|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
|
Just been diagnosed 3 weeks ago and very scared about what the future holds. What with giving up smoking, cutting down on my drinking, dealing with a recent bereavement and struggling to keep my business going at the busiest time of year its a wonder I haven't taken to my bed for ever! If they tell me I have to stop tap dancing as well I might just do that! Just done 2 weeks of MTX and can't seem to wake up at all. Is it the drugs or the disease? This forum seems the place to be you all seem very supportive, could do with a laugh at the minute!
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
|
hello
I think you are being wonderwoman! the mtx takes about 3mths or so to work and is the gold standard RA treatment nowadays. Most people do great on it.
Have they stabbed you with steroid to help get things on an even keel?
Fantastic about giving up the fags- smoking is such a bad thing for RA, makes the disease much more severe for a start- NRAS have a lot of info on it.
It does read that there is a lot going on in your life at the moment and your body is trying its best to keep up and fight crappy RA. Listen to your body and take the rest you need.
All the best
Jenni how to be a velvet bulldoser
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
|
Thanks Jenni, not good at doing rest, being very patient or listening to my body! I suppose I've got to get used to these things and stop being wonderwoman but its very hard. I keep slapping myself round the face (metaphorically of course) and telling myself to stop whining and just get on with it, but then some self indulgent whining sometimes seems the only thing I can do! There's also an economic imperative to get through the next 6 weeks otherwise we and the cats don't eat in January or February! Always been a bit scared of needles and steroids (picked the wrong disease then didn't I?!) but I'll talk to my GP next week about getting through to Xmas, it might be the only way.
Sara
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
|
Hi Sara, A warm welcome to the NRAS forum, where everyone knows how you must be feeling right now! As if being dx with RA isn`t bad enough, you have other things going on in your life at the moment, so try to be kind to yourself. It can take the MTX up to 12 weeks to kick in, so a depo injection would definitely help while waiting. Keep posting now you`ve found us, Kathleen x
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 384
|
Hi Sara,
I think everyone on this site knows exactly how you are feeling and you will certainly receive alot of excellent advice. When I was diagnosed in May this year I was very tearful and knew nothing about RA and was very ignorant, this site helped me so much it was as if I had so many new friends who understood what I was going through.
MTX took about 6 - 7 weeks to kick in with me and I felt so well again, although do feel tired after taking them for about 2 days and I still have lack of appetite for 2 days after taking them.
Well done with the smoking wish I could say the same, I've been a smoker for 39 years now, started when I was 11 and never stopped.
Look forward to hearing how you are getting on.
Anne x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
|
Hi Sara, Welcome to the forum, we are a helpful crowd always full of advice and answers, so you are definitely not alone. I am Lorna, I was diagnosed 3 years ago, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was very ill at that point , but I was lucky I was diagnosed very quickly and have been on the triple therapy and now I keep really well and do not have any pain unless I over do things. So do not despair good can come out of this as well as bad. Once you get the drugs under control you will see a big difference. Try to keep a diary detailing your effects with the medication it does help. I did and you can clearly see the progress you are making. You really seem to have lots going on at present but try and pace yourself and don't be so hard on yourself, you will get there. A steroid injection will make a big difference to you, ask about one. Try not to feel it will always be this bad, because it wont. Thinking about you, take care. Lorna x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
|
hi Sara
Welcome to the forum!
RA does cause extreme fatigue so it's probably that causing your tiredness rather than the mtx, which as others have said takes about 8 to 12 weeks to have any effect.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Doreen xx
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/26/2010
Posts: 271
Location: hampshire
|
Hi Sara, a big welcome, but sorry you have RA. This forum is a god send and so good to be able to come and and moan, ask question etc etc. Everyone here knows exactly how everyone is feeling as we are in the same boat. Im 47 married to Kev with two children 19 and 16, Jack and Katie. I was diagnosed in Sept 09 and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Eventually, Ive come to terms with it and changed my life accordingly. It took a while, as I was like yourself, running around constantly, working, housework, gardening etc etc. Its a case of pacing yourself which is hard to come to terms with and do!
The support network of NRAS is wonderful and never feel guilty about how you feel, this is a horrible illness but there is always support and encouragement here.
Hope you start to feel better soon,
lots of love
Heather xxxx
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
|
hi Sara,
welcome to the Forum where you will get lots of support and advice.
i was diagnosed in June and am currently on Methotrexate which unfortunately hasn't worked for me ... although it has brought my inflammation down but not enough, so i go for a review end of this month.
there is no doubt it is a total shock when diagnosed, i went into panic lost half a stone in a week with the stress of it all ... and to be honest i still don't feel i have totally come to terms with it.
but by reading the Forum i know i am not alone in that this drug hasn't worked for me.
when i first posted on here one of the first things said to me was to pace yourself and now i have too.
i would say your tiredness is the fatigue that can come with the condition rather than the drug.
i try not to think ahead ... i prefer to learn as i go along that's my way of coping i think.
take care,
Suzanne x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/20/2010 Posts: 244 Location: Cornwall
|
Wow what a lovely response from you all, thanks for all the encouragement and support.
So a bit about myself, I'm 44 with husband of the century Dave and 3 cats, no kids, our choice so all good there! I run a handmade soap business in Cornwall which is pretty physically demanding on both my hands and feet hence my concern for the future, but hey, done the big career change before so can do it again if needs be.
Husband of the century has been out today selling our wares so I have enough energy to go out this evening to a belly dancing get together where I'll be performing. So how many belly, jazz and tap dancing soapmakers do you all know?! The pacing myself thing is going to be so very hard, I've always been a bit of a toddler at heart running around like a mad thing until I suddenly collapse in a heap and fall asleep, trouble is that used to be at 2 in the morning not 6.30 in the evening!
No bad side effects from the MTX as yet, upping the dose next week so we'll see. Yes, half a stone has dropped off quite quickly but that's no bad thing, I'm being a tap dancing elf in our local panto in a couple of weeks in some rather skimpy red hot pants!
As the rheumatologist said, if I wasn't quite so keen to use my feet I wouldn't have noticed this yet! One of the main reasons for me going to the doctor was my dancing was deteriorating becasue of the pain. Looking forward to doing a double pirouette on my right foot when/if the drugs kick in. If I get there you'll all know about it, a red letter day
Thanks again and looking forward to getting to know you all. Any other tap dancers out there?
Sara
x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
|
Welcome Sara,
Glad you have managed to get to this brilliant RA forum, but sorry that you have RA.
I can remember that it was a huge shock to me as well. MTX is a great drug to
be on if it suits you so fingers crossed for you.
I am Rose from Somerset, aged 56 with 2 grown up children and 1 grandchild.
I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago and my treatment of drugs still not sorted. I failed on
mtx, leflun, and sulphs and now waiting to start TNF's so fingers crossed for me.
Tiredness does go hand in hand with RA I am afraid. I find have to pace myself
so you may have to do that as well.
~Good luck keep posting
Rose
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/5/2010 Posts: 364 Location: mid glamorgan
|
Hi Sara
Welcome to this site, it really is great. Im Ceri 42 and diagnosed last year Im on methotrexate injections which help a bit.. Totally understand how you feel RA has totally changed my life but I live in hope of getting the old Ceri back! So good that youve got supportve husband and sounds like a very full busy life! Tiredness is a massive factor of RA but I would def ask for a steroid jab as it takes the edge of for a few weeks and should get you through Christmas. Take care and look forward to getting to know you xx
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
