Hi everybody,

I have just been diagnosed with RA and started on 10mg MTX per week along with daily prednisalone steroids. I am a very young 60 years old. Six weeks ago I was playing squash at good club level, golf twice a week, Yoga and gym each week. Almost overnight I was in a great deal of pain, couldn't get out of bed, get dressed etc etc.

I feel very positive about the future and accept that I will need to find less demanding pass times and hobbies - The thing I can't quite get my head around is the ups and downs in the course of a day. One moment I feel brilliant and then within a few hours I feel really dreadful. I can't seem to relate it to how much I do - am I overdoing it and should just slow down? Is this normal - is there such a thing as normal with this disease. It's all very confusing and I guess I just need to be patient and find my limitations.

Martin

hi Martin,

welcome to the Forum.

what you are feeling is perfectly normal ... when i was diagnosed last June i managed to lose over half a stone in a week with the stress of a) being diagnosed and b) having to start on Methotrexate.

the fatigue and general tiredness also knock you for six.

when i first posted on here the first thing that was said to me was to pace yourself. fortunately my working days are over but i do like to keep active even if it's out visiting a friend for a cuppa etc. once my housework, shopping washing is done.

you are still in the very early stages,

i guess you are building up the dose on your Methotrexate..?

sadly i have failed on it plus Hydroxy ... so currently in the process of going onto the next stage i.e. Anti-TNF.

do keep posting you will find a wealth of information and support.

Suzanne

Hi Lorna, Jenni, Suzanne, ans Sara,

Thank you so much for the welcome - it's certainly good to be able to contact people that understand and have so much experience of living with the disease.

Clearly you have all been where I am now and have had very similar experiences - it's reassuring to know that it should improve but I'm sure there is a lot to endure before I get there -it's all just a bit confusing at the moment.

I certainly need to pace myself better and the OT energy conservation sounds like it could be very helpful

We have two adorable granddaughters (one year old and 3 month old) with their parents visiting us for the weekend so I have promised myself to enjoy them but to pace myself and not be frightened to say no - very difficult as it breaks the habit of a lifetime whereby I always want to keep going regardless.

Once again thank you for your suggestions and support - sharing thoughts on a forum like this really does help

Martin

Life is so wonderful.

Hi Martin

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 (might now be sero-positive?!) 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 12 months of operations, joint injections and uncontrolled disease. But heyho... that's life with RA and I am turning the corner at last!

Methotrexate is a great drug (yes, this is how we come to regard our drugs ... the ones that work are our best friends!) and many people find that it works well in controlling their disease. In the interim the prednisolone will help with the symptoms of pain and swelling. Learning to pace yourself is important and each of us has their own way of doing this ... the traffic light system is a good one! Finding your own levels is hard but it will make a big difference to your quality of life when you get there.

Keep posting. Look forward to getting to know you,

Lyn x

Welcome Martin,

Sorry that you have RA but you will find this site and forum soo useful for any advice, knowlege
moans etc.

I am Rose from Somerset aged nearly 57. I was diagnosed Oct 2008. I started on mtx
but unfortunately have 3 attempts had to stop it as upset my liver. Also been on Hydro,
Leflun, and Sulph. I now have Humira in fridge waiting for infection to disappear and I
have fingers and toes crossed (well I wished I could !)

Keep posting and good luck with mtx

Rose

Hi Martin, and welcome to the forum. Highs and lows is a perfect way to describe how we feel after the diagnosis of RA. My GP said the first 18 months would be the worst (they were!) but that things would improve when the right drugs were found (they did )

Hope things get better for you soon,

Kathleen C x

Martin

Welcome to the forum but sorry you had to be diagnosed with RA to find us. I am 48 years old and was diagnosed two years ago but have since found it I most probably had it all my life. My life has changed completely now I have RA but I keep busy by taking up hobbies that enable me to sit rather than running around. Yes I do miss the days when I could go out all day and shop with my Daughter but I just cannot manage it now. Yes there can be ups and downs each day but you will just need to listen to your body. Conserve your energy for the things you really want to do and give you enjoyment and think twice about whether you really do need to the jobs you have always done without thinking.

It sounds as if you have a lovely supportive family so that is more than half the battle. Once your medication has taken effect and you get to grips with your RA, you will learn the path you need to take to give you a good quality of life. You will also learn a lot from this forum and will find support whenever you need it. I could not have got through the last two years without the support of these wonderful people.

Take care

Jackie
xx

Hi Jackie and Shenac,

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.

It's so difficult to know what the future holds - I get the feeling that the disease effects everybody at different rates and at this early stage I am naturally concerned that it will continue to progress at it's very rapid rate. I guess that's why I'm taking the the medication and will see some improvement soon. I've only been taking it one week and so hasn't really had a chance. It's just my natural impatience and I need to re-align it. My wrists and fingers are just so stiff and painful today and nothing much can happen without them.

Anyway look forward to a bright future and a lovely spring and summer.

Best wishes to you all.

Martin

Hi again Martin

Please don't be too concerned as emotional stress doesn't help the RA! Almost certainly the meds will quickly bring the disease under control and things will start to improve. It can take 3-4 months for the drugs to reach an appropriate level in your system and it is during this time that you need to take extra care not to unduly stress the joints. Hot, painful joints can be eased with a cold pack (frozen peas wrapped in a towel), aching, painful joints can be soothed with a warm wheatie bag. Remember to put your feet up as often as you are able but keep those joints gently mobilised

Don't be thinking your squash days are behind you just yet ... the drugs can be pretty amazing and really slow down disease progression. Hope things improve for you soon,

Lyn x