|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/12/2011
Posts: 1
|
Hello everyone. I was struck down by RA in May 2006 - totally out of the blue. Before RA I had a very active lifestyle - running,riding, hill walking,gym,swimming and gardening but one morning I woke up and could barely move with pain and stiffness in every joint. Fortunately I was able to see a Rheumatologist within a few weeks and the hope was that it was the after effect of a virus I'd had about a month earlier. Sadly this was not the case. Anyway it took over a year to sort out the correct medication and I have been taking methotrexate, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine since then. I haven't got my old life back, which does depress me at times (exercise used to be my coping mechanism- now I'm afraid it's chocolate) but I am a lot better than I was and trying to keep as fit as possible. My thyroid function started to deteriorate at the same time so I have to take Levothyroxine too. Coincidence ?
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/18/2010 Posts: 351 Location: Herne Bay Kent
|
Hi Jacqueline
Welcome to the forum, you will find it a fantastic source of information and encouragement,
It is hard to come to terms with the fact that you can no longer do the things you used to take for granted but this is a great place for finding people who can empathise.
I too was diagnosed in 2006 and am currently taking methotrexate sulphasalazine and have just begun on Enbrel.
I am afraid I don't know if there is a connection between thyroid problems and R A but I am sure someone here will be able to help you.
Best Wishes
Sue
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/2/2011
Posts: 31
|
Hi Jacqueline, welcome to the forum. I've only just joined myself.
You sound quite similar to me, I find it difficult to manage without my normal activities. I've had to give up a lot also but try to keep fit by swimming.
I am on Cimzia, started it recently as methotrexate didn't do much for me and was allergic to the hydroxy.
Sally
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/27/2010 Posts: 136 Location: Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
|
Hi Jacqueline
I too was diagnosed with RA two years ago and have coped with all manner of medication. I have had an underactive thyroid gland for several years and am also on levothyroxine. I guess both are linked in that the bodies auto immune system does not work properly. Hope things get under control for you soon.
Louise
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
|
Hi Jacqueline 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 wagon load 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... I too was extremely fit and active before the RA. Played various sports at club level and athletics and swimming at county level and took part in national gymnastic competitions in my younger days. I also enjoyed fell walking, cycling, running, in fact anything energetic!! I'm the geek who used to look forward to PE and games lessons when everyone else was trying to find a way out of it!! RA certainly brings you down to earth with a bump! Thud!  It's sad when lives are affected so drastically but alas that is life! There are always plenty of other things in life to do, things that in the past you might not even have considered. RA, whilst closing many doors has without doubt opened at least as many new ones for me. Try to look on the bright side and remain positive  , now's the time to try something new! Yes, there is a link between Thyroid disease and RA. Both are auto immune diseases (very often they tag along together!) and it isn't unusual for patients to have several of these. Having one autoimmune disease, such as Lupus, RA,Temporal Arteritis, puts a patient at a higher risk of developing other autoimmune disorders. Rheumatoid arthritis is linked to the gene PTPN22. The same gene that is also found in people who have thyroiditis. Quite a lot of research has gone on in recent years so you should be able to find some information by doing an internet search. Do keep posting, look forward to getting to know you Lyn x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
|
Hi Jacqueline, Your story - and some of your interests - is very similar to mine, having been diagnosed in January 2006. It was a huge shock to me, having been always active, and I found this very difficult to take. Nick (husband) and I used to do a lot of walking together. We still go off to the hills, but alas these days I just have to admire them rather than walk up them. We`d bought cycles too, and were enjoying ourselves out and about. I taught PE for many years and still swam, played tennis & badminton. I can`t help with the thyroid issues, but hopefully your RA druds will keep the RA under control. My first 18 months with it were awful - none of the drugs had any effect, & I was increasingly dependent on Nick. However, I started humira in August 2007, and things really improved. Take care, Kathleen C x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
|
hi Jacqueline,
welcome.
RA does seem to hit some overnight where they can hardly move.
for me it was gradual aches and pains, i was used to knee pain as i have Osteo in both.
glad you seem to be on the right Meds ... i'm currently in the process of going onto Anti-TNF having failed on Methorexate and Hydroxy.
there's no doubt is it a total shock when diagnosed, i have only just about come to terms with it having been diagnosed last June.
you will find this Forum a wealth of support and information.
Suzanne x
|
|
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 11/10/2010
Posts: 5
|
Hi Jacqueline,
Keep hope that you can get back to many of your activities-perhaps with a little less vigour to avoid hurting yourself, there are ways to adapt.
I have had arthritis since the age of 5, so I haven't really known any different but I have led a very full life thus far (I'm 34 now). I can't always do things in the conventional way but I can generally adapt - the only thing I've had to accept I'll never do is skate or a parachute jump...
Best wishes
Amanda
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/5/2010 Posts: 364 Location: mid glamorgan
|
Hi Jacqueline
Welcome to the forum and sorry you have RA. Im Ceri and was diagnosed 20 months ago, like you it seemed to come on very quickly and completely changed my life.. Im currently on 20 mg methotrexate (used to inject but too toxic for me) so now back on the tablets, and im wailting to start infliximab. This forum is great for help, understanding and advice look forward to getting to know you x
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/13/2010 Posts: 118 Location: Shrivenham, Oxfordshire
|
Hello I was diagnosed in 2007 at the age of 32, I have only just stared taking Methotrexate and about to switch to injections (I didn't start it before because I desperately wanted a second child (I now have a daughter who will be 5 next month and a 17 month son)). We also enjoyed walking especially in the Lake District, last October for the first time I managed a couple of miles, we stuck to tarmaced paths and I used 2 walking poles and we took it very slowly but it was lovely to see the scenery again, and feel slightly normal. Had to take it easy the next day - but it was worth it! As for missing exercise, soon after being diagnosed I started going to a pilates class. I find it brilliant and even on my worst days I drag myself there because I feel so much better afterwards. I find it just gently stretches everything out and relieves a lot of tension (I find when my joints are painful I start tensing up which actually makes it worse). I have got a brilliant pilates teacher (and I would recommend trying to find a good one) she is a qualified physio and also instructs on courses for people wanting to gain pilates qualifications. She adapts some of the exercises for me, for example I can't take any weight through my wrists so when we do exercises on all fours I put the weight through my elbows by leaning on a tower of foam blocks. On really bad days she subtitutes exercises for ones I can do. Anyway enough rambling - I just thought I'd mention it! Becky
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 714
|
Hello Jacqueline Nice to meet another Jacqueline although I am only called this by my parents (I always feel as if I have been naughty when they say my name  ). I am sorry that you have RA but you have joined a good forum where you will gets lots of support and information. I was diagnosed in January 2009 after having shingles and flu. It appears I have had RA on and off all my life but it kicked in big time after the two viruses. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with the diagnosis and, yes, my life is now completely different. I work full time and have always been the lych pin who keeps our family together. This has had to change and now I have to rely on my family and it can become very frustrating. I think we have to go through a grieving process for our old life before we can move on and work out how to have a good and fulfilling life again. Chocolate should be available on prescription as I know it has helped many of us on this forum through difficult times. Take care Jackie xx
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/29/2010
Posts: 27
|
Welcome to the forum - but sorry you have RA.
I too was very active when diagnosed with RA 6 years ago. As other have said the worst time was the first 12 - 24 months however I was determined to keep riding and whilst I had to scale it back initially I'm now back to riding competitively and breaking in young horses. I do have to take a little extra care and do realise I'm luckier than some with RA. I also cycle and do lots of walking.
Hopefully you'll get to the stage where you feel able to do some of the things you used to do again.
Good luck
Dawn.
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
|
Welcome Jackie,
Welcome to this Forum. Nice to meet you although sorry that you have RA. This site
is brilliant for moans groans friends and of course advice.
I am Rose from Somerset 56 yrs old diagnosed late 2008, have tried mtx, hyrod,
leflun and sulph and all failed. Now waiting to start TNF,s .
Keep posting
Rose
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
