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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/22/2010
Posts: 51
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Hi everyone,I have just joined R/A.I am 67 years old i have had R/A for 2years.I see my consultant every 3 months,although i have had several emergency appoinments ending up having steroids injections.I take Sulfasalazine oral suspension,take painkillers and prednisolone,put frozen peas on the joint was is swollen,I have R/A in both my 2 knees,both hands and wrists,both feet and shoulders,I have been told to rest rest and more rest which i find so boring.Has anyone got any ideas what i can do other watch T.V.I think this R/A society is a wonderful thing as they help millions of us. Valerie
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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Hello Valerie
Good that you have joined us, welcome to the forum.
I am having problems getting the right medication and being considered for anti-tnf ( just having trouble getting to see the consultant- has too many patients ! ) Would be interested to know how much pred. you need to keep it under control as I am on them just now together with leflunomide. I am 54 years and had RA for about 16 months.
I wish I could help you on the rest front, it is difficult I know. My friend has lent me some good DVDs box sets - I really enjoy Foyles War, brilliant series.
Take care Julia x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Valerie,
Welcome to the forum but sorry you have RA.
I am 60 and have had RA for 9 years, I live with my husband Ian and 21 year old daughter.
You can always come on here now to help pass the time!
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/6/2009 Posts: 74 Location: North Lincolnshire
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Hi Valerie, welcome to the forum! 
My name's Hannah, I'm 16 and was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago. I think I'm the youngest on here! I live at home with my Mum, Dad and brother Ruben.
My RA affects all joints, and I'm currently on a combination of Methotrexate and Enbrel which has unfortunately lost its effectiveness in the past few months and at the moment experimenting with other drugs to get me under control again!
Looking forward to chatting to you
Hannah x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 714
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Hello Valerie
Welcome to the RA forum. Yes you are right, it is good to be able to talk to like minded people with RA. I am 47 and was diagnosed 18 months ago. My life has had to change entirely since then. I am still able to work full time but have had to make sure I rest and rest and rest to gather the strength for the next working week. I have always done cross stitch but find it difficult with painful wrists so I have now moved onto card making. I never thought I would have the aptitude or imagination to do it but even simple cards can give me immense pleasure in making and also in giving them to friends and family. At the moment I am making (sorry to say this) Christmas cards. I can pick it up and put it down as I wish. I get a lot of inspiration off the crafting channels on the TV. It does not take up any energy and I do not find it painful on my joints.
Boredom is the worst thing in the world and I like to have something to occupy me even when I am watching tv.
Keep posting and take care
Jackie
xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Hi Valerie,
Lovely to see you on here- I have had RA since I was a young girl of 9.
I am now married to Mark and we have five children and one little miracle on the way- due in November!
When I am in so much pain that I cannot move around easily I read novels, play (alot!) of Scrabble and drink wine (don't take the last piece of advice!LOL)...
I don't watch TV but am a huge fan of period dramas and classic films like 'Sense and sensibility', 'Young Victoria', 'Miss Potter' etc etc.
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Valerie, I'm Lorna married to Ken and have three lovely daughters. Sorry to hear you have RA but it is nice to see you on the forum. I have had it for almost 3 years now, I was very ill in the beginning but thanks to the triple therapy, steroid injections and a positive nature I am so much better now. I have read all of Jodi Picoult books they are a really good read. I also like working in my garden. Keep Positive and post regular on here to let us know how you are. Lorna x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 854
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Hi Valerie,
Glad to see that you have joined the forum. That is a good way of passing some time. I play scrabble on facebook and also read lots (and lots) of books. This recent nice weather has been so good as I potter in the garden.
Look forward to chatting with you.
Eleanor x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hello Valerie, I`m glad you have found us all, and hope you enjoy being on the forum, though obviously I`m sorry you have RA. I`m 60 this year, and was diagnosed almost 5 years ago now. I live in Durham with my husband, Nick, and we have 2 sons & 2 little grandsons. I like to read and do crossword puzzles, and I`m trying to pull together a sort of potted family history for our grandsons when they are older - not a detailed family tree, but things I think will interest them, plus photos, cuttings etc. Do keep posting, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Welcome Valerie. Welcome for NRAS and the forum you will have some great advice and friends on here. Sorry though you have the dreaded RA. I am Rose from Somerset aged 56. Diagnosed nearly 2 years but I am still not on the correct medication and get very frustrated. The main thing is as you say is the fatigue - I hate that also have problem in finding things that occupy my mind. I love musicals as used to be in the Opera Society. Keep posting Rose x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 312
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Dear Valerie, A warm hello to you from me, Fiona, 53, living in Plymouth. I am glad you have joined us here on the forum. I know what you mean about the rest and more rest! I must admit that I do watch a lot of T.V these days with my feet up on the settee! The problem for me is that by, say, doing the gardening and believe me I have a small garden, it will then take me two days of resting to get over it! I was diagnosed at 38 with R.A I am still adjusting to the restrictions that come with it. Although they tell me my case is mild compared to many. I will look out for your posts on the forum. Best wishes, Fiona
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/26/2010
Posts: 271
Location: hampshire
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Hi Valerie, big welcome but sorry you have RA. Im 47 married to Kev with two wonderful kids, Jack 19 and Katie 16 ) diagnosed last September and still trying to find the right cocktail of drugs to put this yuckly disease to bed!! I read an awful lot, always have but pre RA managed to be very active as well!! Now its a totally different ball game, and thats whats hard to adjust to Ive found. I watch more telly now with my feet up than before, but it then means that we can still do things as a family, go out etc etc. The key is rest to conserve energy and plan in any outings etc to ensure that you rest before and after!
Hope things settle for you soon,
lots of love
Heatherxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi, welcome to the forum, and sorry you need to be here. I am Barbara 56, almost 57 unfortunately lol!! married to Roy four children, youngest is 17 and doing her A levels. I am on mtx 25mg hydroxy 400mg and pregabalin 300mg. I work full time as a childminder, love the job, love the children, hate the RA lol!! hooping you are feeling ok at the moment BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/22/2010
Posts: 51
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Hi Julia17.Thankyou for your reply.I take 5mg Prednisolone every day.I am allowed to take 40mg each day when i have a swollen stiff & painful joint along with painkillers nor forgetting my frozen peas.I am waiting for my C.T.scan results & breathing tests before i can start Methatrxate injections as i have Bronchiectasis and Dysphagia (i have difficulty in swallowing) so i am not a very straight forward patient.I must say these last few days i am feeling good.Hope you are too Julia?Look forward in hearing from you in the near future.Valerie
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/22/2010
Posts: 51
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Hannah,Thankyou for chatting to me.Well i must say you are so so very young to have all this pain,i ask myself why am i complaining?When someone as young as you has R/A.Can you do most of the things someone your own age like Dancing etc?I hope you are free from pain at this very moment?Look forward to chatting to you.Take care Hannah.Valerie-R
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/22/2010
Posts: 51
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Hi Dorat,Thankyou for your reply.I too live with my husband.The lads all have their own homes the eldest is 48ys 45yrs & 35 yrs.I have 4 beautiful grandaughters ages are 24,23,18 & 7yrs and 1 handsome grandson age16.All my family are very understanding to me as this R/A cripples me when it attacks me do you find the pain unbearable Dorat?Last winter as one part got better another part attacked me i was never out of pain drove me insane.I asked my Consultant is it the weather?No nothing to do with it he said.How do you find the winter from the summer Dorat does it make any diffence to you?Look forward to chatting to you Dorat.Valerie-R
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Valerie,
It's good to hear your family are so understanding , you have plenty of them to spoil you when you are feeling ill and in pain!
I don't get as much pain as I used to, now that I am on Humira, but I agree with you, sometimes as soon as one part settles down another one starts!
As for the weather, I think it's the barometric pressure that affects the joints and makes them more swollen and painful.
Hope your CT scan results are good.
Love, Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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Hi Valerie
Thanks for your reply, I know my consultant isn t too keen on steroids for long term use. I m glad you are being considered for methotrexate injections that hopefully with do the job and get everything under control.
Keep us posted on the results of your scan and breathing test too.
Julia xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/22/2010
Posts: 51
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Hi Lorna,Good to no you are feeling much better on your Triple therapy but whats is it you have?Could you let me no please? Yes!! one must keep positive about ones self.thanks for your reply Valerie-R
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/22/2010
Posts: 51
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Hello Fiona,Lovely warm welcome you gave me thanks.Like you i have had R/A for 2years.Will we ever get used to it?Turned my life upside down.Has i cannot make plans anymore as R/A hits me out of the blue,for instance a few times i have woke up in the night my foot was swollen when i put it to the floor thats when i knew something was wrong.Then it happened to my knee although i went to bed feeling good.Has this ever happened to you?Keep me posted Fiona.Valerie-R
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