Bit of a Shock

breane

Hi all, Last Friday I saw my GP to get the results of my last lot of bloods and was told that not only do I have OA which I was diagnosed with last Dec., but I also have RA. I now have extra meds to take and wondered if any any of you are taking the same tablets and if you are getting good pain relief with them. I now have to take my usual Sopadol( 500gm paracetamol,30mg Codeine) plus now a stomach protector Omeprazole and 2 x 500mg Naprosyn anti-inflammatories.I've taken these new meds over the weekend and they have brought down the swelling and some of the stiffness in the fingers but the shoulder/top of arm pain is still there at night.I am waiting to see a Rheumy but GP said it could be quite a wait for an appointment and whoever I see,will almost certinally change the meds to something different.Is this what usually happens when you see Rheumys? Hope you all had a good painfree Bank Holiday. Breane.x

nannyc

Hi,
Not pain free due to the lovely cold wet weather lol ! Typical Bank Holiday weather for us ! Sorry to hear about your new diagnosis, but keep ya chin up, and lets hope for a beautiful warm sunny summer.

nannyc x 8)

eckstardeluxe

Poor you, what a blow that must have been to hear that. If you feel those meds are working for you, just tell them you think they are helping and they will try and find a balance so that you can maybe take those with some Rheumy meds. I'm not sure if that's possible as I have OA only, but certainly worth finding out. I hope you get some answers soon. Let us know how you get on. Take care x

megmot

Sorry to here your news it is hard and will take you time to ajust and come to terms with it all. I had a shoke in Feb when i had Systemic Sclerosis , Raynaud's diseas and fibrinoid necrosis. I take same as you and a few more MTX is one of them i have started taken Dihydrocodeine Modified Release they give me five to six hours sleep a night still up at five.Do you work ? at the moment i have had a month of work and feel no better GP will not sign me feet for work until i have stablised.

breane

Hi Megmot,I was working up to about a month ago but had to give up work as I was a Home Help/Carer and found as each day passed,it was getting more difficult to do the work and I had to make the decision to give up. I am a young 62 and wanted to keep on working as I really enjoyed my job and I do feel lost not being able to work.I miss being with the people I worked for but I will keep in touch with them all.It still feels strange not walking out of the house each morning to go to work and of course,when you stop working your whole daily routine alters.It takes a bit of getting used to. Have a good day. Breane.x

woodbon

Hello I know what you mean about not working - I'm in the same boat, Ihave a meeting tomorrow to decide on my early retirement, which the occy health doctor suggests. I was a care asssisant too.

I'm going to find something to do, though and have a few ideas up my sleeve! Change is never easy, though is it. Love Sue

breane

Hi Sue,Like you,I will look for something else to do now I no longer have my job.I had thought of a part time job with no heavy lifting but as I live in a small town(almost a village)work is not easy to come by.Because my hands get so stiff and painful I can't really think of anything that would be suitable.Even my hobbies have suffered,I find it difficult to do embroidery,knitting and crochet.I still do some card making and gardening when the pain is less.My o/h has an allotment so I can still grow all the veg from seed in the greenhouse ready for him to plant out.Because it's nice and warm in the greenhouse,the heat does help the hands!I wondered what hobbies other members have had to give up because of arthur? :? Breane.

woodbon

I used to do a lot of walking. We would walk for miles and climb up really steep hills in the Cotswolds and Welsh border country. Also I have some pictures of me at the top of a very steep climb in the Lake District. I couldn't do that now, but I can walk on the flat bits. My hands are finding it hard to knit now and I have to restrict it to about an hour at most. Gardening is hard but I have a seat thing for gardeners and a long handled trowel and fork, so I can still spend a bit of time outside. I used to play badminton and thats not possible now or tennis in the summer. I can lay in the sun! My typing, which used to be fast is slow, painful and bad!

I'm lucky, I am not as bad as some people and I have been able to find ways round most of the things I enjoy doing, even if the amount of time I can do it is restricted. I can't drive very far, because of arms and hand weakness either and I too live in a tiny, Norfolk village, but I do get to the local shops!!!

I'll stop babbling on now! :oops: Love Sue

page35

breane wrote:

Hi all, Last Friday I saw my GP to get the results of my last lot of bloods and was told that not only do I have OA which I was diagnosed with last Dec., but I also have RA. I now have extra meds to take and wondered if any any of you are taking the same tablets and if you are getting good pain relief with them. I now have to take my usual Sopadol( 500gm paracetamol,30mg Codeine) plus now a stomach protector Omeprazole and 2 x 500mg Naprosyn anti-inflammatories.I've taken these new meds over the weekend and they have brought down the swelling and some of the stiffness in the fingers but the shoulder/top of arm pain is still there at night.I am waiting to see a Rheumy but GP said it could be quite a wait for an appointment and whoever I see,will almost certinally change the meds to something different.Is this what usually happens when you see Rheumys? Hope you all had a good painfree Bank Holiday. Breane.x

Hi
i have only resently been diagnosed with RA, but i think the Rheumy may change or add to your meds i belive most people with RA take meds to try to slow down the progress of RA, there seams to be alot off different types and they try to find one that works well for you. i also take Naprosyn and find it helps.
if you can try to get someone to go to see rhuemy with you, if your anything like me your forget what they tell you by the time you get out the door.
best wishes and i hope you get your appointment soon
Page