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bella33
#1 Posted : Saturday, February 20, 2010 1:02:05 PM Quote
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Joined: 1/27/2010
Posts: 75
Hi All
Really need the benefit of your knowledge of this horrible RA!
I was diagnosed august 2008, failed sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine. We are currently TTC so am taking 5mg prednisolone in an attempt to keep things at bay with the plan to commence methotrexate after we have a baby.
I had a very bad flare in my hip about 3 weeks ago, attended A&E and the joint was injected. I have not been at work since. My hip is starting to ease but I have had very painfull flares in my shoulders, I am constantly exhausted, very tearful and over the past couple of days am in agony with the other hip, a vey swollen right wrist and shoulder. I know they can increase my steroids. But my question is, is this a common trend in RA, one flare after the other, one joint getting easier and another one flaring up. I'm so low at the moment, I need to get back to work I worked very hard to establish my career and feel like RA is totally taking overSad
Clairexx
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bella33
#2 Posted : Saturday, February 20, 2010 1:03:30 PM Quote
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P.s I've totally put that topic in the wrong place it was supposed to be in discussions about RA!!Razz
Clairex
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MaryLewis
#3 Posted : Saturday, February 20, 2010 3:13:39 PM Quote
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Posts: 585
Hi Claire
sadly RA flares can come one after the other
I hate it too
please try to take care
Mary L
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jenni_b
#4 Posted : Saturday, February 20, 2010 4:08:21 PM Quote
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 2,237
Location: nr Southampton
bella33 wrote:
Hi All
Really need the benefit of your knowledge of this horrible RA!
I was diagnosed august 2008, failed sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine. We are currently TTC so am taking 5mg prednisolone in an attempt to keep things at bay with the plan to commence methotrexate after we have a baby.
I had a very bad flare in my hip about 3 weeks ago, attended A&E and the joint was injected. I have not been at work since. My hip is starting to ease but I have had very painfull flares in my shoulders, I am constantly exhausted, very tearful and over the past couple of days am in agony with the other hip, a vey swollen right wrist and shoulder. I know they can increase my steroids. But my question is, is this a common trend in RA, one flare after the other, one joint getting easier and another one flaring up. I'm so low at the moment, I need to get back to work I worked very hard to establish my career and feel like RA is totally taking overSad
Clairexx


Hi Claire

There are a couple of other drug options to consider when TTC, I know the sulphazalazine and hydroxy didnt help but there is gold injections and also azathyaprin to try- ask! Steroids are a short term answer and you are very wise thinking beyond the pregnancy about the MTX.

5mg is a very very low dose, it might be that this needs to come up for a while at least.

There was some research yrs ago that linked high doses of oral steroids with babies with cleft palate deformities. I worried about this when I had Bernice so I tried to hold off the higher dose of oral steroid until my 12 wk scan. However. my obs and gynea consultant explained that this research has been largely discredited because they did not consider the underlying causes of the need for steroids and the way that mothers were looking after themselves. I did hope for remission with pregnancy- about 2/3rd of women get remission and it starts to go before 16wks if it is going to go for you normally. It did not go for me and so i had to take lots of steroid towards the end. my consultant was happy with me being on up to 60mg a day at the end, the main reason for this is having to stop the anti inflammatories. I hope this gives a little perspective.

in addition or on its own, it might be that you need an all- over quietener downer jab of depomedrone into the big muscle of your thigh or bottom. These are bigger doses and can last 3 mnths or more. The key is to rest for a good 24 hrs after it and then it goes in better and lasts longer.

Uncontrolled active RA is no joke, it effects people differently- I know some people it bothers one or 2 joints and then eats those up and then moves to another one. Some people have it effecting all areas all the time. I know in early RA, the pattern you describe of it suddenly appearing then disappearing is fairly common.

You are asking an awful lot of your body, stress and the physical parts of TTC dont really mix so it might be that you need to think how you can take a step back from your career. I think in other walks of life it is called a "career break" and perhaps is something to at least talk through and take some of that pressure off. You poor girl! You have been through such a lot! I wish I could come and give you a BIG HUG.

Love

Jenni xx

how to be a velvet bulldoser
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bella33
#5 Posted : Saturday, February 20, 2010 7:24:34 PM Quote
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Joined: 1/27/2010
Posts: 75
Thankyou for your repliesSmile
Jenni- thank you. You're right about the career, Karl and I have had a chat about it this weekend and I do need to slow down. I guess (as you'll definately know) i don't want to give the RA any more control of my life so I'm clinging to everything and not listening to my body. i know that what I really want is a happy healthy baby and my career will be there to go back to.
I'm going to call my rheummy on monday and ask re the treatments you mentioned. Again thankyou so much for your fantastic advice.
Big Hugs
Clairexx
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joeyvt
#6 Posted : Sunday, February 21, 2010 7:22:25 PM Quote
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Location: Bristol
Hi Claire,

Not much more to add except to say that while I was working, I found the stresses played havoc on my RA. Over the past couple of years, I've had to come to terms with the fact that my working life won't be what it was before RA and I've had to completely reassess my aspirations. Since leaving work last year and starting on different meds, my RA has improved significantly and I can see the benefit of the rest I'm getting. With time, I'm hoping to get back into work in a radically revised role and still have a fulfilling work life.

Hopefully, your RA won't stand in your way at all when the meds are right and you will find the balance that works for you.

Hope you get some results from your Rheummy tomorrow re alternative medications and that you start to see an easing up of these flare ups!

x x
Joanna
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bella33
#7 Posted : Tuesday, February 23, 2010 10:21:39 PM Quote
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Posts: 75
Thanks for your advice guys.
Left a message on helpline on monday still waiting for a call backThumbDown
Will try again tomorrow
Clairexxx
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