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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/26/2010
Posts: 271
Location: hampshire
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Hi there, Im 46 and have recently been diagnosed with ra (October 09) Im taking methotrexate, hydroxychloriquine (why cant they name these tablets smith or jones???!!)folic acid and regular paracetemol during the day and co codomol at night for the pain. I started on 12.5mg of mx and have gradually increased to 20 which is what i am at now. Found the side effects very difficult to cope with at first but have now started to take mx on a Thursday tea time and as I dont work on a Friday, everyone gets up on their own and I sleep in and find that it helps with the feeling of nausea that I was experiencing on a Friday.
My symptoms started last year in my feet, then my hands and various other parts of my body, thigh muscles, arm muscles. Its sometimes hard to differentiate as to what is RA and what could be old age creeping up!
Im finding the lack of "va va voom" a big problem as beforehand I was on the go most of the time, and well able to be so. Now Im having to pace myself. Whereas before I could shop for a good few hours with my daughter, Im lucky to manage one now. Im hoping that once the medication has really got into my system then this will pass. Im a bit of a "well ive taken the tablets why arnt I better?"!!
Luckily my employers are very good and we have a really good RA team at our hospital (QA in Cosham, Portsmouth) but sometimes I just feel so islolated almost and some days I really have to give myself a good kick as ehen Im tired I can feel quite tearful and the thought of this condition/disease if quite overwhelming.
Im sorry to sound like a misery, usually Im really upbeat, but would so welcome any advice or anything really!
Many thanks
Heather
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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Hi Heather,
Welcome to the forum! You'll certainly find a wealth of information, advice and support from everyone here.
I'm 39 with two kiddies and have had RA for 6 years now and still can't get my head around the idea of having RA and how much less I'm able to do each day. It can be really depressing coming to terms with it all but don't forget ... you're not alone here. I didn't discover NRAS until a couple of years ago and then only started participating in this forum a couple of months back. I think I would have benefitted immensely if I'd know about this support in the early days.
I'm also on Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine and on Rituximab as well. I hope these drugs start to do the trick for you and you can start to feel some of that va va voom returning!
Good to have you here!
Joanna
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/26/2010
Posts: 271
Location: hampshire
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Hi Joanna, thanks for the reply. Im so glad Ive found this forum, Im sure it will be a great help.. I had a hysterectomy 4 years ago and they have a similar thing and I found that to be an absolute lifeline!
Im sure things will improve in time, and also with spring around the corner, albeit a very large one, hopefully some warmer weather will benefit us all. Im really lucky that my husband and two children (18 and 15) are really supportive.
thanks again for the reply.
Love
Heather
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Heather,
Welcome to the forum!
You'll get lots of friendly support and advice on here and need never feel alone with RA again.
I'm 60 and have had RA for 9years, at the moment taking mtx and Humira.
It's very common to feel tearful at times , especially with the fatigue that the RA causes.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Love Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/27/2010
Posts: 75
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HI Heather
a warm welcome.
I'm 34 and was first diagnosed in 2008. Still finding things difficult but only early days!! Only on oral prednisolone at the mo as trying for a lil baby!
I have found this forum invaluable, talking to people who are having the same experiences has helped me a great deal.
Looking forward to getting to know you
Clairexx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,689 Location: Durham
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Hello Heather, and a very warm welcome to the NRAS forum - joining this was one of the best things I ever did! I`m Kathleen, age 59, and I was diagnosed in Jan 2006. I`m currently taking humira, which has made quite a difference to my mobility. I think it`s quite natural to feel as you are right now - I can still get tearful on occasions. The fatigue part of RA is very frustrating, but you will learn to pace yourself, and things will improve. Keep posting, Kathleen x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Hi Heather
Welcome to the forum - you won't be own your own again - there's always someone here!
I'm 66 and currently on mtx and hydxy.
The fatigue is one of the hardest things to cope with and pacing yourself is a great idea. As for the tears -I think we all shed them from time to time with the sheer frustration of it all.
I look forward to getting to know you.
Love Jeanxx
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/26/2010
Posts: 271
Location: hampshire
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Hi everyone, thanks so much for the replies, so nice of you all, ive posted another query about back pain.
look forward to getting to know you all better
love
Heatherx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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Hi Heather, A big warm welcome to the forum.
I'm married with our 23 year old daughter living at home with us. I was diagnosed last year with RA and the picture you described sounds very familiar. Hope you feel better soon and that your "va va voom" returns soon.
love,
Barbara
XXXXXX
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 336
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Hello Heather and welcome from Glenys at Nottingham. I've had RA for ten years and I'm 56. I know that you will find support and advice from the Forum and we don't mind sharing your thoughts as we all can understand how you are feeling.x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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Hello  Welcome to nras glad you joined im 38 ra sicne 17 longstory,ahh ha yes the taken pills why not betetr thats me to. take care hugs melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 585
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Hi Heather
welcome to the forum
I have had RA for 14 years just after the birth of my daughter also I have MS for the past 3/4 years I know I am greedy
you will get a lot of help support and fun on here
looking forward to getting to know you better
take care
Mary L
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 872
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Hello Heather,
You sound just like us - im sure we can all empathise with things you describe,
Welcome to our little club, it's such a shame we have to have some RA experience to join but it is such a lifeline i think it helps so much to know we are not alone in this,
Im Liz 39, married to Paul with two girls Sophie and Jessica :) :)
Look forward to getting to know you and supporting each other,
Take care love Liz xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/29/2010 Posts: 264
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Hi Heather and welcome to the forum.
I've only just joined the forum a few weeks ago but have found it to be a tremendous help there are so many willing to give advice and support. Its great that you sound so positive, but yes there are times when we probably all get tearful and angry about it. I also take methrotrexate, usually on a Saturday, I don't know if you are supposed to ,but if I have something planned for a Sunday I sometimes move it by a day either way - don't know if that's of any help? However I have found that after being on it a while I don't always get that Sunday feeling.
You say you have a good team looking after you, which means that if the Meth and other drugs don't do the trick there's usually something else they can try, so there is hope out there for improving things.
Glad to have you here.
Best wishes
Sheila
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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Hi Heather, I'm Julie 58 and on Humira and MTX. Welcome to the forum!  I agree with you- the meds names are absolutley unpronouncable, especially wqhen the dry mouth is rampant! I love your idea of calling them Smith or Jones!!! YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 856
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Hi Heather- just picked up on your post. I'm 52, had RA for almost 3 yrs (only been diagnosed 2 yrs though) mine started in hands then spread to elbows, knees ,shoulders. I'm on sulfasalazine with a top up of diclofenac and paracetamol when needed. It took a good 3+ months before I started to return to some sort of 'normality' . As I'm so impatient, I don't think I'll ever get used to having to slow down and make changes to my lifestyle. I try to pace myself but more often than not when I have a good pain free day I just assume all is well and off I go- long shopping trips, gardening, etc... And inevitably pay for it the next couple of days  . As the others said, feeling down is all part of living with RA . The forum is such a lifeline- whatever your concerns, you can always be sure that someone has been through the same thing, and can offer comfort and support. And have a good laugh too. Oh- biography wise- I'm married, no kids, just 2 rabbits and a budgie (no connection there!!) Looking foward to getting to know you better Maria x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Hi Heather,
Welcome! I have had RA since childhood and am now married to Mark and we have five children who keep us very busy and wonderfully sane!
Love,
Amanda
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