New Member

[Guest guest]

Hi Kids,

I just joined this group yesterday. I'm so new that I haven't even

lurked, so I'm not even sure if this is a group that might be right

for me. Let's find out...

I was just dx with RA on Wednesday of this week. It was a total

surprise...SURPRISE!!! My Pulmonologist was doing some blood work

and since I had told him that I have joint pain that is starting to

be noticiable to me, he decided to also look for RA. I see a Pulmo

because I also have sarcoidosis. It is in my lungs, hilar lymph

nodes and trechea. In addition to lung damage Sarcoid also causes

joint pain, so the test for RA was really just to rule it out.

But...BINGO! I have nothing else to go on but the report from the

blood work. It was given to me over the phone and I did not think

to ask for any 'numbers' shown on the report. The only info I have

is that 'it' shows that I have medium to 'moderate' RA. He said I

should see a specialist but that it could wait until after the first

of the year. I don't know what any of this means. I have just

started doing my research on this new development and this group is

one of my first stops in that quest. I belong to a few other health

related support groups here at for some other issues and I

know them to be valuable sources of information.

So here are some questions...

Are there diferent levels of severity to RA? I know it is

considered to be an auto immune desease and that it is also

progressive. Does everyone need to be treated? What is the most

common treatment for RA? If the treatment is prednisone, what are

the doses and what would be considered the maintenance dose? What

other tests can I look forward to having? MRI? Are there foods

that I should be avoiding? What would be the best source of info on

the web for me to check out?

I am a 56...almost 57 year old white female. In addition to RA and

Sarcoidosis, dx in '03, I also have Ostioperosis, dx this past May,

for which I take Acotnel and I assume I also have Ostio

Arthritis...my Mother had it, had two knee replacements. I now live

on the shoreline of CT but will be moving to Cape Cod, MA this

winter.

In addition to research here on the web, what else should I be doing

and who should I be talking to? Thanks Kids. this is all very new

to me and I'm having a difficult time even believing that it's

real.

These are all questions you have heard and answered before and I'm

sorry. But, I also consider you to be the experts...most of you

have been where I am now. You have great knowledge, you have

learned the hard way. For me, I have so much ahead...my journey has

just started...

Thanks, Kids.

Sooey