Diagnosed yesterday. Hi

Cyberwoman

Hi everyone, had my appt at hospital yesterday. Consultant confirmed ra. He started me on Panequil and to start on Methotexate in 2 weeks when chest X-ray back. I have to talk to one of the specialist nurses first, he said I need to be fully informed about the drug to make an informed decision to take it. So appt on 6th August. My lovely GP had done some blood tests when I went to her last Monday about the pain in my feet, had been there for a few months. I don't need to tell you guys what the pain is like! My anti ccp came back at >345. She faxed urgent referral and I was seen 10 days later. Consultant specialises in early ra and said he likes to see new people asap as research has shown the sooner it's treated the better for the future.
Having read some posts it would seem my consultant is a good one. He explained everything, took his time, treated me like I have a brain!
Had X-rays of hands and feet, baseline for the future he said.
I was given a printout of nurses names and contact numbers and advised to call if I had any queries.
He also injected me with 80mgs of depo medrone in each buttock. Ouch!
The fatigue is the worse thing, will the depo help with that?

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's lovely to meet you but I am so sorry you have had to find us. You have a gem of a GP there, hang on to him / her!

I am eighteen years in with my arthritis and, thanks to a useless GP, began the meds far too late for them to make any physical difference but you should be in with a fighting chance for a better result. I too believe the earlier the diagnosis (and the earlier one starts the meds) the better the outcome could be. I hope your consultant explained that the meth will suppress your immune system to alleviate the RA, it's one of the two or three entry-level drugs but they are all much of a muchness: they all suppress the immune system. Don't be afraid of it - it is a strong medication but many of us on here cope with it just fine, me included.

The depo may help the tiredness (if it works, mine never have) but that will be a con. It's a form of steroid and steroids mask symptoms, not cure but hey, it's lovely to feel even a fake better from time to time. I won't say much more because I am having a very rough day but I look forward to seeing your name here and there. I wish you well. DD

stickywicket

I think your medical team are great all round. Hang on to them

Will the depo help with the fatigue? They're funny things. They give me an all-over boost and, yes, do help with the fatigue but some are left untouched by them in any way. So it's a 'how long is a piece of string' question really.

As DD has so rightly pointed out though, steroids are no cure though they can seem miraculous. It will all come back. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Cyberwoman

Thanks for advise re depo. I haven't really felt that I have more energy today but the pain in my feet is much better. The Plaquenil making me feel abit nauseous but I was warned about that. Re the methotrexate, I have read it up, a bit scary, but I think that's why he wants me to talk to nurse first to make informed decision about having it, can't see there's any choice really?
My GP is a woman, if I had thought it was ra I would have gone sooner, just kept thinking the pain would go away, but it didn't. . But she listened and I had blood test and quick diagnosis. It seems unbelievable to me that some people have to fight the health professionals to get what they need/deserve.

stickywicket

It's good that the pain is a bit easier.

Have you been told to take the meds with food? It can (NB can not will :roll: ) prevent nausea.

I think some GPs are not very clued up about auto-immune forms of arthritis, especially the sero-negative ones. Also, rheumatology departments are one of the fastest growing areas and under a lot of pressure.

Cyberwoman

The leaflet they gave me from Arthritis Research Uk says to take it with or without food. But it makes sense to try it with to see if that helps.

stickywicket

ARUK is a very informative and trustworthy website. But being able to take meds with or without food is probably looking at it from the point of view of the efficacy of the meds. Those of us with dodgy stomachs take all meds with food