Hi

MelA

just want to say hi as I’m new here

claudsl

Hi @MelA :) Welcome to our online community, it's great to have you here.

Please let us know if you need any advice on anything or have any questions. We will be happy to help.

Claudia x

mags57

Hello, I am new here & hope to learn from you all. I have OA & Psoriatic Arthritis, thank you 💜

Nefeissa

Hi I’m new to the site .

My name is Nefeissa and I am currently having a flare up with my Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and really struggling .

I have had RA for around 4 years . I tried Methotrexate for a year and it helped improve my symptoms however I stopped taking it after being hospitalised with stomach ulcers in Nov 2023 .

I have been on and off steroids since then and have been relatively ok till earlier this year .

I’m currently taking The Biological injection Adalimumab a shot every 2 weeks since March 2025 . I thought it had helped as my inflammation appeared to go down almost immediately but I have recently had a flare up in the last week and it’s left me unable to move well and in much pain and feeling a little confused.
The only thing that I can think may be contributing to this recent flare up is that I recently took a course of strong antibiotics for a week to treat H.pylori that I have had for several years following a test that confirmed it’s existence in my gut. I had to stop the Biologics medication for 2 weeks following the end of my antibiotics. I have since had 2 biological injections and it has not had the same effect like I felt it had the first time around and my flare is as bad as it can get . I have had to resort to taking Prednisolone ( steroids ) for the last 2 days only 5mg a day as the pain and movement is unbearable . I have left a message with my NHS doctor but have yet to hear from them .

I wonder if the Hyplori maybe responsible for my RA as it started pretty much soon after the Hyplori was identified in my gut by a digestive diseases doctor and there is some evidence that it can lead to ulcers and Autoimmune disease if left untreated.

Does anyone have any advice?
My next biologics Adalimumab injection is due on Friday 8 August this week.

I am currently not in the Uk (my country of residence) and will be abroad for the rest of the month so the timing is not ideal .

I have booked in to see an immunologist naturopath doctor next week in Portugal where I currently am .She has come highly recommended by a friend who has RA like myself and has had it for longer than me and it appears to be at a more advanced stage. She feels this Dr has helped .
I guess my question is am I ok to take the prednisolone as a desperate measure to relief the pain and make me able to move until I am able to see my doctor in the Uk and shall I continue with Biologics meds prescribed.

Apologies if my post comes across as confusing unfortunately that is how I feel about this illness … confused . What are the triggers and how can I keep the flare ups at bay without further damaging my body . What is the root cause ?

I follow a healthy Mediterranean type diet and cook my food all from scratch…

Some days this disease can make me feel very depressed and negative .
I have gone from being an active person to almost inactive and losing my muscle tone in front of my eyes .

chrisb

HI @Nefeissa

Welcome to the versus arthritis forum.

Thank you for sharing your story with us, I hope that you receive some useful advice from forum members who have experience of your symptoms.

This link will take you to an area of our website that may be beneficial for you to read:

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

I hope you find joining the forum beneficial.

Best regards

ChrisB (Moderator)