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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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julie-t wrote: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? Hi Julie, Welcome to the forum. Hope you don't mind me "moving you" to this section; think your post might have got a bit buried where it was!! Sorry to hear that you have RA but pleased to hear that you have been prescribed a drug regime. Methotrexate is regarded as the gold standard drug in the treatment of RA but it can take some getting used to, bear with it! You should be able to get something to take alongside the Mtx which will help curb the nausea and a stomach protector too. Worth asking about if these haven't been prescribed. None of the natural supplements have 'curative' abilities but some are good anti-inflammatories. The section of the forum on Complementary Therapies has a lot of useful information about natural products which you may find interesting. By the way I'm Lyn, married to Mike, we have four children and live in Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire. I have had RA for almost 22 years, run the gamut of medicaton and various surgical procedures and I'm currently on Enbrel, Methotrexate, Naproxen, Prednisolone and several other bits and pieces! Look forward to getting to know you. Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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Hello Julie and a BIG WELCOME from me too!
So sorry to read about the troubles and the rubbish RA, I cannot promise the condition will get better but you never need feel lonely with this condition now you have joined the forum.
We are all here and we all try to support and understand.
I am Jenni, 34 yrs old and have 3 children who are 14, 12 and 2. My older 2 are adopted and so have had tricky early starts and have some problems to do with this and then I was blessed with Bernice who is my birth child and is currently fascinated by all things toilet as she is potty training. (Including sitting on the loo, saying SCHWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESHSHSHSHSH wee wee like mummy! today! )
I have struggled on the drugs, one way and another but there are ways to stop queezy feelings on the MTX and it is worth sticking with the drug as it really is the gold standard drug of choice for RA these days as so many do so well on it.
one of the ways is to take folic acid in the wk before the MTX, you can have MTX by injection (missing your tummy out), try a different dose, split the dose, take anti emetics.
In my opinion a lot of the so called natural remedies for RA are a lot of rubbish and do not work at all and cost the earth, you have an immune disease !, you wouldnt change your diet if you had a lung disease, I dont know why people tell you its all about diet- maybe they get mixed up with gout or something?! Plus, arsonic is natural- it doesnt mean it is good for you.
the drugs arent nice either.
I currently have this nice lady at church who keeps making me a "tonic" and giving it with such gleeful hope as she wants to market it! it tastes vile and I need immune system drugs not perfumed water...... 
never mind!
Welcome again!
Jenni xxhow to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Julie,
welcome to the forum.
Stick with the mtx, the side effects might wear off but if they don't you can have it by injection to bypass the stomach.
There are people who think they are controlling their RA with natural remedies but they are fooling themselves.
The symptoms may be under control but the only way to prevent joint damage is with the prescribed meds.
The natural remedies can work alongside prescribed meds to help you feel better but you should always make sure your doctors know what you are taking.
Hope you get to be able to tolerate the mtx better soon.
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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Hi Jule from another Julie. I'm 46 - have partner of nearly 26 years and we have a son who is 8. I was diagnosed nearly 4 years ago and felt so alone and isolated until I found the lovely people on this forum. Hope you find their help/advice and general support as helpful as I do. I agree with what others have said about the MTX - if you can find a way to stick with it - it does really make a huge difference for a lot of people.
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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Hi Julie,
Welcome to the forum!
I would echo what the others have said ... have a go at sticking with the Methotrexate. Keep your Rheummy informed with how you feel about it and any side effects you're experiencing as there are other drugs and other ways of administering the Methotrexate.
Look forward to getting to know you better
Joanna
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/10/2009 Posts: 89 Location: Braintree, Essex
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I currently have this nice lady at church who keeps making me a "tonic" and giving it with such gleeful hope as she wants to market it! it tastes vile and I need immune system drugs not perfumed water...... never mind! Welcome again! Jenni xx[/size][/quote] Hi julie and welcome, jenni you crack me up love this. it's peolpe like this Julie that keep me coming on the site, soooo much good advise and sense of humour. Im coz been in the R.A gang for a year now! keep with the mtx if you can changing the time of day sometimes helps , I take mine in the eve after tea, just before bed, so sleep through it!! take care corinne (coz) xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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hi Julie,
A quick hello from me ~ i'm Liz 39 married to Paul with two girls Sophie 16 and Jess 13. They all keep me sane,
So sorry you have Ra ~ it is a shock when first given the diagnosis but with time it is possible to adapt and this forum is such a boost hope you find it as helpful as i do,
Please keep posting, look forward to keeping in touch love from Liz xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Hi,
Welcome! I am sorry to say that NO natural remedy can cure RA or even halt it forever. I have only ever met one lady who has managed this and I am sceptical about her actual dx, but even if it is RA I would say it must be very mild. She basically omitted everything from her diet and added certain foods back in very slowly. I know that she eats fish every single day and no pork and no wheat......
But she is lucky!
I do take herbs (I can chat with you about this if you like?) and other oils, like cod liver and I do believe that they can have a benefit but rheumatoid disease (which is truly what RA is) is not another arthritis and needs to be treated with hardcore meds, sadly.
Nowadays meds like MTX are deemed as 'safe' and one is monitored on them very closely so any problem will be dealt with promptly. It almost sounds worse than it is as MTX is renowned for being THE drug for RA....
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hello Julie, and welcome - I`m very glad you found us! Ive run the gamut of quite a few of the DMARDs, without too many side-effects, so I guess it`s a case of stick with them if you can, until things get better. I`m currently on humira, for over two years now, and doing quite well on it. I`m Kathleen, married to Nick, and we live in Durham. We have two sons and two little grandsons. Take care, Kathleen x
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/12/2010
Posts: 4
Location: north tyneside
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Thank you all for your advice which really helps get me through this, have spoke to my RA nurse and taking folic acid earlier and 'almost' daily, got hosp check up Friday so can review then if no better. As a few of you advised, this Monday took at different times of day with meals.. so going to stick through it and feeling much more positive now. Thanks so much again, its good to know your not alone and plenty of support out there.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi Julie, just a quick hello, I am Barbara, diagnosed July 2009, but as usual, problems for a long time. Hope youget on of with the mtx, I am on 2omg and also hydroxychloroquine at 200mg per day. I am married to Roy, two adult sons, one adult daughter and a 16yr old daughter doing her AS levels, both girls live a home. Working as a nanny/childminder, full time at the moment(!!??) Welcome, and hope you enjoy it on here, everyone is so kind and helpful, take care x BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Hello Julie T welcome Im 38 married,2 cats,on Planequil 400 mg and steriods by injection along with pain relief and amitrylpine for fbiromylagia,along with RA and Mild Lupus. about to embark on Trying for child once off Mtx after 6 Monthss. was on Mtx for over 2 Years,found once settled on got alot less infections less flares. for me acid reflix was an issue which was dealt with by giving me Omprezole for staomach protection along side extra folic acid. I hear the injectable form Mtx can give alot less side effects as bypasses the Stomach. wishing you all best and to see you do well on your treatment. Melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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