Hi Sara

Heyho ... that's life with RA! Glad to hear that the disease is under control but unfortunately that doesn't mean it's done a runner! This is where the hard part starts, when you feel better and want to get on but actually you can't! It's a real bummer and something that's very hard to deal with. After 23 years I'm still in the position you are in now and I too don't want to give in but ... you really do have to pace yourself otherwise the fatigue will hit home, if not that day by the next you will know about it. Then when you overdo it you allow the RA to get hold again and well .. I don't think I need go there!

One thing you mention, the bag of gravel under the ball of your foot? That sounds very much to me like damage to the metatarsal head (the knobbly bit at the end of the long bone); is it like walking on gravel or pebbles?. Quite often the RA starts in the small bones of the hands and feet and is not always obvious until the damage is done. I would suggest you arrange to see a podiatrist (qualified in rheumatology problems) as he may be able to offer support by way of insoles to protect the remaining joints in your feet. These particular bones are fragile and can be easily damaged. As I have said umpteen times we only get one pair of feet and it is important to look after them! I have had to have the metatarsal heads removed on both feet they were so badly damaged, I now have dislocated toes. Believe me you don't want to go down that route

Have a lovely time in Sri Lanka and enjoy the warmth (I'm very envious!) and get that podiatry referral for your return!

Lyn x

Hi Sara. I'm very envious of your trip to Sri lanka. My daughter went there for her honeymoon 2 years ago -she had an amaxing time.
Sue

Thanks all, and glad I'm making you all jealous about our trip! Its all really flexible so if all I can manage is a dip in the Indian ocean and a read of a good book that's fine or we can go to see elephants and turtles and stuff if I'm up to it. But that's as long s it stops raining in Sri Lanka, but hey its warm and there's no customers, family or anything else to worry about so it'll be a rest whatever the weather!

Thanks Lyn about the advice with my feet, yes walking on gravel. They've referred me to podiatry this week but I've heard that they're in a bit of a mess at the minute in Plymouth so it may take a while. So yes I've overdone it again this week, woke up this morning with a banging headache and unable to move much, hands playing up so just off for a bath.

I think I was just hoping beyond all expectations that I would feel much better than this. It was possibly the only way I could keep going over the last 3 months, but the ruby red slippers haven't done their job and yes Lyn, you're right, its now the really hard bit starts. But I know that you'll all be there to help out and eventually I'll get there, well sort of I hope!

Thanks again
Sara

Bath, Sara? There you go ... stay positive! You can get in a nice warm bath. What I wouldn't give to be able to have a bubbly soak in a bath. No chance with my knees and hands, if I got in ... I'd never get out again!! Now a dip in the Indian Ocean would be right up my street

Lyn x

Hi Sara

Sorry to hear of your continuing frustrations. I too thought that if this Metho worked I would get my energy back. The hands and knees and ankles have definitely become less swollen but this tiredness is blooming awful. Overdid it yesterday and again this morning, by about 11 I had had enough and Yet had got up feeling so good. I cry with the frustration of it all. After I say down and rested i was ok again by about 4! So I know exactly how you feel.

Hope you have a wonderfrul holiday and a darn good rest. Take care

Julie x

Hi Sara,

Glad that things are under control but sad that you are still feeling poorly.

I have learnt a hard lesson from this horrid disease.

I can remember when I was diagnosed last May and the MTX kicked in after approx 7 weeks and I can remember coming on here and saying that I really didn't think I had RA after all because I felt so good again and could do all the things I had once done.

Then when the bloods showed something wrong with my liver I had to stop for a couple of weeks and crikey it came back with a vengence this was in October. I am now on 25mg weekly MTX and at this moment in time I have more up days than down but although I know I have it mild compared to many on here a day does not go by at the moment when I don't have at least one joint that is painful, but I can cope with that.

I don't get my hopes up anymore because I doubt I will ever be the same person I was before RA again.

Just take things easy.

Bet your counting the days until your lovely holiday to Sri Lanka.

Anne x

Dear Sarah,
Your holiday sounds like Paradise and I hope
that you will let us all know about it when you
get back.
You will have Valentine's day there too!
I have had R.A for nearly 16 years now and I still
cannot predict what I will be able to do from one day
to another.
I only take Hydroxychloriquine and tend to downplay
any bad symptoms I get occasionally because I am
still so afraid of the R.A drugs.
But that's just me!
I did have a 7 month remission for the first time
last year after a two week course of Antibiotics!
But the R.A is back again now.
But who knows maybe in a few weeks it will subside again.

I hope you have a wonderful time abroad!

Best wishes,
from Fiona

P.S I still have not mastered the art of "pacing" myself
even after all this time!

Now I understand, I think, I have been told that it is under control, blood really good, but, yes, still in pain swollen wrists and ankle, so it never really goes away, gosh how do you cope with working I"m suppose to be going back next week?