Hi all,
My name is Judy, Im 46yr old and has had RA for 24yrs. Ive just joined the NRSA, here is a bit about myself and my conditions.
I was diagnosed with RA in 1987, so ive had it a long time, i started out on Gold injections with Volterol and that seemed to help keep it under control, i was 23yrs old then with a 1yr old daughter who had special needs, i was under control for many years, then as my daughter got older i went back to work, i was a nurse, orthopedics mainly but i was put into other wards sometimes. I used to get flare ups and as the flare ups got worse the rhumatology team tried different treatments, they took me off the gold injections and put me on sulphasalazine with volerol i plodded on but i seemed to be getting more bad days the good ones. More time taken off work etc. Being i was a nurse my employers had to look at the safety of me and of course the patients, the RA was getting worse and of course i was struggleing on the wards with moving and handling people even pushing wheelchairs etc, so i was moved onto the outpatients dept, i managed to cope ish until 2006 when things really did take a turn for the worse. I was in pain everywhere and i mean really bad pain, I was reviewed alot by the rhumatology team my bloods were bad everything had blown up and things had gone from bad to worse. I was put on methotrexate with the sulphasalazine i had a bad reaction to that after a couple of weeks, it was having a bad effect on my liver. The pain was getting unbearable, I was put on Oxycodine 20mg twice a day. And then came the meeting with the management at work. I was a nurse, I worked for the NHS, "the careing proffession" after a lenghly discussion i was "medically retired" from nursing. That was in 2007. I was also then diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, got a new Rhumatology consultant and team as my other consultant retired.
After the methotrexate i was put on Embrel (Etanercept) which worked ish i say ish as i live constantly in pain and with swollen joints, every single joint is inflamed. In 2010 I was taken off the Embel and put onto Humira, injections once a fortnite. I have had a couple of ultra sounds done and they show that my joints are badly damaged, loads of little mice bites lol I cant walk much at all and from being a nurse helping others etc i am the one who has to have a wheelchair to go into town or anywhere where i have to walk more than a couple of yards, my partner Terry does all the big shopping and helps me at home with the cooking and housework, in fact he does nearly everything bless him. So this is where i am now. Coping a bit better than i was, on humira once a fortnite, with meloxicam and oxocodine 40mg twice a day for the pain. Not able to work at the moment.
Im so glad i found a leaflet for the NRAS at my rhumatolgy clinic, and the fact that they were starting a new group in Lincoln, so I went to the meeting and really enjoyed it.

Sorry i went into a ramble, but i thought id let you know who i am and whats happened to me..

Best wishes to all
Judy

Hi Judy,

Welcome to the forum! You'll get lots of friendly support on here.
You really have been through the mill with RA. I was a nurse, worked on the special care baby unit . I was on a career break after my daughter was born when I started with RA 10 years ago and I knew I couldn't work as well as look after a family so I didn't go back.
I am 61, married with a 22 year old daughter. I've had RA for 10 years and now take humira and mtx.
Looking forward to getting to know you.

Love, Doreen xx

Hi Judy.

I am Sheila married to Dave with 2 wonderful grown up sons. I have been diagnosed for 9 years. Currently on mxt. It is great that you have joined the forum. I am sure you will not regret it. There is a wealth of informattion and sharing of experiences on the forum and everyone is very helpful and supportive. Don't worry about anything you say on here. We have all had, and still do, have a good moan on here and we are quite friendly too Look forward to speaking to you again soon

Sheila x

Hi Judy

I know just how you feel today Judy! I was up half the night so consequently feel totally banjaxed today! Rubbish isn't it when you have stuff to do ... like cook Sunday dinner!

Have a good look round the site there's lots of info on here and always someone about! The search facility at the top is pretty good if you're looking for something specific.

One of my twin sons is starting at the University of Lincoln in September doing an MComp in Information Systems. I foresee many visits to your lovely city in the near future! I have visited twice and have fallen in love with the place ... wish it was me that was coming, although my walking doesn't stretch as far as the hill!

Lyn x

Hello Judy, you have really had a bad time havent you??? You have remained very positive by reading your post. Lets hope you can get some relief.
I am Barbara, married to Roy, 4 children (adults really) youngest daughter is off to uni in September. I was diagnosed with RA in July 2009, but have recently been told it probably started around 2005. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia last year. I am currently on mtx and hydroxy, and am due to start anti-TNF hopefully next month.
Its great to have this forum, we all help each other and give support. Anyway, welcome, and I hope you enjoy your time with us!!

Hello Judith

Welcome from me. Sorry you have RA but pleased that you have found this site. Great moans, advice and
friends all on here.

I am Rose aged 57 from Somerset married to Mike with 2 grown up children and 1 Granddaughter. Diagnosed
late 2008 ,been on and failed on many DMARDS and last week I had my first injetion of Humira. Fingers crossed
this will work its magic soon, although at the moment no sign at all infact lots of shooting pains all over.

Keep posting and look forward to geting to know you

Rose

Hi Judy,
Belated welcome from me too, I'm Sara, 45, diagnosed last November and everything's under control now with the MTX apparently but I still do a lot of moaning! This place is great for advice, information and general chit chat, it's helped me a lot since I joined especially with the emotional roller coaster. Looking forward to getting to know you.
Sara

Hi everyone, thank you to everyone for your wishes and friendships, i dont know if ive done the right thing, but I have applied to be a volunteer for NRAS, just waiting to hear now, I thought that with not working maybe some of my nursing skills and my knowledge and experience of RA and Fibromyalgia I may do some good. Let’s see what happens next. I live in Lincoln and there was a new group meeting in May, I went and really enjoyed it, after joining NRAS and reading through the welcome package I thought maybe i could do something, so ive applied. I wont ever be able to go back to work in nursing or the care profession, and at the moment im not able to even try looking for work. Maybe being a volunteer for NRAS would be a good thing. Fingers crossed I will hear something soon.

Thats a brilliant idea Judy!!! all your knowledge of RA and FMS will definitely help lots of others here. I have both myself, but dont really know so much re the fibro. You will be invaluable to NRAS as a volunteer with all the nursing experience. Good luck!!