Hi

annie41

Hi Everyone, my name is annie and I am very new to this site. I was diagnosed with sero positive RA about 6 years ago, after I became quite unwell with severe joint pain, difficulty getting out of bed and walking etc. I would have prolonged fevers and very hot and swollen joints, however, I was then officially diagnosed with severe RA and immediately referred to a rheumatology specialist team, who started me on various dmard's, most of which, I unfortunately did not react well to, however, since then, I have been put on a regime of infliximab infusions every 8 weeks and leflunomide, which i take in tablet form everyday. As you can tell, i've had a pretty rough journey so far, but am finally receiving the right medication now, which seems to be helping.

dreamdaisy

Hello, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. I have a different form of auto-immune arthritis (mine is sero-negative, psoriatic ) but I have learned over the past nineteen years that what I want (and what the meds deliver) are not necessarily one-and-the-same.

My first anti-TNF was infliximab but I was too naïve to truly appreciate its benefits. I thought it 'stopped' working after my first infusion but now realise that it hadn't because my expectations were too high. Infliximab was granted after I had 'failed' on tablet sulphasalazine, tablet meth, tablet leflunomide and tablet cyclosporine (and various combinations of all). Tablet meth gave me a rash, tablet leflunomide superb headaches, and the cyclosporine a hairiness that a weirwolf would envy but none truly addressed the underlying cause of the trouble.

I am now on injected meth, injected humira plus tablet sulph (6 every day split into two doses) and I know they work because my bloods are lovely.

I am pleased that your current regimen is helping you and long may that remain. We do not lead easy lives, yes? I wish you well. DD

[Deleted User]

Hi annie41, welcome to the forum, and glad to hear you are now on a regime that works for you. This often seems to take time, sadly. Our website has some wonderful information on RA including a booklet you can download, have a look here https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/what-is-arthritis/types-of-arthritis/65-rheumatoid-arthritis
There is also a wealth of information in our living with arthritis forum that you may find useful plus of course we have our amazing forum members like DD who has already said hello.
We are always here to help you too so you can private message us at anytime
Best Wishes to you
Sharon (one of the moderators)

annie41

Hi DD and sharon, thank you both for the warm welcome and thank you also, for the great advice and support. It is nice to know that there are other people out there, who are either on or who have been on similar journey's to mine. what i forgot to mention earlier, is that I had already been suffering from RA for quite a while before I was officially diagnosed, so as a result, i had quite severe joint damage to my knees, ankle and spine. i unfortunately have already had 6 surgeries and am due to undergo my 7th surgery soon. The tramadol i have been prescribed does help, but i'm not a huge fan of taking it, unless I absolutely have to. unfortunately a lot has happened in the 6 years since i have been diagnosed. Its really nice to know that forums like this are available for advice and support.

hileena111

Hi Annie
Nice to meet you......sorry I'm no help because I have OA and don't know a lot about RA
There are a lot of people on the forums that will do

Love
Hileena

stickywicket

Hello from me, too You certainly have had a rough ride with all that surgery I've had RA for over 50 years and only had knee and hip replacements. I'm glad the infliximab is helping now and I hope that continues. Please join us on Living With Arthritis and Chit Chat which are the busiest forums. I'll look forward to seeing you around