Hi Heather, a big welcome although sorry you have ra. Hope you are feeling better, this site is a total godsend, whevever or whatever your problem, query is there is always someone to answer or just be there with a cyber hug!

Im 47 married to Kev with two children Jack 19 and KAtie 16. I was dx last year. I take mx 25mg, hydroxy and leflunomide. It takes a while for things to settle down, in lots of ways. The medication takes a while to kick in and you dont always get the right cocktail of drugs straight away, although everyone is different. With regards to accepting the dreaded "arthur" it can take a while to come to terms with it. The main thing to remember is to be kind to yourself and dont beat yourself up over what you can no longer do, or do but just take longer to do it! Everyone is different I know and this disease affects lots ofpeople in different ways. Read all you can about it, take advice from your rheummy nurses etc.

Take care

Heather xxxx