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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/24/2010
Posts: 102
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Hi I am a new poster although I joined NRAS probably 1 year ago. I am 55, married with 2 grown up children. I work part-time and was finally diagnosed 2 years ago (March 08) following many visits to GP and rheumatology since 2003. My symptoms first started whilst I was training for the Moon Walk in London 2003. (I did complete it and now can’t imagine being able to walk 26.2 miles!) Sometimes the walk to my car from the front door is a challenge! I was finally started on Methotrexate Sept 08, and quickly needed steroid injections (x2) which didn’t work – then steroid infusions and finally added leflunomide and oral steroids Feb 09. Unfortunately for me - the combination did not work and having gone through the DAS assessment in July 09 I started on infliximab infusions in August 09. They do seem to be working (long may it continue! Although I realise things change all the time) and I have now finished taking the steroids. Looking forward to posting more!  BB
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Hi Beth
Welcome to the forum - although I'm sorry you have RA.
Pleased to hear that you have finally found a drug which suits you and has given you some quality of life back.
I'm 66 (67 in July) married to Steve with one daughter, lovely son-in-law and two grandchildren (4 and 2). I think I'm the oldest on the forum!!
I look forward to getting to know you.
Love
Jeanxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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Hi Beth, Welcome to the forum. Sorry you've been plagued with this horrible illness too. I've had RA for nearly seven years now and am on Methotrexate, Hydroxychloroquine and Rituximab together with a whole package of extras  I was on Infliximab for awhile and found it worked a treat so good luck with it ... hope it works well for you too! Joanna
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Beth,
Welcome to the forum.
You seem to have had a long journey to get diagnosed and treated.
I am 60, married with a 21year old daughte, had RA for 9 years.
At the moment I am on mtx and humira.
Glad the infliximab seems to be working for you.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Doreen xxz
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/29/2010 Posts: 264
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Welcome Beth,
This is a great place for help advice and just talking to others who have RA. Really glad to hear the infliximab is working. I'm Sheila 55 and have had RA for just over two years. I haven't tried infliximab, but am currently on rituximab and take oral steroids.
Love
Sheila
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hello Beth, and welcome, though sorry you have RA. I`m Kathleen, married to Nick for 38 years and counting......We have two sons and two small grandsons. Keep posting, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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Hi Beth,
Nice to see that you've picked up the courage and posted - welcome to the forum. I'm Barbara, aged 50, married, and have our 23 yr-old daughter living at home with us. I was diagnosed with RA last year and have not had much luck with treatments so far, but still remain hopeful that I will be able to find a drug soon that my body doesn't reject and will tolerate. This forum has been my life saver and the people here are very supportive and caring towards one another - now you'll never be alone again with RA.
love,
Barbara
XXXXXX
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Welcome Neth glad you posted again great meet you Im melly 38 married ra and lupus,fibromyaliga etc. 2 cats love emm bits. on planequil,steriods was on methotrexate. take care Melly  cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Hi BB (that is one of the nicknames for my hubby I have!LOL)
Welcome to the forum! I loved your confessions, they were sweet!
I can't claim to being as fit as you but was a serious ballet dancer until my RA took hold when I was a child. I did dance in between bouts and flares but had to give it all up by 14years as it was too difficult.
We have five lovely children and they keep me fit enough!
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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WELCOME to NRAS BB so pleased to read you are doing well on infliximab and that you have impressively got off the steroids!
I am Jenni, 34, 3 children, husband, severe RA etc
look forward to reading many more posts from you in time to come.
Jenni xxhow to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi Beth and welcome from me, Barbara married to Roy, 2 sons and 2 daughters, girls at home. Dxd in July last year, currently on mtx hydroxychlorquine amtitriptyline and pred. Only thing doing anything so far is the pred!! but I live in hope!! still working full time with 2 babies. Hope you get lots of info and support on here, everyone is very friendly and helpful x BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Beth Welcome to the forum. I imagine as a 'watcher' you probably already know all about us; including all the mad ones, and there's a fair few of those about  Everyone is really friendly and a better bunch of supportive people you couldn't ever expect to meet ... anywhere! I'm Lyn, married to Mike and we have four children, 22, 16, 16, 15, that's their ages not their names (well who would call two children 16? Obviously they'd get mixed up!). We live in Thornton Cleveleys in Lancashire. I have had RA for 22 years and run the gamut of medications and various surgical procedures. I am presently held together by Enbrel, my second anti tnf (started on Infliximab but that lost its efficacy after 12 months, hope you have more luck!), Methotrexate, prednisolone, naproxen and a few other bits and pieces. I too used to be 'fit', running, dancing and anything sporty was my life, but I very quickly lost all that after diagnosis, along with my job. But heyho that's life with RA and being positive is what keeps us going, for now at least! Look forward to getting to know you better, Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 854
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Welcome to the forum. Look forward to chatting with you.
Eleanor x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 357
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Welcome to the forum Beth, NRAS have wonderful members, I hope you enjoy posting here. Jo. 2012 Fundraising for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RoboJo
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009 Posts: 96 Location: Buckinghamshire
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Welcome Beth,
I'm Julie. I'm 33 and was diagnosed with RA just over 18 months ago a few weeks after the birth of my second child. I live in Bucks, work part time in London, have 2 children and a hubby!
Thanks to a recent flare up I'm on quite a cocktail - MTX, Sulfasalazine, Hydroxychloroquine, Diclofenic and Prednisolone.
Sorry to hear about your RA diagnosis - the silver lining is that you will meet some lovely, helpful people on this forum.
Ju x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,081
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Hi Beth, glad to hear things are fairly stable with the ra at the moment. Look forwar to chatting to you.
Julie
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/8/2009 Posts: 124 Location: Wolverhampton
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Hello Beth, welcome to the forum!
I'm Nina, 41, married to David for 13.5 years, with one son, Cameron, aged 5. Was dxd March 2009 and am currently taking mtx, steroids, and various other drugs.
Have just been approved for anti tnf drugs so have a decision to make there.
There are some wonderful knowledgable people on here who are extremely supportive.
Nina xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/7/2009
Posts: 235
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Hi Beth and welcome to a very supportive forum. I am Deb, 38, married with 2 boys I have RA and lupus and a few other things.
Deb x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 561
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Hi Beth welcome to the forum, im Sophie 35 ive had RA for 15 years and also got Lupus, i have a son who is 5 in two weeks , loved your confessions ! x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/24/2010
Posts: 102
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Thanks for all your replies and your very warm welcome. Lyn You’re right – I have already decided who the ‘mad crowd’ are! and know the support and advice here is second to none. Amanda I was not fit in any way prior to deciding to try the Moon Walk – although I became very fit whilst doing it and even for a while after – sadly will probably never get so fit again! Barbara and Nina Oral prednisolone was the only med to be effective for me until I had the infliximab. It has certainly been the thing to get me to a more acceptable level of mobility. In fact – at present – I could almost believe I haven’t got RA!!!!!!!!!! Liz – you’re so right – ‘just like Pringles’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looking forward to chatting more.
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