge struggle just to walk to the loo 2 or 3 times a day.
    Also i've got my appointment through to see the Rheumatologist nurse about my meds on Fri 29th June, sounds like good news and I may finally get on Methotrexate???? or something similar. Any advice on what the meeting might entail would be much apprieciated.
    I hope you're all as pain free as possible,
    Take care, Rick xx

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