Rheumatoid Arthritis

Kazza52
Kazza52 Member Posts: 74
edited 28. Nov 2023, 14:05 in Living with arthritis

Hello Everyone,

My name is Karen and I was diagnosed with RA in May 2016 aged 52 and have been on Methotrexate and Folic Acid since then. Fortunately my condition was caught at an early stage and although my recent blood tests have been slightly abnormal my condition is manageable. I would say that I do have flare ups every so often and especially when the weather is damp/cold my limbs do get painful. My NHS hospital consultant was first class and as soon as RA was diagnosed I was immediately put on medication and also given steroid tablets which immediately took effect.

As we are in lockdown I have been isolating as people who suffer from Arthritis are in the most vulnerable group due to not having good immune systems. I got furloughed by my firm on health grounds in March and I actually received my NHS letter on 29th April informing me to isolate for 12 weeks as I was in the vulnerable group.

Hope everyone keeps safe during this uncertain time but it is reassuring to know that the Versus Arthritis community are always there to support each other hence why I have joined today.

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Comments

  • Brynmor
    Brynmor Member Posts: 1,755

    Hi @Kazza52 welcome to the online Community, lovely to see you here.

    You have come to the right place where we understand what it is like to have rheumatoid arthritis, flare ups and taking appropriate medication. With your experience, I'm sure you will be able to give helpful advice to members coming to find answers to living with arthritis.

    Do join in across the Community and also call in for a chat and to let us know how you are getting on.

    All best wishes

    Brynmor

  • Cunny
    Cunny Member Posts: 4

    I just joined yesterday .. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 3 months ago aged 44 ...im already an insulin dependant diabetic with I B S under active thyroid asthma a few more things wrong... At the moment I feel like my life is over with so many things wrong with me

  • Jezzy2510
    Jezzy2510 Member Posts: 1

    Hi I've been living with rheumatoid arthritis for 18 years I've tried quite a few medications such as methotrexate and lefleumonide ( don't think I spelt that right) struggled for quite a while to find the right treatment and thanks to the amazing rheumatologist specialist nurses I was put on rituximab infusions which was amazing, flare ups reduced as well as the pain, then covid hit and I had to stop rituxima b due to the risk being too high I've been put on orencia injections (abatacept) since November 2020 haven't really felt any benefit at all flare ups are becoming quite frequent and it's now affecting my job was wondering if anyone else is on this treatment and how they find it.

  • jeddison1985
    jeddison1985 Member Posts: 211

    Hi @Jezzy2510 firstly let me welcome you to the forum I hope you find the information and support you are after from our wonderful community.

    I can see from your post that you have been living with RA for a long time and after success with a treatment of Rituximab but since the COVID pandemic you have been struggling on your current treatment.

    The site is full of information and I wanted to signpost you to some information leaflets that could help, firstly is a link to a leaflet on Abatacept:

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/abatacept/

    A wider leaflet on disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs):

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/disease-modifying-anti-rheumatic-drugs-dmards/

    Please feel free to search the forum for others with similar experiences and I am sure that some of our community will be able to help.

    Take care and I hope you get some relief soon.

    Thanks

    Joe

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