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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/28/2010
Posts: 6
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I am 75 years of age and diagnosed with R.A 2008 I have now been given a computer so finding my way round. Its been a very difficult time for me as I was very active and now find it difficult doing daily things. Yesterday my neighbour came to see me with her new grandson and she handed him to me and I found with my hands I thought I might drop him. I love gardening and now my son has got me a gardener to do the heavy work while I potter. I take Methotrexate Hydroxychloroquine Salazopyrin,but my inflamation levels very high,so going today to the hospital to start a new treatment injection weekly. I feel alone at times because the few people I know with R.A Methotrexate works for them.
Mostly I am cheerful but at times feel very low. Last year I was given Prednisolone which was like a wonder drug and I felt like my old self,but told it is not good to stay on . Am I alone ore is this normal? Lilian H
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Lillian, Sorry you have RA but welcome to the forum, I'm Lorna married to Ken for 28 years and have 3 lovely daughters. I have had RA for almost 3 years was very ill in the beginning with it but having been on the triple therapy I am much better now and keep really well as long as I don't do too much. MTX kicks in when you have been on it for around 3 months, you can find it takes effect before that but everyone is different. You are not supposed to take Prednisolone for any length of time, so it is normal for you to be put on something else. Keep strong and positive I find that really helps. It does get so much easier when the drugs take effect. thinking about you. Lorna x 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Lilian,
Welcome to the forum! You will no longer feel alone now you have found us because we all know exactly what you are going through.
I hope your new treatment goes well today and hopefully it will work very well for you.
I am 60 and have had RA for 9 years, I am now on Humira which is working quite well for me.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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hi Lillian
So sorry to read that you have the RA. The MTX is the gold standard drug these days for RA and lots do really well on it. I never had any benefit from it at all, there are a myriad of medications to try and the results are so good.
I have been through a long old list of drugs and now on Cimzia, which I am going to hospital to have again today because I have had serious reactions to medication in the past.
I am 34, have severe RA and was diagnosed at 20.
I have 2 adopted children who are now 15 and 12, then we had a little surprise who is now 2 and a half! She has been making muffins for my 15 yr old to take into his final day of work experience in the morning.
My Gran is older than you (she is the same age as the Queen!) and she has RA. She got it when she was 14. She did a "Silver Surfer" course for the "technologically terrified" for free at our local college and used her laptop a lot. Sadly, her eyes havent been too good in the last yr or so. But she still keeps up on the email etc.
Prednisolone is a steroid. I have had long term steroid and it has made me an insulin dependent diabetic and given me secondary addisons disease. I have BP problems too go with it- all as a result of the drug. I have needed vast amounts in the past, it has been my real saviour but it is no long term answer to be avoided if at all possible. Also, instead of treating the disease it just dampens the symptoms down.
Anyway, Bernice is busy sticking feathers onto a little boxes with glitter glue for my dads birthday present so I had best go.
Have you seen an occupational therapist? they might be able to help with ideas to keep you gardening.
Jenni xxhow to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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Hello Lillian
Welcome to the forum, I have little to add to all the helpful posts you have received today.
Please keep in touch, we all understand how you feel., hoping all goes well at the hospital.
Julia x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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Hello Lillian,
Sorry you have RA but now you have found us hope you find the forum as helpful as I do - on down days or good days its so good to know this amazing support is right there at a click of a button xx
Look forward to getting to know you - I'm Liz, married to Paul with two teenagers Sophie and Jessica (aka as my own personal computer experts!)
Love and hugs ~ Liz XX
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hello Lilian, and welcome to the forum, though I`m sorry, of course, that you have RA. I`m Kathleen, will be 60 this year, married to Nick. We live in Durham, and have two sons and two little grandsons. Do keep posting, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi Lillian, I am on the triple therapy too, started mtx a year ago, had no affect at all, so added hydroxy in Feb this year, then sulfa in April. Still waiting for the miracle!! was on pred too, started at 30mg in April, it was amazing, but as you say it cant last!! Hope you have more luck with the anti TNF. I have lots of problems with feet, then other joints all join in!! I am married and aged 56, have four children. Feeling fed up with RA!!! BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 312
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Dear Lilian, Welcome to the Forum. I am Fiona, 53, and have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis for 15 years now. I can totally relate to what you wrote about feeling mostly cheerful, but sometimes very low. I have found myself feeling like this too since the R.A began. I don't personally know anyone else with R.A, so I can only relate to the lovely people who write on here about how things are for them with R.A. This forum has definately helped me to learn more about R.A than anything else I have tried. When I am feeling down I try to remind myself that I will be feeling better again soon. Also, I have sometimes posted on here when things have been bad and received wonderful advice and support from other members. It is lovely to know that the other members will reply to your posts and be interested in what you say. I hope that you will enjoy being a member and make many new friends on here! At least you can rest assured that we all have personal experience of R.A and much experience between us all with how to cope with it! By the way I live in Plymouth, Devon and have threee grown up children aged 34,33 and 29 and a Grandaughter aged 9. Looking forward to reading your posts. With kind regards and best wishes, from Fiona
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/4/2010
Posts: 576
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Welcomr Lilian - this is such a good place to be! It's a shame we are all here due to RA but everyone here has made me so welcome and answered all my questions with tons of friendly advice!
I am 50, divorced from the father of my 5 children since little one was 1, 13 years ago and teach full time as well as look after my parents, both mis 80s. Looking forward to getting to know you better! XX Ailsa
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 384
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Hello Lillian,
My name is Anne 50 years old married for 20 years with two teenage boys and a foster child. I to was very low when diagnosed 9 weeks ago and felt very sad and sorry for myself, but since joing this forum things have looked up. You will get all the advice you need.
Anne x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Dear Lillian,
Welcome!
I have had RA since I was a child and am now married to Mark with five lovely children and a little miracle on the way!
Before I was expecting I was on the same drug combination as yourself- the two extra were added when the mtx began to fail.
You might find relief from a jab of steroid may help but being on long term steroid is not a safe option.
Much love,
Amanda
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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 Lillain Same name as my gran and she had R.A .But think our selfs lucky she died in 1953 aged 57 my age . She had no treatment and lived in a thached cottage with my great gran next door .Kind of a semi but you could walk though and share the middle bit . There where no bathroom no running water bucket with a seat for a loo cooking was done on the range in the lounge no sink . When the modern age came there was a tap outside the house a drain and a shed put round so you got water in the dry .Lights where oil lamps beds where feather floors uneven steep steep twisting stairs . i think she had it badley .Transport was my granddads honda 50 .Miles from anywhere and a shop food grown in garden with hens pigs calfs and house cow no phone and no phone in village .No fridge . washing up done in bowl on table kettle on stove . I have R.A TOO with overlaps which are mild and my r.a has reposoned too MTX and i can do lots of things .expect a job i gave up as not how i used to be . I am the same age as my late gran she died when i was 3 months old and rembember the house well as we live in a 2 up 2 down with 4 kids outside loo etc . My gran was very bad my aunt says i can just see the picture how on earth she mangaged the loo up stairs was the pot .No homecare to wash her no things to help her just a walking stick . So i think maybe we should not moan ha ha We have it but have it good .At least i have a memory foam bed and nice cooker and heating i don,t have to milk the cow .And collcet the eggs .Have a wheelchair tucked away ( when i was bad not on mtx ) life is good ha ha my poor gran in rual suffolk which did not recover from the war till the 60s/70s . So look at this way .Glad i have it now and not years ago . Anyway hope you go on ok Christine chockers married to Steve a toyboy and have a son 23 doing his masters .Christine The chocolate eating housewife ...The washer woman .....naughty lady
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Hi Lilian
Welcome to the forum, but very sorry you have RA.
I'm 66, married with a daughter, lovely sil and 2 gorgeous grandchildren.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Love Jeanxxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Lilian A very late but warm welcome to the forum! Pleased to hear that you are on a combination therapy, that little extra is often needed alongside the methotrexate just to give the immune system a boost and help control symptoms. Prednisolone is a wonderful drug, isn't it? I have been on it since diagnosis but am now on a very low maintenance dose simply because I cannot manage without it. Used long term it can cause many problems and a few years ago I had to undergo eye surgery to replace the lenses in both eyes which had been damaged by long term steroid use. Nowadays steroids are used much more sparingly, thank goodness! My name is Lyn, married to Mike and have four offspring (22,17,17,15) all growing up quickly, as they do! We live in Thornton Cleveleys which is on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire. I have had sero-negative RA for 22 years, run the gamut of medication and several surgical procedures. Currently on Enbrel (well I will be when I restart following surgery!), prednisolone, naproxen and right now any painkillers I can lay my mitts on ... I feel like a right junkie!!! I'm pleased you have found the forum. As you will have realised there are lots of friendly folk and always someone about to chat with. Do keep posting Lilian, I look forward to getting to know you. Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi Lillian, I am a late respondent too!!! I am Barbara married to Roy have two grown sons a grown daughter and a 17 yr old daughter doing A levels. Diagnosed last Juily 2009, on mtx hydroxy and low dose prednisolone. Disease still not under control at moment. Welcome to the forum, everyone here has loads of experience and knowledge, and all so friendly x x BARBARA
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