New poster

ramummy

Hello, I'm new here.

My name is Julie and I'm 32. I was diagnosed with RA a few weeks after the birth of my second child in September last year. Two weeks after my son was born I had a dreadful flare up - I was virtually crippled and couldn't take care of myself let alone my baby. Fortunately I'd had some minor symptoms while I was pregnant so I'd been seen by a rheum and was already in the system so they were able to get it under control with steroids.

I'm currently taking 15mg prednisolone a day and a weekly dose of methotrexate too, at the moment I'm on 10mg.

I have so many questions....I hope I can find some answers here.

magenta

Hello Julie,
Welcome I'm sure you'll get a load of people introducing themselves to you
Magenta x

PS I thought the same Scottislass

livinglegend

ramummy wrote:

I'm currently taking 15mg prednisolone a day and a weekly dose of methotrexate too, at the moment I'm on 10mg.

Hi Julie

The dosage sounds about normal for people on here, but they all vary slightly. You should also be taking a folic acid dose 24 hours after the meth, are you?

Joseph 8)

nearlybionic

Hi Julie
Welcome to the forum. I hope you find it as helpful and supportive a sI do. I have OA not RA but can empathise with pain etc... :?
Nicola

eckstardeluxe

Hi Julie

I was diagnosed with advanced stage OA of the spine & sacral area and like you at 32 after the birth of my second baby. I had a childhood illness of the spine and it never healed . I have had this for over 20 years and just found out last month. Like you, I joined this site looking for answers and support and have found the people I've met and the advice given is invaluable. I know how down you must be feeling about things right now but trust me, sharing on here gives you a new take on things and I'm starting to see the positive side now. Take care, Alex

woodbon

Hello, I have oa, so not quite so useful to you! Sorry you had such a tough start with your baby. Hope things will settle down for you. Love Sue

radiogirl

Hi I have RA too, but I am on different meds to you though I am on Methotrexate 12.5 mg a week. Though I can symapathise with the aches and pains that you have. I have to admit that mine are not as bad as some peoples on this site and I do thank my lucky stars for that. But any question that I can help you out with I will do my best to answer, take care hope to see some posts from you soon.

jaspercat

Hi Julie, just wanted to welcome you to the forum, I have RA too and am currently on MXT injections 20mg, ask all the questions you want, there are loads of people to answer them love Jaspercatxx

michelle22

Hi Julie welcome to the forum I hope that you are managing with the little one I have inflammatory Arthritis I am trying to get the meds sorted now but haven't got it quiet right yet lol

Hope you get what you are looking for here we are a great bunch and someone always has the ans

Michelle

suziev

ramummy wrote:

Hello, I'm new here.

My name is Julie and I'm 32. I was diagnosed with RA a few weeks after the birth of my second child in September last year. Two weeks after my son was born I had a dreadful flare up - I was virtually crippled and couldn't take care of myself let alone my baby. Fortunately I'd had some minor symptoms while I was pregnant so I'd been seen by a rheum and was already in the system so they were able to get it under control with steroids.

I'm currently taking 15mg prednisolone a day and a weekly dose of methotrexate too, at the moment I'm on 10mg.

I have so many questions....I hope I can find some answers here.

hi julie

like you i got arthritis from pregnancy with my first child but wasn't untill i got pregnant with my second child that i got a diagnosis. welcome to the forum and am sure you will find some answers
suzie

petmad

Hi and welcome to the forum. Linda

ramummy

Good afternoon everyone - thank you so much for all your replies, it's great to know there are people out there who understand what this is like. My husband tries but it's difficult for him to understand what it's really like - of course you can't see pain or fatigue and I confess I have snapped at him because of both on more than one occasion. :oops: I'm hoping that armed with knowledge and support from this site I might not take it out on him so much!

Joseph you asked if I'm on folic acid too - I am, I take 10mg on Sunday mornings having had my MTX on Friday night. I also take 75mg diclofenic twice a day as well - honestly, a few months ago the only medicines I took were the odd paracetamol, now I rattle!! I've also started taking a once a day fish oil supplement after reading an ARC leaflet on diet - fingers crossed that will help.

My rheumy is aiming to get me to 15mg MTX and 7.5mg prednisolone over the next few weeks.... I really hope it works!

Thanks again for all your replies, I'm looking forward to getting to know you all.

lindalegs

Hi Julie and welcome,

My RA started just like yours. After the birth of my second child my joints all closed down and I had to be readmiited to hospital for a fortnight to get me mobile again. That was just the beginning. I had to cope with RA, a tiny baby and a two year old child as my husband had to go back to work - and, stupidly I was too proud to ask for help :shock:

That was 23 years ago when I was 27 when the meds prescribed were very different and my RA is very aggressive, so my joints are quite deformed. I still have the same husband and two wonderful, handsome, strapping sons who are caring, sensitive people and are very aware of other peoples needs.

There are possibly some tough times ahead for you but if there's anything we can help you with we will.

Luv Legs

ramummy

lindalegs wrote:

Hi Julie and welcome,

My RA started just like yours. After the birth of my second child my joints all closed down and I had to be readmiited to hospital for a fortnight to get me mobile again. That was just the beginning. I had to cope with RA, a tiny baby and a two year old child as my husband had to go back to work - and, stupidly I was too proud to ask for help :shock:

That was 23 years ago when I was 27 when the meds prescribed were very different and my RA is very aggressive, so my joints are quite deformed. I still have the same husband and two wonderful, handsome, strapping sons who are caring, sensitive people and are very aware of other peoples needs.

There are possibly some tough times ahead for you but if there's anything we can help you with we will.

Luv Legs

Legs - thank you so much for your lovely message, your situation is so similar to mine except I had a 3yr daughter to deal with as well as the new baby when this all started! I'm sure I'll be asking you plenty of questions as a result.

Saw my GP today and my ESR and CRP are still showing raised levels but that was when I was only on 7.5mg MTX a week - it'll be interesting to see how that changes once the MTX starts to increase!

suzster

hi, i'm the same, my RA started flaring up after i had my 2nd child.
i had OA in my hip for many yrs and had a hup resurfacing but it didn't help the pain ans after yrs of morphine and other meds eventually after sarah was born in january 07 i saw a rheumy at was diagnosed with RA in the following september.
i also had some symptoms in later stages of being pregnant but i was told it was carpel tunnel, so not much help!
any way i'm waffling on, basically i'm now on mtx 25mg injections and various other meds and slowly things are getting beter. my daughter has just turned 2 yrs old and i'm thankful she can walk and is more independaent as looking after babies is hard work with RA.
as for husbands, mine still doesn't understand that i'm not lazy i'm tired from the RA!
still he's getting there!!!
take care
sue

greyheron

Hi Julie

A belated welcome to the forum from me.

I am much older than you and have OA so I can't give you much specific advice, but you've defintely come to the right place as I've found everyone on the forum really friendly and helpful - and realistic too, which is very important.

All the best and take care

Wendy