|
|
Rank: Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/22/2011 Posts: 17 Location: Whitstable, Kent
|
Hi Julie, Lyn (again) and Sue
Once again thank you for your help and the kind words. I think I've learnt more in the last 2 weeks about RA that the last 60 years - which is not surprising as I knew absolutely diddley-quat about it until a month ago. ( its just what old people get and drop things, isn't it) It may be painful but it certainly is intriguing which is not what most people with it, would call it.
It seems to me the important thing is to remain positive, pace yourself and trust in the medication - which is much easier said than done - and I'm sure I will to find out.
Thank you Julie and Lyn for the advice with the hot and cold, - I'll try it later. Also the belief in the medication.
Sue- yes did enjoy the sunshine here in Chestfield.
Take care
martin
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/29/2010
Posts: 27
|
Hi Martin
Welcome to the forum, but sorry you have RA. I'm 45 and was diagnosed 5 years ago. I thought I might have to give up my hobby which is horse riding and in the early days it was incredibly difficult and I only rode 1 very quiet horse.
However, my RA is now well controlled by 20mg mtx injections and I'm back to riding competitively and training young horses again. I also help my parents with their sheep farm. You do have to learn to "listen" to your body and I realise I'm one of the lucky ones but don't give up on the squash just yet.
Dawn.
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
|
Hi Martin
Sorry my welcome is late! However, it is nonetheless sincere.
I'm Jean, 68 from sunny Cheshire, married to Steve with one married daughter and two fab grabdchildren, who keep us very busy!
I've had RA for about 10 years now and the first year was a complete nightmare - couldn't get out of bed due to pain, not able to go out without a scooter or wheelchair etc.etc. 10 years on, I am in remission and pain free, which is wonderful and for which I thank my great rheummy team. I've had one or two joint replacements, so I'm not quite as mobile as I would like but, hey, you can't have everything! So, don't despair - the drugs are amazing but it does sometimes take a few months to find the regime which is right for you.
I am completely in awe of your PPL - wow - clever lad!
Take care and keep posting
Jeanx
PS There is a standing joke on the forum - we ALL know someone's aunty's cousin who has had a "touch" of RA in her right big toe - but, of course, it was all cured with potions of gnat's pee!!
|
|
|
Rank: Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/22/2011 Posts: 17 Location: Whitstable, Kent
|
Hi Dawn and Jean, Thank you so much for your very encouraging posts. It's lovely to hear of people that are living with the disease and remain so positive and determined. I've never tried horse riding as they don't have handlebars but I have got a very large fast motorcycle that I'll need to ride again. Maybe horse riding would be a new venture javascript:insertsmiley('  ','/members/forum/YAF/images/emoticons/msp_smile.gif') I certainly would love to be able to play golf again which I enjoy so much and a friend of mine who is an orthopaedic surgeon says it is certainly possible. Once I get off the MXT and the painkillers I should be able to fly again - have a go Jean it's great fun Take care Martin
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
|
Hi Martin!
Listen, you can have a life when taking the meds- it doesnt have to wait till they stop- they just need to kick in.
Over a long period now i have only known about a dozen people who have had confirmed RA and been able to stop the meds. Sorry! Even then, things can go up and down and they have to have better control again for a while, but you might be lucky.
Certainly when I was first ill I tried to keep active, do the full rotation exercises. I did aqua fit and tried to swim often.
You could ask to be seen in hydrotherapy and they can give you some exercises to do to maintain and sometimes increase your range of movement.
I love that!
I would love to ride a horse! My daughter has an autistic spectrum disorder and does a lot of therapeutic riding in her special unit. She gets something out of this that she could never do anyother way. she is calmed by and calming to them and has been doing horse whispering with skittish race horses on a project near by. Anyway! waffling now! there is a lot to riding!
Jenni x how to be a velvet bulldoser
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
|
Hi Martin. I am sure we all know how you are feeling right now. It is an awful feeling to be told you have RA and you feel very alone. I have had RA for 9 years now and have felt like it was only happening to me but since discovering this forum very recently my outlook has changed. I wish I had heard about it sooner. I have had some very positive comments already and I am sure you will too. You will start to feel more able to cope with it and you seem to have a great positive attitude to the future. Pacing yourself is definitely the thing to do, if you can. Keep tuning in Regards Sheila
|
|
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/16/2011
Posts: 24
|
Hi Martin and everyone, I find that one day i feel great and manage things but the very next day feel terrible again.? It is so soul destroying.I find i make appointments as i feel well,then cancel,make,cancel etc round and round i go. Also i can feel fine in the am but then in the pm bad again.Am on hydroxchloroquine as metho was horrid to me so stopped. Side effects are dodgy too very dizzy nausea at times but thats not too bad . nice to meet you all vicky x
If at first you don't suceed,try then try again..:-)
|
|
|
Rank: Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/1/2011 Posts: 17 Location: cheltenham
|
Hi,
Well I am new to this to, I havent even seen a specialist yet, still waiting for the appointment to come through.
This last three weeks, I have felt very tired on and off, it sort of hits me about 2ish, sometimes I pick up and sometimes I don't
When I feel ok I think right, get back from work, do some housework, cook dinner, do some washing.
I even did on part of the Davina exercise dvd on monday, and was so chuffed that I did it.
But today I am really tired again.
So I think I can just do as much as I can when I feel energised and crash when I don't, but then you feel like your 'giving in' to it.
The declofenic has eased the aches and pains somewhat, and I have only been on it since last friday.
I just want to feel 'normal' again, my eyes drive me mad at night, jigging about so I can sleep and I feel like I have a cold coming all the time.
It's all very frustrating and the thought of the drugs that I maybe on, and the time it will take for my body to settle them in so to speak, fills me with horror, but what other choice do I have.
I try to be positive, but sometimes it is very hard.
welcome
minxie
|
|
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
|
Hi Vicky and Sheila You will both get there, really you will! Once you are on medication that will slow down the progress of the disease things should start to improve. Sometimes finding the treatment that is best for you can take time but you can be sure in the knowledge that with the vast number of drugs now available something will work for you. In the meantime it is a case of listening to your body and working with it to get through each day relatively unscathed. It isn't easy pacing yourself but very necessary. When you feel well you want to get on and get things done but only too quickly realise you have done too much! Spread the load and have rest days, don't overload. Minxie, perhaps 'Davina' is not the thing to be doing until you have a firm diagnosis and a treatment plan from the rheumatologist! I watch my daughter doing it (not so long ago could have joined her too!) but this type of exercise is generally not regarded as suitable for uncontrolled (even controlled sometimes) RA. Too much pressure on the joints etc. You should be able to get some drops, synthetic tears, from your GP to help with the eye problem. Lyn x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
