Hi Deborah, sorry you feel down at the moment, it is hard when you are diagnosed and especially hard when you are in pain and wonder what lies ahead. I'm sure things will improve as the tablets kick in, did they suggest any steroids to get you over the initial period until the tablets start to work? I know not everyone wants to go down that route but for me it helped when I could barely move.
The tiredness is a bit of an issue when the RA isn't under control, I think everyone will say learn to pace yourself - easier said than done and I'm not very good at following that advice, you'll probably be better at it than I am.
Its also a bit of a shock suddenly having a medicine box with all the bits and pieces they give you- and remembering to take it!
I'm Sheila, 56, diagnosed 3 years ago, am currently on Methrotrexate, Steroids, diclofenac, omoprazle? or something like that to protect my stomach from the tablets, Alendronic Acid, folic acid and rituximab ooh and few paracetamol when I get the shivers. My RA started just after I left a stressful job and went to go back to college to do something I'd always hoped to do, I still wonder if it started when I left all that stress behind, wierd eh as they say stress makes it worse.
This forum is great for knowing that there are others out there experiencing the same a you and for advice and help.
Really hope that things get better for you in coming weeks.
With all best wishes
Sheila

Hi Debs and welcome to the club (although no one really wants to be eligible to join!)
I'm Julie, 59 and been diagnosed for 2 years and currently on Humira and Methotrexate.

It is perfectly normal to feel as you do now, it's a shock to the system to suddenly go from being who you were to how you feel now.
Try not to get too downhearted though because although it does take a long time to get the meds right there is usually something which will do the trick.

Some people are lucky and find that the very first meds do the trick straight away!

Tiredness is sooooo difficult to come to terms with but there are strategies to coping with it. There is an awful lot to learn about but just take each day steadily and slowly (if you can) for now and try to think of yourself before others (if you can!)
As you learn more and more you can get this RA under your thumb where it belongs!

Hi Debs

Its a lot to take on when you first get diagnosed. However once your drugs start kicking in and are confident in your care you will feel more assured and will be able to take it on board better. It is hard in the beginning and the RA is so widely different between individuals.

My RA is classed as Mild (though I would not have considered it so when I first got diagnosed as I had to crawl around the house and couldnt feed myself). I found that the fatigue eased off somewhat when the drugs kicked in though the fatigue itself still lurks and seems to have a mind of its own. How I deal with the fatigue depends on how I feel sometimes I go with it and sometimes I dont. When I asked about my fatigue to my consultant, she replied that I could be anemic which causes the fatigue. though my iron levels were fine.

I have been through quite low times. when I first had RA i would wish to wake up and I was well and healthy. The members on this forum are so helpful and you will get quite a lot of support and different opinons. Its great though to be able to reach a resource where people understand what you are going through.

Hope your drugs kick in soon.

Hi Deb im Sophie 35, ive had RA for 15 years i also have Lupus and fibromyalgia , you will get a lot of help from this forum as we all understand what you are going through, hope your meds kick in soon,

Sophie x

Hi Deborah,

Welcome to the forum, though I`m sorry you`ve been diagnosed with RA.

What you are feeling is quite normal - it takes a considerable time to come to terms with things, while waiting for meds to work. It`s very much trial and error as far as drugs and drug combinations go - so a very testing time. However, once you`re on the right drug combo, things will improve, and your RA will, hopefully, be better controlled. Fatigue is always a big problem, and you will learn to pace yourself, so that on good days you don`t get carried away and do too much, then pay for it the next day.

I wonder if you have seen an Occupational Therapist, who can give you lots of ideas about gadgets to help around the house - kettle tippers etc.?

You also need decent painkillers - differing strengths, depending on how much pain you have. It may be worth speaking to your rheumy nurse or GP about this.

I`m Kathleen, live up north in Durham, & I was diagnosed almost 5 years ago now.

Take care, & do keep posting - there`s lots of help on here.

Kathleen x

Hi Everyone
I just want to thank everyone for their replies it means so much to know that others understand how I am currently feeling.
Have a good weekend
Love Debs x

Hi Deborah

Welcome to the forum but sorry you have been diagnosed with RA. I was newly diagnosed 18 months ago and joined this forum feeling exactly the same as you. Scared, tired and in lots of pain. I have learnt so much about RA in the last 18 months and the majority of this is from the wonderful people on this forum who have offered advice, comfort and many laughs along the way.

I still do think I have accepted the diagnosis now and still keep saying "what if they got it wrong". My life has changed dramatically and I have had to slow right down. Instead of working full time at work I now work two days at home and three days in the office. The company I work for have been brilliant in accommodating my illness. I also spend a lot more time resting outside of work. I have taken up card making. It makes me sit and occupies my mind, whereas I would always be rushing around at the weekend.

The medication does take a while to kick in and they just have to find the right combination for you. I don't know what pain killers you are on but I can only take paracetemol during the day as other types of pain killers completely knock me out and it is not good when you are trying to do a day's work. I take eight every day at the prescribed intervals and they work wonders. They allow me to sleep, take the edge of the pain and are very under-rated as a pain killer. You can also take them in conjunction with other pain killers to add as a top up. Ask you GP next time you have chance.

Keep posting and reading on this forum and it will help you through the next few months.

Take care

Jackie
xx

Hi Deborah - glad you found us but sorry you have RA. I was diagnosed in Feb and am a bit more used to all the appointments, drugs, life changes etc but it really does take time. Sometimes it feels I make no progress, so I try to keep a sort of diary/journal and I can look back and see that, actually, I'm doing a lot better than I was.

I'm Ailsa, 50, living in Warrington with 4.5 kids still at home (no. 1 son has a flat nearby but often only goes 'home' to sleep!) I teach full time and help to care for my parents who are in their 80s and not very well, so life seems very busy.

Looking forward to hearing about you and getting to know you. I stilll don't know another person with RA apart from the friends I have met on here, so the site and forum really are a lifeline. Hope you soon start to feel a bit better, XX Ailsa

PS I had a steroid injection that didn't work. The rheumy asked if the nurse did it and I replied yes. She said sometimes they are given into fat rather than muscle (a high chance of that when injecting into my bot!) and prodded around for ages before she found a spot which would work, and it did. Might be worth explaining that to the nurse as you may need it doing again.

Hi Deborah
Welcome to the forum, I am sure you will find it really helpful.
My name is Sue and I am 56 diagnosed four years ago. It is good to have a place to share your ups and downs.
Hope you soon ge the right medication.

Best wishes
Sue