hello all

sarahbenn

hi everyone im new to the forum just thought id say hi, im sarah and im 33 years old ive had RA for about 8 years now started off in my fingers shortly after the birth of my 2nd child, didnt really know much about what was happening to me and still dont know much about the condition tbh, i just really pretend its not there and hope it will go away but im starting to realise that i dont think it will, i used to mainly suffer in the winter months but the last couple of years its took hold and now is all year round, i go to the hospital once a week for a 15mg methotrexate injection take folic acid and ibuprofen and thats it, the pain is really bad especially at night time find it hard to sleep most nights, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance

sarah

elnafinn

Hi Sarah

Welcome! I cannot help you with the metho unfortunately but I am sure many will be able to do so. I have oa. It must be difficult for you looking after the children. You are right in thinking that "it" will not go away. Might do for a spell but unfortunately it comes back to haunt you again. Can you not mention your sleepless nights when you go for your injection once a week and see what they say to that? Lack of sleep really does pull one down, big time.

Look after yourself,

Elna x

miss_l

Hi and welcome !

i not sure i can help but just wanted to say welcome - i found this site a month ago and has been a huge source of help !

sarahbenn

Hi Elna thanks and for replying and yes i am going to mention when i next go to the hospital about ny sleepless nights, see if i can get any help, my pain is worst in my fingers, wrist, shoulders, knees and feet and just lately my hips hurt a lot, so bad that if its not keeping me awake at night it wakes me up every hour or so, i can no longer open tins ie a can of beans, hold a saucepan when it's full as it hurts too much is this normal?? I think i dont say much about it to anyone because I dont like to admit it's there, i have a wonderful husband who helps me a lot on bad days which is a great help so im not alone and my 3 kids are amazing if its wasnt for them i'd despair. Ive learnt not to let it get on top of me and appreciate the good days when i have them i just hope one day i'll get a relief from the pain!! heres hoping

sarahbenn

miss_l wrote:

Hi and welcome !

i not sure i can help but just wanted to say welcome - i found this site a month ago and has been a huge source of help !

thankyou im finding that too, its been a great help already just knowing theres others out there who are able to offer good informative advice

magenta

Hello Sarah,
Welcome to the site
Magenta x

nearlybionic

Hi Sarah
I wanted to say and hope you find this site as helpful as i do. I don`t have RA but have OA, but can empathise re pain and sleepless nights. :?
NB

woodbon

Hi Sarah, Welcome to the site. . I have OA, but loads of people here have RA, so you're not alone by long way.

The troube with getting used to any long term condition is just that, its a marathon, not a sprint and in some ways, I don't think any of us do really accept it, we just do the best we can to manage, which is what you're doing.

As for not sleeping, I have had that problem, because of pain, and my GP gave me amatriptlyne, which apparently works on the system to relieve pain, with the side effect that it makes you a bit sleepy. I don't know if that is of any help to you.

We'll all feel better when this horrible weather warms up!!! Love Sue

sueandted

Hello **waves** x

colinone

sarahbenn wrote:

hi everyone im new to the forum just thought id say hi, im sarah and im 33 years old ive had RA for about 8 years now started off in my fingers shortly after the birth of my 2nd child, didnt really know much about what was happening to me and still dont know much about the condition tbh, i just really pretend its not there and hope it will go away but im starting to realise that i dont think it will, i used to mainly suffer in the winter months but the last couple of years its took hold and now is all year round, i go to the hospital once a week for a 15mg methotrexate injection take folic acid and ibuprofen and thats it, the pain is really bad especially at night time find it hard to sleep most nights, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Sarah
First of all welcome to the site i have only been here a short time and find it a great sauce of help and information. I'm not really sure i can be of much help although i do have RA and Pa we all react differently to the drugs and as you know methotrexate is one of the most common ones used. Like you i find nighttime one of the worse times. When i'm in bed i find it much harder to move aqnd like many struggle just to pull the blankets up over me. I think its because in the day we are active and at night laying still in bed all are joints are not being used and sort of frezze up a little bit. That sounds like a load of crap but its what i think. some nights i just sit up and sleep when i'm so tired i cant do anything els. So nights i get only 2 or 3 hours sleep and feel so bad the next day. I would think having the kids the OH the house and all that keeps you quite busy and takes your mind off things although your still in pain. In bed laying there its all you think about lol. told you i was of no help lol. Anyway its been good chatting and i do hope your feeling better soon, i know how hard it is coping with continued pain and the feeling you can do nothing about it. Keep your chin up and hope we talk again soon.
COLIN

frogmorton

Hi
Welcome from me too.
I still feel quite new too having been around since June when all this malarky started for me.
I would honestly not have survived without the guys on this forum and i know they/we will be just as supportive of you too!
I hev amytyptyline at night which is really useful for gettoing to sleep.
Take care
Toni x

sarahbenn

thanks again for the welcomes guys

kayleighb

Hey!!

Just wanted to say hello. I am quite new to this place too but find it really helpful and comforting knowing there are so many nice people on here understanding exactly what it's like and supporting each other.

I can only share my tip with you for the painful nights, (as well as taking meloxicam to get me through the night, I still find that takes a little time to kick in) to help get me to sleep, I am afraid I use my heated teddy. He goes in the microwave and I hug him to keep warm whilst I am trying to nod off. And yes I am 22 with a teddy still but the warmth keeps me from aching so much and helps me drift...you could try it? You can get smelly ones too!

May not work but who knows. Welcome anyway! x

jeanniep

Hi sarah, welcome, there's lots of nice people on this site and everyone helps support each other. So youre not alone, there'l be someone out there going through the same thing, be sure of that.
I don't have a heated teddy, but I do have a plug-in heat pad (like a little electric blanket covered in sheepskin) that goes to bed with me - i think it came from Boots orginally and it's a lifesaver in cold weather, really helps with the pain. That's when other half hasn't nicked it to warm up his feet!
Stay warm and I hope you find something that helps,
JeanP

sarahbenn

thanks guys my husband did actually buy me an electric blanket a few days ago which is doing me the world of good on the very cold nighs its helping me a lot more than i thought it would, roll on springtime i say

suncatcher

Hello and welcome you will find this forum very friendly and welcoming. I have and it is good to know that i am not alone as this illness can make me feel the forum is very supportive and i hope you find it the same. welcome to the site. from joanne price