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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Quite often with RA you get flu like feelings but obviously I can't say for certain that this is what you are experiencing, without seeing you.
Have you taken your temperature?
You said your lower back is painful, have you ever had a urine infection? That is a possibility, and if you've had one before you would know if it was a similar pain.
If you have a temperature perhaps you should ring the out of hours Gp or NHS direct, otherwise try to get an appointment with your GP tomorrow.
I do hope you start to feel better soon. Try to drink plenty of fluids, preferably water.
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009 Posts: 96 Location: Buckinghamshire
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I'm so sorry to hear of your devastating loss - sending you good thoughts and wishes that the next few months are gentle for you. xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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Thinking of you Angel - Are you feeling any better today? If you are still feeling shivery, I think you should try to see your GP as Doreen suggested. Take care.
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/14/2010
Posts: 118
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Hello Angel So sad to read your post, I have also miscarried a baby, but unlike you have not had to through the ordeal of IVF, and also had other children. It hurts like mad but I am sure for you will feel better, you must give yourself time. Take great care of yourself Love Melanie
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Angel So sorry to hear of your sad loss and the problems you are facing. Hope you have been able to see your GP today and received a diagnosis. It does sound like you may be experiencing something other than RA so a check up would be worthwhile. I had a kidney infection a few weeks ago and I felt dreadful to the point where I had to stay in bed, something I try to avoid at all costs! (I can't manage the family from my bed!! Who knows what might happen in my absence?!) I blamed the symptoms, fluctuating temperature, sweating then freezing, dizziness, low bp and painful joints on the RA but for once it wasn't. My GP prescribed antibiotics and I was soon on the road to recovery. I fully understand your concerns TTC and wish you every success with your future attempts. I had a lot of problems TTC and was about to follow the IVF/GIFT route when I became pregnant with my daughter, now 22. I developed RA soon after her birth but desperately wanted a sibling for her. Further difficulties TTC again ensued and, like you, with RA to contend with too. But, I now have four children (including twins) and my youngest appeared completely out of the blue!! Don't give up hope, hang on in there and try to stay positive. Hope you are feeling better today. Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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How are you today Angel?
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 838 Location: Nottinghamshire
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Sorry to hear of your sad loss, I can't imagine how awful it must of been for you. Don't give up hope, a friend of my daughter lost a baby. She now is the proud mum of a little boy and there is another baby safely on the way. You might find this link helpful with what your doctor suspect. http://www.palindromicrh...yptomsanddignosis.shtml
Click on What is PR, there is doctor describing the symptoms. Hope you are feeling better today. Take Care Paula x x x
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/13/2010
Posts: 24
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Hi Everyone,
I saw my GP again yesterday and told her how bad I've been feeling. It's really hard to know which symptoms are which. Basically I explained that where as before I had joint pain that came and went moving from joint to joint. I now have really unpleasant aching pains in my elbows and knees. One knee is now visibly swollen. More worringly when the pain comes on in several joints which it does every evening I feel generally ill. I am also feeling nauseous a lot and finding it hard to face eating, this seems to vary with the arthritis activity. The GP was very sympathetic this time and seemed to totally get what I was saying and promised it would get sorted out! She's faxing a letter to the rheumatology dept and seemed to think she could find someone who'd be more supportive in terms of the ivf treatment and doing a blood test to check RF levels. I feel more relieved for seeing her, but am finding it hard to live my life (things like going shopping seeing friends) when I feel ill and nauseous. Wierdly yesterday daytime my aches and pains went and my nausea reduced only to return last night. Is this what a flare up is like? Has anyone else found it upset their stomach too?
By the way thank you again for all your lovely messages of support, it's so hard to feel positive at the moment. I am trying to though.
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/13/2010
Posts: 24
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P.S
Emily
Thank you for your help, support and advice I wanted to PM you today, but I see they've taken it off the site! I hope your well.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Angel Pleased to hear that you received a positive response from your GP and she is getting things moving for you. In my experience 'flares' differ greatly from person to person and from day to day. I too find that joint pain has a tendency to move around; you think one bit is getting better and the disease pops up somewhere else to be a nuisance! I also find if I get stressed that too has quite a significant effect on the joints and general well being. Your body has undergone a tough time recently and will need time to recover. Try to rest as much as you can, eat a good diet, when you feel you can eat, and drink lots of water to keep hydrated. Hope you hear from Rheumatology very soon and things start to pick up for you. Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009 Posts: 653 Location: Notts
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Hi Angel
Before I was diagnosed I felt nauseous and shivery all the time. I think this is part of the RA, and when you are able to have the right meds for you it should calm things down.
I should go and see your GP and see if he can help you. You should be able to try some other painkillers. Is a steroid injection a no-no?
Let us know how you get on.
Lyn
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/13/2010
Posts: 24
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Am having a little window of feeling mentally more positive. The suns out today. I woke up feeling sick and rubbish with my knees and elbows hurting, but I got up the nausea wore off, I went to a meditation class with a friend and had a chat and a coffee after took my mind of everything for an hour or so. My period arrived today (sorry if that's tmi) but that probably explains my lower back pain- I always get it this time of the month. To answer an earlier post I did think it was a urine infection but the test was negative. This is also good news in a funny kind of way brings us one step closer to trying again. Emotionally I really find the mornings the worst, I wake up and for a second or two everything is ok then I have this overwhelming sinking feeling as I remember about the miscarriage and the arthritis. I suppose both will just take a long time to come to terms with. Someone is ringing me tonight so I'm feeling really good about that too as this is the first time I will have spoken to another sufferer. I hope that when I'm on the other side of this nightmare I'll be able to offer some support to others too. 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Angel Good to hear that you are having positive times and you're right the sun shining does seem to make you feel a bit better. Keep your chin up, chatting with someone may be just what you need so hope it goes well tonight. Just remember even nightmares come to an end at some point and there will be happier times ahead. Once suitable meds are sorted for you things will improve quickly and you will feel loads better. Miscarriage is a devastating thing to happen to anyone but, if nothing else, it does prove that you can actually get pregnant so an optimistic future awaits. If there's anything I can do to help, even a chat, I'll forward my email address. In the meantime keep posting and let us know how you are feeling. There's always someone on the forums to lend an ear! Look forward to hearing from you, Lyn x PS What part of the country are you in?
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/13/2010
Posts: 24
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Hi LynW Thanks for that.
I'm in Brighton - I'd be interested to hear from anyone whose had experience of rheumatology depts/ consultants in sussex who've been helpful!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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I'm up in the north, in Lancashire, so not any help with Sussex medics, but I'm sure there are others in that locality who will be able to advise. Fingers crossed for you Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Hi Angel
So pleased you are feeling a little bit more positive - both you and Lynn are right - seeing the sun does lift your mood.
I just want to agree with everything Lynn has said. As time passes your spirit will start to heal. Be gentle with yourself and dont rush things - allow yourself time to grieve.
Love Jeanxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Hi,
Just to say that I also feel nauseous with pain alot of the time, it can also be tiredness, but also meds.....
And I also find my rheumatoid is much more painful and 'flary' when I am menstruating. This makes alot of sense as the hormones are all over the place.
You're doing so well, I can, even now, transport myself back to my losses and it fills me with grief, BUT it will improve, I promise.
Much love,
Amanda
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/8/2009
Posts: 11
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Dear Angel I am so,so sorry to read about all your problems, although I am getting on a bit, my first wife lost her first baby, but we had my son who at first was very, very ill and we spent 6 months sitting and sleeping with him in hospital, he is now a 37 year old fantastic son. The worse was yet to come ,it turned out my wife had a very weak heart and was told not to have any more children and to our horror she fell pregnent and we had to abort it to keep my wife. These things you never forget but life lets you live with them.
As a man I had all the same problems of pain and sweats and shivers as you and it is the RA but one thing I have been taught ( I have been to a pain clinic as I have worse pain than the RA and I see as Psychologist to help me with my pain) is to try my best to get out of thinking about the pain( it is easier said than done) but it can be, buy some relaxation tapes and sit down or lie down and listen to them, it is only you who can break the pain cycle. I have been taught about pain gates picture a line of fencing with gates in them and your job is to keep them closed as if they all open you are in lots of trouble. The terrible loss of your baby has made you think about this each day you get up ( That is the normal thing and nothing wrong with it), but as you think about your loss you allow the pain gates to open and off you go on another bad day. I am only passing on what I have been taught and I know it is true, as my second wife who I was married to for 22 years left me due to my illness ( we had never had an argument) and as we are going through a bad divorce she is tyring to push me out of my flat, I start thinking about it and bang the pain is with me and sometimes as I have got myselfe into such a state I am up all night. I hope this helps and I shall pray for you each morning at church so you do have what you want. David.
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Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/13/2010
Posts: 24
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Dear David
Thank you for such a thoughtful and touching reply I am so sorry to hear about some of your experiences, but glad to hear you have a wonderful son. I found what you said both helpful & interesting. When I went to my meditation class the other day I bought a book called learning to Live Well with Illness and Pain (I don't know if you've heard of it) and I've just begun reading it. It talks about exactly what you describe as pain gates and applying mindfulness to life.
I woke up this morning again feeling nauseous and feeling like I just couldn't imagine things getting any better or life ever being enjoyable again, but after an hour with my IVf councellor I once again I began to connect with the world and the clouds started to lift. I think you're right my sadness, anger, fear and panic are combining with any pain I feel to make it much worse so I feel locked in my own mind & body. So I am going to try very hard to separate the two things out and for now try to focus on exactly what I am feeling in any given moment, not what am projecting will happen when I feel frightened and anxious (if that makes sense!)
Angel
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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Dear Angel,
I have been touched and moved by your post and only caught up with it today. I am sorry to hear that you have been going through such a rough time and by the sounds of things have had more than your fair share. I do hope that life will be kinder to you, and hope the sun returns to top up your inner strength so that you start glowing again.
Unfortunately with the RA and trying to conceive, the RA will be difficult to manage without conventional medication. Nonetheless, I believe that some alternative treatments are worth trying, but this is sometimes a trial an error exercise, and what might work for one person may not for another. I try to keep to a RA diet and do take a lot of natural anti inflammatory supplements, containing turmeric, mango and ginger. I also meditate, use self hypnosis, and find that it helps to control the pain and keeps the negative thoughts at bay.
Having been diagnosed last year I am still a novice with learning about how RA affects me personally, but agree with previous posts that flares tend to start with flue like symptoms, achy muscles and joints, and generally feeling unwell.
Take Care,
Sending you a gentle cyber hug,
love,
Barbara
XXXXXX
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