new to all of this

[Guest guest]

> Hello ,

My name is Clare, i am 32, live in the UK and have a twelve year old

daughter. I'm so sorry to read about how you are feeling and how

much pain you have right now. When i was first diagnoised 8 years

ago i had the pain, lack of energy etc but like yourself had no

swelling or joint damage for a really long time. I too questioned

whether or not they had it right as i just didn't want it to be

real. My Mum has RA so there was that link but my disease wasn't so

aggressive as hers was at first. I am also fairly new to this group

but have been made to feel so welcome by friends kind, loving words.

It has helped me so much even after all this time with RA to have fou

nd the group. Just knowing you have friends who totally understand

what you are going through has made the difference to me but also the

brilliant advice you can get too. Please don't feel you are all

alone, so many of us will be thinking of you as RA is a confusing

disease that is fairly misunderstood. My husband found it hard to

adapt to and said he felt fairly helpless seeing me in such pain. Is

your husband at home or away at the moment? I hope the treatments

begin to work for you soon, i have been on Mtx and Embrel before and

they did give me much needed relief but took a little while to feel

the true benefits. Anyway take care of yourself and remember

you are amongst friends always.

With love and best wishes

Clare xx

>

> Hi! my name is . I have RA, and a ton of ?'s. But for now I

> will just introduce myself and get comfortable with all of this. I

am

> a 30 year old stay at home mom, my baby is 18 months old. I have

been

> married for 4 1/2 years. I found out I have RA about 7 months ago,

it

> came from no where. No one in my family has it. My husband is in

the

> military,so I go to Navy doctors, and don't have alot of choice in

> the matter. anyway. I have had MRI's done on my hands and feet and

> all is good. The only thing that makes them think I have this is

> because I have alot of pain most of the days, and my body gets hot,

> plus I have no energy. I have no swelling of the joints, no

erosion.

> I am on methotraxate for 5 months,celebrex 2 times a day, and now

> enbrel for 4 weeks. I still feel bad most days. I keep thinking

maybe

> they have missed diagnosed me or something. I just want to feel

like

> my old self again. If anyone out there relates please write back. I

> feel all alone, because I don't know anyone who has this to talk

to.

> Well that's me for now.

> Thanks,

>