Hi
Finally got the courage to introduce myself after being a member for just over a year.
I'm Sharon and I got diagnosed in Jan 2012 at the age of 34. I was suffering with symptoms for just over 5 months so I realise how lucky I am to get diagnosed so quickly after reading some of your posts. I'm a PE teacher so my job became impossible for me for most of last year but I am finally feeling like my old self again. I am currently on 20mg of Methotrexate a week, which seem to be working extremely well at the moment, touch wood!

Reading everyone posts over the last year has helped me to slowly come to terms with disease and realise that there is light at the end of tunnel, so much so that I am taking part in this year skydive which I think I'm looking forward too!!!
Nice to meet you all

Sharon

Hi Sharon, and welcome to the forum - though sorry you have RA. Like you, I was diagnosed fairly quickly, but it still took a while for it to sink in. I was diagnosed in January 2006, and had a tough 18 months, but once on the right meds things improved considerably. MTX didn`t work for me, unfortunately, but most people do well on it.

I`m a retired teacher - I taught PE in a big comprehensive for many years. After two lots of Achilles surgery I was advised to stop the PE, so until my retirement I did some RE teaching, and a bit of Special Needs.

Good luck with the job, and with the sky dive - very brave of you!

Kathleen x

hi Sharon,

welcome glad you posted,

although agree reading posts is a good way of learning too.

good to hear Methotrexate is working well for you, and to be able to think of sky diving is fantastic!!

do keep posting now.

Suzanne x

Hi Sharon great to her from you, sorry to hear you have RA but good to know it sounds well under control, if you have to have it , now is a good time as there are so many drugs that make a real difference to living a fairly normal life, not that sky diving is normal, you must be brave to do that.
Best wishes
Sheila