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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/24/2011
Posts: 3
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I was diagnosed with RA 12 months ago having suffered with it from arond 2006 by which time I already had joint damage in my hands and feet. I'm currently taking Methotrexate, Folic Acid, Hydroxychloroquine, artifiicial tears for sicca syndrome, Prednisolone and am waiting to start Cimzia as the other drugs are not controlling it. Nice to see so many people on here who know exactly what I am going through with this dreadful disease and I look forward to getting some good advice from the people who know all about it
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/12/2011 Posts: 124 Location: Wilts, nr Stonehenge
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Welcome Sheena, Sorry toy have been diagnosed with this awful disease, but you are in the right place for fantastic support and warm ears and arms. I am Tracy, 40, single parent of a 16 yr old boy. diagnosed Feb 2010, still not under control and having a very bad time at the moment. Just failed on Cimzia and will be starting on Enbrel in the next few weeks. I am on triple therapy and 25mg Prednisolone daily, Etopan, Omeprazole and a huge selection of pain killers.  Good luck with Cimzia and keep posting Trace xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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Hi Sheena
Welcome to the forum, you have found the right place for lots of support and understanding with RA !
I was diagnosed about two years ago now, have failed on the dmards and infliximab and started Cimzia about four weeks ago, so far so good but don t want to get too excited just in case of course. Hope you get started on it soon, its easy to administer and painless, so don t worry about it.
Keep posting, and let us know how you are getting on.
Julia x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Sheena
Welcome to this site and the forum however sorry you have RA. This forum is great for advice, friends, moans and
groans.
I am Rose, 57 from Somerset diagnosed in 2008, failed on DMARDS and Humira and being council for another
TNF next month. So fingers crossed.
Please keep posting.
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Sheena 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, we have all been where you are at the moment so you are in the right place for understanding! I'm Lyn, married to Mike, we have four 'growing-up' children and live in north west Lancashire. I was diagnosed with RA 23 years ago and have since run the gamut of medication (although more options are popping up now and again thankfully!) and had several surgical procedures along the way. Currently on Enbrel, Methotrexate, Prednisolone and Naproxen, and a wagon load of pain killers, and othe bits and bobs! Been largely out of control for the last 15 months and far from good right now (hence the reason I'm posting in the middle of the night!). But heyho ... Sorry to hear that you have acquired joint damage but hope that the Cimzia is the drug for you and it slows down the progression of the disease. I have much joint damage due to long term disease, very much uncontrolled in the early days due to lack of effective treatments. Things are so much better these days and prognosis improved greatly since the introduction of biologic therapies. Look forward to getting to know you  Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Hi Sheena
And a warm welcome from me, too! You will find encouragement, support, a wealth knowledge and the chance to have a laugh as well on here.
I'm Jean, 68, living in Timperley about 10 miles south of Manchester and have one daughter, Lucy, s-i-l and 2 fantastic, but crazy grandchildren! Oh yes - there's is also Steve, my wonderful husband.
I've had RA for about 10 years and along with the bad stuff, there is always the good!
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Love Jeanxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Sheena,
Welcome to the forum, where we all know exactly what you are going through!
I am 61 and have had RA for 10 years, currently on mtx and humira.
I'm married to Ian and we have one 22 year old daughter .
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Love Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 384
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Hello Sheena,
Welcome to the form, a great place for support, advice and all manner of things.
I'm Anne 51 married with two boys 19 and 21 and a foster boy aged 9. I was diagnosed in May 2010 and on 25mg MTX and folic acid which at the moment is working well for me.
I honestly don't know what I would have done without the early support I received on here, it certainly helped me come to terms with my condition.
Take care
Anne x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 6/18/2010 Posts: 351 Location: Herne Bay Kent
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Hi Sheena Adding my warm welcome to this very special forum where you can rant and moan ask advise and generally share with others who know where you are coming from. I am sure you will enjoy being part of this forum even though you would rather not have r a. I am 57 and have been diagnosed for 5 years and am currently on Methotrexate and Enbrel. Look forward to getting to know you. Sue
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Sheena
A big welcome from me too. I am Sheila aged 60, married with 2 gorgeous sons Ben 28 and Joe 25 and a wonderful husband Dave. Diagnosed 9 years and currently on mxt. You have made a good decision to join the forum. It is a great place to learn, share experiences and have a laugh or a moan. We are are all in the same boat and it is a real comfort sometimes just to be able to share. Looking forward to getting to know you better.
Sheila x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hi Sheena, and welcome to the forum, where there is loads of info, and empathy from the folks on here. I was diagnosed in Jan 2006, and having failed on various DMARDs am currently on humira, which has made a considerable difference to my life. I`m married to Nick, and we have two sons and two little grandsons. Take care, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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hi Sheena,
welcome.
i am also on Methotrexate and Hydroxy but have failed on them, so just started on Humira last week after a long wait.
i hope Cimzia works well for you.
i'm 58 married with a 29 year old daughter who's long flow the nest,
keep posting, you will always get support on here,
Suzanne x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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Hello and welcome Sheena.
I am sorry to read that you have been through a lot of the drugs already but wish you all the very very best with the Cimzia (when it comes!)
I have tried the Cimzia but couldnt tolerate it in the end which was a shame as it seemed to work.
I am now waiting for a drug from America
I am Jenni, 35 married with 3 children and I have severe RA. I have a fab life with lots of ups as well as the downs and this forum is an UP! Looking forward to "chatting" soon.
Jenni x
how to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/5/2010 Posts: 364 Location: mid glamorgan
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Hi Sheena
Welcome from me too, Im Ceri 43 and diagnosed 2 years ago, currently on 20mg mtx and waiting to start another anti tnf having failed on Infliximab..Im married with 3 grown up children and have been off work since May as the RA is getting worse. Look forward to hearing from you and good luck with the Cimzia.
Love Ceri x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 714
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Hi Sheena
Welcome to the forum but sorry you had to have RA to join us.
Cimzia is one drug that I have not tried so I would be interested to hear how you get on with it. I hope it bring the relief you are hoping for.
I was diagnosed in January 2009 and have tried a large range of different drug options but they have not found the right one for me yet but I am ever hopeful.
Keep posting and take care.
Jackie
xx
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/24/2011
Posts: 3
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Hi to everyone and thanks for all your encouraging messages which have really cheered me up. I'm virtually bed-bound at the moment, not so much with pain which is just starting to come back now the steroid injection is wearing off, but with fatigue and a feeling like I have flu. I don't know if anyone else has experienced fatigue which worsens even with thinking. Anyway enough of my complaining. I forgot to mention in my intro message that I'm 57 years of age and I live near Manchester, I have 3 grown up kids and 1 grandson who is 3 months old and such a cutie. I'm so glad to have found a site with so many people who understand what RA is like. I used to think RA just affected people's joints until I got it myself and its a nasty disease that affects every part of your life. I work full time but I'm currently off work on the sick, I enjoy my job but I find working full time is too much for me. My social life has also been affected. Because of the unpredictable nature of RA its hard to make any plans. SOme friends don't even both asking me to go out any more and I understand how it much seem to them. I just hope one day I will get my life back. At the moment I have major hair shedding. I used to have thick hair and I have lost about 50% of it now. my GP thinks its the Prednisolone in my system. I don't know whether its the RA or the drugs but I'm fed up of it, its just another tightening of the screw or RA. I wonder if anyone else has had problems with muscle wasting. My legs can hardly carry my weight any more, specially up and down stairs. I'll keep you posted how the Cimzia is working and thanks again to you all for caring. Sheena
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 312
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Oh Sheena, so sorry things are so tough for you at present! I take Hydroxychloriquine too and have dry eyes and use viscotears gel. Plus Lacrilube at night before I go to sleep for my eyes. I remember that when I first got R.A, 16 years ago I could nod off anywhere, anytime, the tiredness was quite unpredictable and overwhelming. For me, so far, I have virtually no joint damage, according to my X rays. Apparently, I have a "mild" form of the disease. Well all I can say is that if this is mild my sympathy goes out to the people with severe forms! Hair loss is horrid. I know this because twice in my life I have had Alopeacia - I think that is how it's spelt. Luckily only in two places and it did regrow. (One patch each time.) I am Fiona, 54, with three grown up kids, 35,34 and 31. I just wrote my first blog on here today after not being on the forum for quite a long time. Thinking of you and hoping that you start to feel a lot better again soon. Warm regards, Fiona
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 346
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Hi Sheena welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you are feeling so bad at the moment fatigue and a flu like feeling seem to be another symptom of ra. Maybe you could ask for a referral to physiotherapy for advice and exercises for the muscle wasting. Hope the cimzia works for you.
Whereabouts near Manchester are you? I live in Failsworth between Oldham and Manchester.
Bevxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/28/2011 Posts: 956 Location: North Preston
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Hi Sheena
Unfortunately, all the symptoms you describe are commonplace with RA. I have had the same problems. I have no strength in my legs at all. I can walk but I can't step up anything high or get down from anything high. My husband lifts me over stiles and helps me up high steps etc. I have also had a huge hairloss problem. Mine was caused by a combination of a great deal of stress on my body within a short period. I increased folic acid and take lots of antioxidents and it is thickening up again. The fatigue is a great factor with most people on the forum. I think this is due to the disease itself rather than the drugs. You need to speak to your rheummy nurse for the best thing to do for you. I am sure things will start to settle down when you are well into your meds.
Sheila x
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