Hello Sara

Nice to meet you and welcome to the forum. You have definitely made the right move in posting. The people on this forum are brilliant. I have learnt so much from them and they have been very supportive in the two and half years since I was diagnosed. I have found that no matter how trivial your "problem" might seem to you, someone on here will identify with it and offer advice and comfort.

I would just like to say, please try the MTX injections. I was absolutely petrified of injecting myself as I can never look when I have a blood test. However, I was flabbergasted at how easy it is and how fine the needle is that you hardly feel a thing. My big tip is if you have some fat around your stomach you can grab (I have plenty), inject into this and you definitely won't feel hardly anything. I cannot tell you how easy it is and how shocked I was at what a coward I had been at such an easy process. The MTX by injection will definitely work better for you, so give it a try. If it hurts you can come around and punch me

Keep posting as it is always great to hear from new people.

Take care

Jackie
xx

hi Sara,

welcome.

you're not alone in feeling scared about starting a new drug .. i am the world's worst trust me !!

i know so many parts of the country don't have good Rheumatology Departments, i feel blessed that i have ... plus a fantastic Rheumy Nurse i can contact within 24 hours.

i have learned so much since joining the Forum, you will always find someone with an answer for you,

you can have a moan, share stories and get to know everyone,

we're a friendly bunch with a common cause unfortunately it's RA but we all understand,

keep posting,

Suzanne x

Hello Sara

Your story sounds so similar to mine. I am 35 and was diagnosed 4 years ago 18 months after the birth if my first child (I had symptoms from when she 8 months old). Initially I was on sulphasalazine as I knew I wanted another baby. After my son was born and I had finished breast feeding I tried mxt tablets but they made me feel really sick. I then tried injections. They were really easy to do (and I'm a needle phobic) but unfortunately I still felt sick. I have recently started leuflunomide.

I have recently seen an occupational therapist, she had lots of ideas about how to make every day tasks easier. I wish I had seen her a long time a go. I have now realised that you need to ask for what you want. I suggest you ask to be referred at your next appointment.

Becky

Hi Sara.

Nice to meet you! My name is Sheila aged 60, married with 2 sons. I was diagnosed 9 years ago and currently on mxt tablets. I have been on inj in the past but they didn't really suit me although they work better than the tablets. They get to the heart of the matter quicker. Surely, the rheummy nurse is not expecting you to inject yourself without training. You need to know how to inject to be able to do it properly and if you are not happy doing it yourself, ask your practice nurse if your hospital won't do it. Good luck and post again about anything you like.

Sheila x

Hi Sara,
From another Sara, welcome to the forum, not sure how I would have got through all of this without this forum, great place for advice or a good old rant, none of us are ever bored so keep posting. I'm 45 diagnosed last November on MTX which is apparently working but that doesn't stop me from wanting more! I do feel much better than I did before Xmas but am still going through the sulky teenager bit I'm afraid! I would scared about injections too but they do say the MTX is more effective and fewer side effects so go for it, can't be any worse can it?!
Take care
Sara

WOW! Thanks for all your replies ladies, you've certainly made me this evening.

Jackie - I have more than I wish to grab so once i've got the courage i'm sure i'll be fine. It took me awhile to do it when I had IVF (Which failed ) with an auto inject, and after a bottle of wine i still didn't manage it. Was hoping I could have done this one in the auto inject but they have come already pre-made, although I've spoken to the pharmacy and they have said they would order the vials in for me if the doctor agreed so will want and see as haven't asked yet.

dorat - I'm waiting for an appointment to be shown how to do the injections. So still taking tablets for the moment.

bpeal1 - Thanks, i'll speak to him about that next time I see him. I did contact Access to Work who have been out and told my employers about things that would make my life easier but they would have to pay. I have managed to get a new chair, desk and storage space as the floor was my filing cabinet. ATW have granted me with Dragon software to use which i believe is being delivered while i'm on holiday this week.

sheila_G - We don't have a Rheumy nurse so not sure who i'm going to be seen by

ceri44 - We dont have a Rheumy department or helpline to call between appointments. We have to see our GP who doesn't wish to get to involved and I get to see the Rheumy every 4 months

LynW - Cheers, i will carry on with the tablets, i have to split mine up at the moment as didnt get on with taking them all in one go. So take 4 mondays, 3 thursdays and dont feel rubbish the day after anymore. Just hope i dont get that feeling back again when i start the injections

Julia17, suzanne-p, Rose-B, Sara-R - Thanks

Hello

Just a quick welcome from me.

I was diagnosed just over three years ago at the age of 50. I had had a very stressful time a few months before and my consultant thinks that may of been the trigger that started my RA.

Everyone here is so friendly and helpful. Ask any questions you like, we all understand how you feel, we've been there and got the T shirt.

Love Paula x

Hi Rachael, Paula-C, jenni-b

Can't really be sure as to the reason of my RA starting has I had a very tough few years before I noticed a symptom. My uncle had a brain hemorrhage and stroke at the age of 50, being one out of two people in my family that was prepared to drive the family around to his hospital bedside 70 miles away, which i drove everyday until he as brought closer to home. Then while still fighting for the correct treatment for him over the year and with social services and becoming his power of attorney, I lost my job, our house sale fell through at the last minute so there wasnt an option to find another house and mortgage as our mortgage offer was based on my last job and we had spent the money on surveys and solicitors fees. Managed to get another buyer and moved. We found my nan had pancreatic cancer and died within 3 months, my husbands nan died a week after mine, lived up north and we were the only remaining relatives, so 2 funerals were held within 48 hours of each other at opposite ends of the country. I got a job, had the chance to try IVF as had been trying many years, this failed, I then found out later I had fallen pregnant and ended up giving birth 3 months early. Luckily he seems to have been blessed and apart from being born 11 weeks early at 3lb 2oz he is just fine. Then a year later on a night out for my husbands birthday, alittle worse for ware with alcohol coming home i found it so sore to walk home it was killing me and never felt like it before, this never left so just brought it up with the doctor who did blood tests, sent me to a consultant who the confirmed i had RA so as abit shocked to say the least.

I also got a virus which knocked me for six when my boy was 6 months old.

I come under Clacton and with Dr Byrne

x