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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/9/2010
Posts: 9
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Hi everyone I am a new member and it is so nice and refreshing to have a site where I can talk and meet people with the same condition. I have only been diagnosed since March this year but it took them a whole year to actually tell me it was RA !! I was bed bound for a year unable to walk and in a lot of pain with the doctors telling me it's just osteoarthritis !! I am now taking mtx and had fluid drained from my knees and steroid injections which has helped a great deal !! I am now able to walk and no longer just stuck in bed the only problem is that my leg muscles have wasted away!! I have read a lot of horror stories about mtx but I seem to be getting on well with it as I am now thinking about returning to work after having 14 months off !! I look forward to meeting some wonderful people on this site !!! Take care Sharon 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 384
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Hi Sharon,
Welcome to the forum you will certainly receive some excellent advice on this site. I am new myself and as yet still coming to terms with it all. I was diagnosed only this year in May, and have today taken my sixth does of MTX 20mg weekly, and already it appears to have kicked in I am feeling so much better.
I am so sad that you had to suffer for a year in awful pain but its good that things are now looking up for you and maybe even return to work, remember to still take things easy and don't overdo it.
By the way I'm Anne married with two football mad teenage sons I'm a foster carer and work part time in a special needs school, and I'm the ripe old age of 50.
Take care
Anne x
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/9/2010
Posts: 9
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Hi Anne Thanks for the reply ! I am 46 years old with three daughters aged 28, 23 and 18 I cant believe their that age  My youngest is off to uni in Sept and I am dreading it as she is the only one left at home  I have been widowed for the past 17 years and my girls are every thing to me. I am also taking to come to terms with this disease and what the future might hold for me ! I am a secondary school teacher but I have also worked as a special needs assistant, so we have some thing in common a part from RA ! I am taking 15mg of mtx I think it's 15mg I take 6 2.5mg weekly maths is not my strong point but they seem to be working but I have had to have fluid drained from my knees and 4 steriod injections. I was thinking about fostering if I find teacher to difficult to cope with but that in it self {fostering} is a very demanding job ! How do you cope with your family the foster children and work? I'm so pleased to hear that the mtx is working for you and you a feeling much better
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 74 Location: North Lincolnshire
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Hi Sharon  welcome to the forum! My name's Hannah, I'm 16 and currently doing GCSEs. I've had RA for almost 2 years now, and I'm taking mtx and embrel by injection. So sorry to hear it took so long for a proper diagnosis, that must have been terrible. I luckily only went for a couple of months of being told it was some foot problem caused by alot of sport/dancing... but was soon diagnosed when bloods were done and my rheumatoid factor was something like 150! Glad to hear that mtx is working well for you and that you're not in as much pain I'm sure the forum will be a great support for you, everyone is very friendly and it's a great place to come for a good old moan when you're feeling rubbish. It's certainly helped me a lot. Love Hannah x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Sharon, Welcome to the forum I'm Lorna married to ken and have 3 grown up daughters too. I have had RA for almost 3 years, I was on the triple therapy to begin with, now on MTX and Hydrox and Folic Acid. I was similar to you in the beginning bedridden and not able to do very much at all. I never knew you could look so normal and be in so much pain, but I am so much better now,hopefully you will also improve greatly. Everyone is helpful and friendly, Look forward to your postings. Lorna x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hi Sharon, and welcome to the forum, though sorry you have RA. Sometimes it does take the medics a long time to actually make a diagnosis, but glad the MTX is helping you. I`m Kathleen, live up north in Durham with hubby, Nick. We have two sons & two little grandsons. I used to be teacher too - PE until it was no longer possible, then RA with a bit of Special Needs. Take care, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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i Sharon
Good to "meet" you. Such a shame that we have to have RA before joining this group of wonderfully supportive people.
Your story sounds a bit like mine - except that mine was put down to osteo and being overweight...and I was 6 years before a diagnosis!!!!
Glad you are now coping well - MTX has been a wonder drug for me.
I'm 66, married to Steve and live in Altrincham in Cheshire.
Love
Jeamxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 384
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Sharon,
In answer to your question fostering is extremely rewarding but can be quite demanding at times depending upon the demands of the birth family and social workers. I definately find it alot easier now and less stressful as my own children have got older and more understanding, the most difficult times were when they were younger and trying to balance their needs and the foster childs needs. I use to work in a secondary school full time in Learning support and in the classroom setting but gave it up last year to concentrate solely on fostering, but after six weeks I got bored at home and was spending too much money shopping, so found this lovely little job only 2 hours a day in the special needs school, feeding and playing with the children at lunchtimes.
I havn't got a clue about drugs still learning myself so I'm not the person to ask, and I use to dread it if they put me in a year 11 maths class.
I to wondered about the future and was very tearful when diagnosesd 6 weeks ago, but since joining this forum I am much more positive, I really hope it helps you to. Should you have a worry about anything someone on here will be able to help you.
All the best
Anne x
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/9/2010
Posts: 9
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Hi Jean Please to meet you I was also told that it was because i am overweight that's why my knees were hurting me ! I cant believe it took them 6 years to diagnose you and I thought I had it bad ! Glad to hear that MTX is working for you ! I am 46 years old and live in Enfield . Take care
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/9/2010
Posts: 9
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Thank you all for making me feel so welcomed I look forward to lots of conversation and advice
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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Oh Sharon I am so thrilled that MTX and steroids seem to be working so well for you! May you go from strength to strength!  YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 312 Location: Surrey
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Hi Sharon.....  Glad you're winning! Stewart. A friend is someone who knows all about you but loves you anyway!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 1,035
Location: in a house
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Hi i am chockers the chocolate eating housewife no i am christine welcome i am 57 mad married with a son .Had R.A 3 years with overlaps all is very mild at moment christine The chocolate eating housewife ...The washer woman .....naughty lady
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi Sharon, glad the mtx seems to be working for you. I am Barbara, married to Roy, 2 adult sons, 1 adiult daughter and a 17 year old daughter doing AS levels, she wants to go away to uni just like your daughter!!! my husband is trying to persuade her to stay in London lol!!! Anyway, I am on triple therapy, mtx, hudroxy and sulfa plus the folic acid. So far nothing working!! been diagnosed since July last year. Took around 9 months, so not quite as bad as yours was! I used to work in special needs too, was a senior support asst for 9 years, asked to go part time and told cant do it as bad for continuity!! didnt push it, as I was trained to be with the children with complex needs i.e. medical needs, trachys and tube feeding etc and didnt want to get put in autistic room as knew I would nt cope with it. I now work as a nanny/childminder, as I have a nursery nurse qualification. Its very hard going though!! tonight my back is agony, and my feet and ankles swollen and painful, also wrists. I hope you can get back to work, that would be really great wouldnt it? Take care, and keep posting, everyone here is very knowledgeable and supportive x BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Hello Sharon welcome to nras forum Im melly,married no children yet,2 cats im 38 had ra since late teens. hugs 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 Sharon,
Welcome!
I have had RA since I was nearly 9, so a long long time! I am now 38 and married to the lovely Mark (who is away AGAIN!) and we have five gorgeous children and one on the way (our little miracle!).. We have discussed fostering/adopting many times too- it is something I felt very called to do but alas Mark doesn't feel the same - at the moment!
I also worked with special needs- well at a day care centre for people with very severe learning disabilities, I absolutely loved every minute.
MTX and I are old 'friends' I suppose! I was on it for three and a half years until this pregnancy. It is the no1 med for RA and very well monitored..
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 263
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WELCOME SHARON ! KATHLEEN Mc. 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Welcome
I am Rose from Somerset and married and aged 56 with 2 grown up children.
I am sero RA negative since Nov 2008 started on mtx and after 3 attempts had to stop
last Nov as played up my liver. I am been unwell this year and been signed off
my full time job since March. Today I have started a new DMARD llefunomide
so I have hoping for good results.
You will get great advice I joined in April and have found it brilliant.
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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Hi Sharon,
Welcome to the forum! I'm sure you will make loads of new friends here.
Looking forward to getting to know you,
Joanna
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Welcome to the forum Sharon!
Doreen xx
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