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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/26/2010 Posts: 71 Location: London
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Hello all,
I'm an NRAS newbie and also newly diagnosed (Nov 2010). I've had a browse through some of the topics and been really encouraged to see how friendly the forum is and that I'm not alone with this circus of symptoms/drugs/side-effects.
I'm 34 and had problems with my right hand in July, which then started in my left and went from there to all over, really. I saw several GPs and finally a rheumatologist in October, followed by tests and at last a diagnosis; it was quite a relief really to put a name and action plan to my ills. I also have chronic kidney disease and had a tumour removed from my abdomen in 2007. Needless to say I know my hospital very well!
I was on sulfasalazine but it was awful - even more fatigue, depression, feeling sick all the time. Now I'm on prednisolone and a small dose of amitriptyline - as I've not been sleeping well - until they decide which DMARD to try next. It feels like I'm trying to do a degree in RA (an RA BA ??), there's so much to learn.
So there you go, that's me. I'm going to have a really good look through all the topics now...
Vicky x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/18/2010 Posts: 351 Location: Herne Bay Kent
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Hi Vicki Welcome to the forum. You will certainly find a wealth of help and information on this site, I have found it such an encouragement. I am 56 and I have had RA for four years and am currently taking methotrexate sulphasalazine and enbrel which at the moment is working well. Hope that they manage to get you on the right drugs soon. Best wishes Sue 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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hi Vicki,
welcome aboard.
there is so much to learn about this dreaded RA and the Drugs,
i have found the Forum a wealth of information and support.
i think a lot of us go through a cocktail to get the right meds ... i'm currently on Methotrexate and Hydroxy which haven't worked, so in the process of going onto Anti-TNF.
i was diagnosed last June,
keep posting,
Suzanne x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Vicky Welcome to the forum. A great place to be for support and information; lots of folk, lots of knowledge and a wealth of tried and tested experiences! Glad you have found us and NRAS! I'm Lyn, married to Mike, we have four children, Abby 23, Ian and Jake 17, and Louis 16. All four in various stages of education! We live in Thornton Cleveleys in north west Lancashire. I was diagnosed with sero-negative RA nearly 23 years ago and have since run the gamut of medication and had lots of surgical procedures along the way. Currently on Enbrel, Leflunomide, Prednisolone and Naproxen, and a jolly assortment of pain killers! Struggling at the moment after knee surgery last summer, a major flare in Cyprus of all places, two lots of knee aspirations and joint injections in 7 weeks and a further referral to Orthopaedics. But heyho... Sorry to hear that Sulfasalasine was not the drug for you ... plenty more out there for you to try! Do press for an early decision on your treatment though as the prednisolone alone purely acts on the symptoms of inflammation and pain, it does not control the disease process. A disease modifying drug is necessary to halt the activity of the disease thereby avoiding possible joint damage. Keep posting. look forward to hearing from you, Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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Hello Viicki
A very warm welcome to the forum, you will be well looked after here with all the support and advice, I m sure you will find the various topics very interesting.
I hope you move forward shortly with your treatment, I didn t do well on leflunomide ( couldn t take metx ) so now on infliximab ( ant tnf ) and hoping this will do the trick !
Best wishes Julia x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/4/2010
Posts: 576
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Hi Vicky - nice to meet you. Hope you get settled with a good mix of drugs soon. I'm Ailsa, 51 and live in Warrington. I have 4 teens/20s still at home and one 5 mins away! I also teach full time. I started on Enbrel 3 weeks ago and am already feeling a bit better. I'm still on 20mg MTX but hope to reduce if all goes well. I know what you mean about the RA BA!! The only good thing I'd say is that the more I know and learn from friends on the forum here, the more normal it all feels.
Look forward to getting to know you more XX Ailsa
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Vicky,
Welcome to the forum, but sorry you now have RA as well as your other problems.
I hope they can sort you out with some effective treatment very soon.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Vickie
Welcome to the Forum , I am sure you will find this site excellent for info, advice, experiences
and moans and groans.
Sorry that Sulph not working for you there are many that you can try though.
I am Rose from Somerset aged 56 have to grown up children. Diagnosed late 2008 and
still looking for the correct drug. Been on mtx, hydro, sulph and leflun.Plus depo's and
now on prednisilone and I am waiting to start Humira (TNF).
Keep posting
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Vicky, Welcome to the forum, it a great place for support and advice. I am Lorna, I have had RA for just over 3 years. I was very ill when it all started but having been on the triple therapy I keep much better now. I am 51, married and we have 3 daughters. I do hope you get something to suit you soon and feel so much better. Don't be afraid to say what you feel, good or bad we have all been there. Take care. Lorna x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hi Vicky, and a big welcome to the forum - I`m glad you`ve found us, as there is so much support and info on here. Sorry you are struggling with more than "just" RA, but hopefully when you find the right drug things will begin to improve. Sulph didn`t work for me either - it was the first drug they tried me on, however, there are other options, so hang in there, and keep posting. Take care, Kathleen C x
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/26/2010 Posts: 71 Location: London
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Thank you for such lovely comments. It's been fascinating reading so many of the threads on here, I've learnt more than anywhere else so far, I think, and a relief to find others who understand! I'll definitely be joining in on some of the threads.
Vicky x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/21/2010
Posts: 178
Location: aberdeen
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hello vicky and welcome.
So sorry that you have been diagnosed with RA on top of your other health problems.
I joined NRAS in October I think it was. Without fear of stating the obvious, don't additionally forget the search key if you are looking to catch up with any specific topic, I found the volume of all the posts rather overwhelming with so much to read - eventually I cottoned on to this.
best wishes
.....eve x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/14/2011 Posts: 301 Location: South Hampshire
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Hi Vicky Glad you found the forum too. I've only just found it and it has been so encouraging and informative to me. I think this week it is what has kept me going. I didn't get on with Sulphasalazine (I just tolerate a 10ml dose a day of the liquid version). I tried MTX first, which was no good either. I use Leflenomide (low dose) but this isn't holding the disease so I try anti-tnfs next week - so I am really hoping they work for me. I also use amytriptyline for pain and sleeping - which works really well - although if I take it too late in the evening, I am not very awake the next morning!!! I have to juggle a family life - but they have all been very helpful in taking up some of the heavier jobs! (like washing!!!). Chat again soon. Anne
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 384
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Hi Vicky,
Glad you have found this site you will find it so informative, not alone with RA now, someone on here will have seen it, used it or know about it, no question is too small or trival.
I am Anne 50 years old married with two boys 19 and 20 and a foster son 9 years, diagnosed last May after suffering as you did with pain in the hands, fingers crossed (which I can do at the moment) I am ok and currently taking 25mg weekly MTX.
Look forward to your posts.
Anne x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/13/2010 Posts: 118 Location: Shrivenham, Oxfordshire
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Hi vicky
I am 35 and have been diagnosed since 2007. I have 2 children - a daughter who is nearly 5 and a 17 month son. I couldn't tolerate Hydroxychloroquine at all but have had no problem with Sulphazalazine - it's strange how different drugs are tolerated differently by different people - I guess it just proves how difficult RA is to control and it is trial an error until you find what works for you. I started MTX tablets before CHristmas but couldn't get on with them so I'm about to swap to injections.
Anyway -welcome to the forum.
Becky
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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Hi Vicky
I am 35 (so MUCH older than you!)
Crappy Ra plus a few other immuney dodgey conditions.
Welcome to NRAS how to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 714
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Vicky
Welcome to the forum but sorry you had to have RA to find us. You will definitely go through a steep learning curve with RA but you will find so much information and support on this forum and hopefully a few laughs on the way.
I am 48 and was diagnosed with RA in January 2009, although it appears I have had it all my life and it has been missed by several doctors. Still now on the road to controlling my RA. There are many different types of medication for you to try. I also hated Sulphasalzine.
Keep posting and take care
Jackie
xx
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