Just wanted to say how amazing it is to have so many welcomes and so much good advice. It really helps to know how others feel and how to get through this first bit when it all feels new and very strange.

Should I be posting in another place now? Not sure whether I should keep going here or start a new thread in another category?

I went to my occupational health appointment today and the Dr was lovely. Very reassuring about the responsibilty school have to look after my needs but also straight talking about the impact of RA. It felt good to have someone validate how I felt. She is going to write to the Head with recommendations and said I should be seen again in 6 weeks, but that they were about to lose the tender at the end of the month so it would be the new OH provider that I will see.

Let me know if I shoul be posting somewhere else XX Ailsa

Hi all, i'm 49 and mum of 1 teenager and was diagnosed with RA Oct 09 after 2 years of going back and forth to doctors as I was getting constant flu-like symtons and swollen knuckles after doing the most minor of tasks. Even though deep down I suspected it could be rheumatiod related, when it was confirmed I just went into complete shell shock and just wanted to withdraw. As have always been active it scares you so much..as Im sure you've all experienced, now Ive become a member and reading the posts I dont feel so isolated and now coming to terms with it to bounce back, but facing a new battle of trying to tolerate the drugs. I started on Sulfasalazine which I managed less than a week, now just started on MX but constantly queasy all week and more tired than before. I am very sensitive to any prescribed medication, cant even run more then a few consecutive days on nurofen but do take supplements eg glucosimine cod liver oil, and wonder if anyone out there has attempted natural remedies to curb it or does MX get better after time?!