Ah Jean, what a lovely post! How kind of you to inspire others. I have been a menber of this forum now for over 3 years and you are always so kind but honest.

Love Shirley x

Thanks for your post, too, Shirley. I must be getting philosophical in my old age - just realising that life is far too short to brood on RA for too long!
Love Jeanxx

There will be times when it's very hard, Sylvia - but just hang on in there and it will get better again. One thing I have always tried to do is learn everything there is to know about RA. That way, if or when things DO go pear shaped, some of the fear is taken away as you know what is going on in your body. Take huge care, and Iook forward to getting to know you better through the forum.
Love
Jeanxxxx

Maybe one day we can have a scoot together?!!

Dear Jean,

I'm resurrecting this post as I am newly diagnosed, and not smiling every day, in fact I'm really 'p'hed' (sic) up!!

I couldn't help but notice that there were no takers from the newly diagnosed which are the people you aimed your post at!

I cannot speak for others, but for myself being newly diagnosed means I have nothing to offer, I'm a new girl with limited knowledge so
my contributions will be few and far between.

I do appreciate your supporting words but when something as devastating as RA lands on your personal lap, you can't see the future, only
the present which looks bleak. Bit like bereavement, everyone says it will get better with time, but in the experience it seems like it will go on forever,
and yes as one who's lost very close loved one's - it does improve, you assimilate the tragedy into your life, so I know what you're saying is right - thank you.

When you ask your consultant 'what is my prognosis', they say they cannot answer that because everyone is different, meaning I could be wheelchair bound
in two years, or hopefully skipping around like a spring lamb (which would be a fantastic improvement ).

I've just started on this journey, I really hope I can become like you - thank you again.

Gogs

Hi Gogs and Mary - I'm not sure if Jean is following the forum at the moment, but if she is then a big "Hello" to her from her friends here - she hasn't posted for a while, so we hope she's well.

Like you, I've not been diagnosed for very long and my post earlier in this thread was one of my very first back in June - my goodness I've grown a lot since then!!!!!! Back then I was feeling pretty poorly, although the steroids controlled most of the pain, I was very frightened and worried and completely dazed and confused. Since then, I've had to come to terms with having an incurable, degenerative disease for the rest of my life! I've had to face the fact that I have to take my meds - at least 10 pills every day or else I'll go back to being the wreck I was back in April.

But it's not all bad - I've also learnt that with the right treatment I can have my life back as good as it was before, with virtually no pain. Yes, I have a few dodgy joints, but no worse than lots of people with osteo-arthritis. Now that the RA inflammation is under control, the joint damage should be minimised, so as long as I am careful from now on I should be fine. My consultant is optimistic that I'll avoid serious damage for a long time - and that's as good as most other non-RA sufferers can expect! Yes, I do still get fatigued, but it's much better now the RA is under control - I've learnt to recognise the warning signs and take enough rest - I've learnt a lot about myself and how I cope with stress and over-doing things, and I'm getting much MUCH better. I'm certain that without RA and all the advice I've got from the hospital team and this forum, I wouldn't be as happy as I am today, nor as comfortable in my own skin. So although having RA is not something I would wish for (and I hope for a total cure sometime in my lifetime) - that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

Having RA has definitely strengthened my marriage and my relationship with my kids - it's good for them to know that I'm not perfect and that they have to take care of me sometimes and help with things that I can't do (like open bottles and cans!!!).

There is always light ahead and with the right adjustments you will be able to enjoy a happy and rewarding life - so keep positive, keep taking the pills and keep a diary to remind you how you're feeling, then you can look back after a few months and see how far you've come through. (Or else post here and that keeps a record too)

VEry best wishes - Sylvia xx

Thank you Sylvia, that was an amazing piece of writing.

Gogs

Hi Everyone,

Good to hear from you again Jean with such a positive post. Hello from me too, I am Lorna diagnosed 5 years ago now...... wow is it that long. As you have heard or experienced RA is mind blowing when it first hits you, but it is NOT the end of the world although it feels like it at times. When It hit me 5 years ago I was literally bed ridden within 5 weeks. I was unable to do anything, to go from being fit and active to bed ridden was a real shock to the system. Almost every joint was affected except my knees. I had lost the use of my right arm, I could not turn my head, I had to be helped onto my feet I could not hold or pick up anything, my hands did not work, they were swollen and solid. My inflammation levels were very high and I was on a bucket load of pain killers and still in agony.

But you know what I am NO LONGER like that, I am well controlled now having been on the triple therapy, my consultant believes treating an aggressive disease with aggressive treatment is definitely the way forward. I am no longer in any pain or on any pain relief. I still take 2 of the 3 drugs I was given. I take 6 MTX once a week and Hydrox 1 each day along with a vitamin tablet And I do everything I did before and stop when I get tired.

So please do not give up hope, being positive is as important as any of the drugs which you are prescribed, you have to believe they will help you and they will. Keeping a diary is great I did and you see yourself getting better. I was very lucky to be diagnosed as quick as I was, plus my doctor was really on the ball. My consultant is lovely and very thorough.

I hope reading about myself gives hope to those newly diagnosed because I know all too well how bad things can be: my consultant put her hand on my arm when I saw her for the first time and told me I would not walk out of her room as bad as I had just walked in. After my appointment I was given steroid injections to help me move.

We have a get together in May so note in your diary to come down and meet all of us, its fun and a good laugh. We go for a weekend and its worth the journey, we come from Scotland, and I would not miss it now, I have been for the last two years along with my husband and am looking forward to next year.

A big hug from me to anyone who feels low at the moment, hang in there it does and will get easier.

Love to all Lorna xx

Hi Paula,

Thank you for your post, it's lovely to hear from you too. Me, I have been busy working and I have been inundated in my garden. It never ends, I found great comfort there after losing my Dad. My garden was beautiful last year and I now have my winter plants in and my begonias and dahlias lifted and stored. I will keep posting, I really hope my story helps any who are really struggling.

Take care

Lorna xx