Hi Rose, welcome to the Forum, though I'm sorry you have decided to get the dreaded RA as an excuse to join us!!! Looking forward to getting to know you in the future, much love Lxx

Hi Rose,

Welcome to the forum.
I read your intro on the works forum and I'm sorry you are having all these problems and feeling so bad.
You'll get lots of friendly support and advice on here, where we all have been where you are now.
Please don't dismiss your GPs offer of antidepressants without thinking seriously about it because RA and depression seem to go hand in hand and lots of people on here take antidepressants, they can work wonders and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
I am 60 and have had RA for 9 years, I now take mtx and Humira.
I hope you are able to find a treatment that suits you and works well for you soon.
Looking forward to getting to know you.

Doreen xx

Hi Rose

I have read your post on the work section and am sorry to hear the drugs are not doing the job at present.
I am Beth and have been diagnosed since March 2008 although had symptoms since at least 2003.
It was a long job to get diagnosed as I am also sero-negative. The NSAID drugs started in August 2008 and whilst waiting for the drugs to work I also had 2 depo injections and a couple of depo infusions – which were only mildly effective for a couple of weeks – it wasn’t till they had given time for the meds to kick in – which they didn’t - that they tried steroid tablets – which worked a treat – but do take a long time to come off (I was on them for a year, constantly trying to reduce them). Whilst waiting for this all to work I too was extremely tired and emotional and fearful that I would never get any better. I am now (reluctantly) on anti-tnf (infliximab) which is working for now, and have managed to stop the steroid tablets. At present I feel so well that I almost feel that I don’t have RA!!!!!!!! So different to how I felt between being diagnosed and getting the right meds concoction.
I hope that this re-assures you – that given time they will find the right mix of things for you.

Take care and keep posting – as lizziemouse told me –‘.....postings are just like pringles - once u pop u just cant stop! ‘

Love
Beth

Hi Rose,

Welcome to you!

Looking forward to getting to know you!

Joanna

Hi Rose,

A big warm welcome to the forum, but sorry to hear you have RA. I'm Barbara, aged 50, married, with our 23 yr-old living at home with us, and was diagnosed with RA last year.

You'll find lots of support and advice from the lovely people hear on the forum and I look forward to reading your posts.

love,

Barbara
XXXXXX

Hi Rose, welcome from me too, I am Barbara too!! married to Roy 2 sons and 2 daughters, youngest daughter is almost 17 and at 6th form doing sciences and philosophy (shes the brainy one!) i was diagnosed last year in July, still trying various meds, currently on plaquenil, mtx and sulpha, also pred, trying to reduce, at the moment on 12.5mg hoping to get the mix right soon!! Hope you find this site useful, everyone is very helpful and kind x x

Hi Rose,

Welcome from me too.

Julie

Rose

Welcome to the forum. I can see you have already received help and advice from our wonderful members. I was diagnosed 15 months ago and had some very dark days for the first few months. I think most of it was due to not being in control of what my body was doing and not understanding how RA was going to completely change my life.

I too work full time in a very stressful job but the company I work for have been wonderful. They could see how I was struggling with working five days a week, so they have now set me up at home with a computer, internet access, phone etc and I work at home on a Tuesday and Thursday. To be honest I have as much communication with everyone at home as I ever did in the office and I do get more work done because I am not interrupted so much, which is of course beneficial to the company. I work all day at home, but I can sit there in my pyjamas if I want, my movement is restricted to one room and I don't have to worry about putting on a brave face all day. I don't know about you, but I am supposed to have a desk job where my Husband thinks I sit on the backside all day, but when I am in the office I am always going here and there within the company. The best thing I ever did was give my company the booklet that the NRAS have produced for employers and it gave them a full insight into what they can expect of me and how my health can change from day to day. I virtually have no time off from work. I am still tired but it is not the all consuming tiredness where you do not think you can cope any longer.

I have been on various concoctions of drugs over the last 15 months and after having failed on two dmrads have now been moved on to try anti-tnf's. Again this has not proved successful in the first few weeks but they are going to change the type and see how I get on. It can be very frustrating when meds do not work.

You have been diagnosed with a chronic incurable disease and it will take you time and those around you to come to terms with this. I thought I would never be able to cope and there are days when I do despair, but logging onto this forum I get tremendous support and also realise that there is life after diagnosis of RA.

Take care and I hope you find your miracle drug soon.

Jackie
xx

Hello Rose and welcome to the forum. Look forward to chatting with you.

Eleanor x