Hello guys!

I'm slipping back in here quietly, via a back door that I know, without kicking up a huge fuss, I hope! I'm not a new member, indeed I've been around a long, long while! This seemed as good a place as any to start, mainly because I can see I've got a lot of reading to catch up with before launching in!

I'm Lyn, married to Mike, we have four 'kidults'; Abby 25, Ian and Jake 20, and Louis 18. (and yes, for those who know me, they have suddenly grown up) We live in Thornton Cleveleys in north west Lancashire, although come September we will have three boys at university (Leeds, Lincoln and ?? awaiting A level results) and our daughter living and working in Birmingham as a Marketing and Events Coordinator, so actually it will be just Mike and I inhabiting the seaside for most of the time!

I was diagnosed with very aggressive RA 25 years ago, at the age of 30, and have since run the gauntlet of medication and had several surgical procedures along the way. My feet and hands/wrists were the worst for many years but with time the disease has taken liberties and spread to everywhere it can get a foothold! But heyho ... a sack load of pain killers and other bits and pieces has helped life along on its merry way! I'm currently on Tocilizumab by 4 weekly infusion alongside Prednisolone and oral Methotrexate. A year ago I was extremely ill and admitted to hospital at a point where I was close to death. I received a devastating diagnosis and an extremely poor prognosis, advanced heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. My lung function was down to 23, pretty abyssmal. This has required a further bucket load of other meds to bring the heart problems under some sort of control,while adjusting the RA meds which would have done battle with the new heart stuff. It has been a worrying time, living day to day with a very uncertain future. Thankfully things are improving and I'm now getting better results. Those of you who know me will know of my belief in positivity. A positive mental attitude in all things can make a world of difference ... believe it!

Welcome to all the new forum users who have joined the group in the last 9 months or so. It's a great place for information gathered from a wealth of personal experiences and above all friendship. NRAS is a great charity offering help and support to those experiencing this chronic disease. I am coordinator of the Blackpool and District NRAS group So if you are in the area do pop by and say hello, you would be made to feel very welcome!

I have missed my forum buddies and look forward to catching up with you very soon.

Lyn xx

Hi Lyn,
Nice to see you back, it's been mighty strange here without your posts.
Hope to hear lots more from you in the future.
Mary x

Welcome back Lynn, it is so good to see you posting again.
With Jean back as well it feels good.
Hopefully Doreen will return too, sometime.
I am so glad that things are beginning to improve for you now, I have often wondered how you were getting on.
It is just amazing how quickly these children fly the nest, you can't turn your back for a moment!!
Zena xxx

Thank you all very much for your warm welcome, good to see so many familiar faces

Lisa, good to get to know you. I hope things are starting to settle down for you; it's such a difficult path to follow at the outset because there are so many unknowns and so many routes for treatment. It's largely trial and error unfortunately until the most satisfactory drug regime is found. Take heart though things have moved on and diagnosis and treatment are much improved these days meaning that joint damage is less common than it was. Coming to terms with chronic illness is hard but accepting and moving on is the first step in seeing an improvement. Don't let it grind you down, accept that the RA has to travel with you but keep it in it's place. Sometimes we have to make adaptations to lifestyle to cope but in the long term it is certainly worth it.

I should have checked the link to Ian's Just Giving page; I'd put it in quotes which had then become part of the link!! Silly me .. fixed now!

Lyn xx

Hi Lyn

Welcome back

You've been missed

Forum wasn't the same with out you

Glad you're doing ok

Sophie x

hi Lyn,

nice to hear from you and welcome back,

glad to hear you are seeing an improvement with your health .. i remember it so well when you were so poorly.

the forum has it's peaks and trough's, i still look in most days ( don't always post so much now though ) as i tend to read from my tablet and post from my Computer which i don't use so much now,

i am sure everyone will welcome your knowledge and support,

Suzanne x

Hi Lyn,

Nice to see you, to see you nice!!

Kathleen x

Welcome back!

I really missed reading your posts.

Becky

Hello Lyn!!!!

I've been away and I'm in the process of catching up with the forum. I'm so, so pleased that you are now back with us, you have been missed.

For any new members not knowing about the lovely Lyn.......she knows so much about RA and always gave us such good and wonderful advice and is such a kind and lovely lady.

So pleased to read that your heart problems are improving.

Welcome Back.. ...

Love Paula x