Guest guest Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 This is so new for me (3 months) and I am sooo angry! I have never had anything (and I have had alot) that wouldn't respond favorably to treatment if I was good-my ortho still can't believe how fast my knee replacements healed. This is different, you don't get any extra credit for doing more, doing it better, getting past it. I am coming to the realization that there is no getting past this. I feel fortunate that it only took 4 months for a diagnosis-my ortho really felt that it was more osteo-funny thing when I was in his office, and saw the OA poster for hands and the RA poster for hands- I said to him and pointed to the RA poster-that's what my hands feel like. MY GP picked it up right away when I showed him my hands-sent me for a big battery of tests, x-rays and more blood tests. Then he sent me to the Rheumy-couldn't get a Rheumy appt for 4 weeks so back I went to Ortho and requested (um demanded) to go to PT-was the best thing I have done so far. Even before I saw Rheumy, my hands had improved about 50%, they felt more like hands and less like flippers. I had to take a note to the Rheumy about how bad they were at first. I am now 5 weeks into treatment on Plaquenil and MTX-and I just got my MTX raised (yech) not sure how much MTX my innards can take but I don't want to give up on a treatment yet cause that takes one thing away that we can use on this stuff. I'm scared too-every twinge or ache or pain makes me panic and wonder if another body part is under attack. Lucky I guess, so far only hands. Lucky as well that my hands even if they don't get any better than they are now, will allow me to safely pick up my first grandchild, due in July. Lucky that even at their worst, when I could barely bend my fingers at all-I could knit-don't ask me how-so the little goodies are piling up. Lucky that 3 years ago we bought an RV cause it made travelling with our flock (4-5Bichons) so much easier and now when we travel, I have my bed right there if I hit that good old wall and run out of steam. Life has changed, but then it always does. I hope I have half the patience and courage shown by people on this list. You have given me the courage to get up and get on with it. Kathy Schark kschark@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Kathy: I know what you're going through right now. I was just diagnosed 4 months ago and still am trying to cope emotionally as well as physically. If there's one thing I've learned from this group is that it is possible to get a good med combo, so hang in there. I am also on the MTX and Plaquenil combo along with several others. Keep in mind, it can take weeks for these meds to kick in. It's hard to be patient, but do try. So glad you have the upcoming birth of your grandchild to keep you focused on something other than the disease. The dogs help as well, don't they? When I am sick and stuck in bed, I find it very comforting when my cat jumps up on the bed and lays beside me. It's very calming and relaxing. Best of luck, --- In , " kschark " <kschark@c...> wrote: > > > This is so new for me (3 months) and I am sooo angry! I have never > had anything (and I have had alot) that wouldn't respond favorably > to treatment if I was good-my ortho still can't believe how fast my > knee replacements healed. This is different, you don't get any > extra credit for doing more, doing it better, getting past it. > > I am coming to the realization that there is no getting past this. > I feel fortunate that it only took 4 months for a diagnosis-my ortho > really felt that it was more osteo-funny thing when I was in his > office, and saw the OA poster for hands and the RA poster for hands- > I said to him and pointed to the RA poster-that's what my hands feel > like. > > MY GP picked it up right away when I showed him my hands-sent me for > a big battery of tests, x-rays and more blood tests. Then he sent > me to the Rheumy-couldn't get a Rheumy appt for 4 weeks so back I > went to Ortho and requested (um demanded) to go to PT-was the best > thing I have done so far. Even before I saw Rheumy, my hands had > improved about 50%, they felt more like hands and less like > flippers. I had to take a note to the Rheumy about how bad they > were at first. > > I am now 5 weeks into treatment on Plaquenil and MTX-and I just got > my MTX raised (yech) not sure how much MTX my innards can take but I > don't want to give up on a treatment yet cause that takes one thing > away that we can use on this stuff. > > I'm scared too-every twinge or ache or pain makes me panic and > wonder if another body part is under attack. Lucky I guess, so far > only hands. Lucky as well that my hands even if they don't get any > better than they are now, will allow me to safely pick up my first > grandchild, due in July. Lucky that even at their worst, when I > could barely bend my fingers at all-I could knit-don't ask me how-so > the little goodies are piling up. Lucky that 3 years ago we bought > an > RV cause it made travelling with our flock (4-5Bichons) so much > easier and now when we travel, I have my bed right there if I hit > that good old wall and run out of steam. > > Life has changed, but then it always does. I hope I have half the > patience and courage shown by people on this list. You have given > me the courage to get up and get on with it. > > Kathy Schark > kschark@c... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Kathy: I know what you're going through right now. I was just diagnosed 4 months ago and still am trying to cope emotionally as well as physically. If there's one thing I've learned from this group is that it is possible to get a good med combo, so hang in there. I am also on the MTX and Plaquenil combo along with several others. Keep in mind, it can take weeks for these meds to kick in. It's hard to be patient, but do try. So glad you have the upcoming birth of your grandchild to keep you focused on something other than the disease. The dogs help as well, don't they? When I am sick and stuck in bed, I find it very comforting when my cat jumps up on the bed and lays beside me. It's very calming and relaxing. Best of luck, > > > This is so new for me (3 months) and I am sooo angry! I have never > had anything (and I have had alot) that wouldn't respond favorably > to treatment if I was good-my ortho still can't believe how fast my > knee replacements healed. This is different, you don't get any > extra credit for doing more, doing it better, getting past it. > > I am coming to the realization that there is no getting past this. > I feel fortunate that it only took 4 months for a diagnosis-my ortho > really felt that it was more osteo-funny thing when I was in his > office, and saw the OA poster for hands and the RA poster for hands- > I said to him and pointed to the RA poster-that's what my hands feel > like. > > MY GP picked it up right away when I showed him my hands-sent me for > a big battery of tests, x-rays and more blood tests. Then he sent > me to the Rheumy-couldn't get a Rheumy appt for 4 weeks so back I > went to Ortho and requested (um demanded) to go to PT-was the best > thing I have done so far. Even before I saw Rheumy, my hands had > improved about 50%, they felt more like hands and less like > flippers. I had to take a note to the Rheumy about how bad they > were at first. > > I am now 5 weeks into treatment on Plaquenil and MTX-and I just got > my MTX raised (yech) not sure how much MTX my innards can take but I > don't want to give up on a treatment yet cause that takes one thing > away that we can use on this stuff. > > I'm scared too-every twinge or ache or pain makes me panic and > wonder if another body part is under attack. Lucky I guess, so far > only hands. Lucky as well that my hands even if they don't get any > better than they are now, will allow me to safely pick up my first > grandchild, due in July. Lucky that even at their worst, when I > could barely bend my fingers at all-I could knit-don't ask me how-so > the little goodies are piling up. Lucky that 3 years ago we bought > an > RV cause it made travelling with our flock (4-5Bichons) so much > easier and now when we travel, I have my bed right there if I hit > that good old wall and run out of steam. > > Life has changed, but then it always does. I hope I have half the > patience and courage shown by people on this list. You have given > me the courage to get up and get on with it. > > Kathy Schark > kschark@c... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Kathy, Like you I only have RA in my hands. I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. Every time I go to my doc, he asks me if I have any pain in my feet or anywhere else (like he is expecting it to happen.). Like you I worry about the RA spreading to other parts of my body. My mother had RA only in her hands too. She developed it in her late 50s (and died at the age of 81) and it stayed in her hands and never went to any other part of her body. It also didn't hurt her that much. She had no specific treatment and only took pain meds occasionally. However, her fingers gradually went sideways and her hands were pretty useless that way. I have not been able to find out much information on people who only have the RA in their hands. Maybe this is inherited as my mom had it too. What I really worry about is my fingers going sideways. Kathy V Colorado In a message dated 5/16/2005 4:41:44 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, writes: --- In , " kschark " <kschark@c...> wrote: > > > This is so new for me (3 months) and I am sooo angry! I have never > had anything (and I have had alot) that wouldn't respond favorably > to treatment if I was good-my ortho still can't believe how fast my > knee replacements healed. This is different, you don't get any > extra credit for doing more, doing it better, getting past it. > > I am coming to the realization that there is no getting past this. > I feel fortunate that it only took 4 months for a diagnosis-my ortho > really felt that it was more osteo-funny thing when I was in his > office, and saw the OA poster for hands and the RA poster for hands- > I said to him and pointed to the RA poster-that's what my hands feel > like. > > MY GP picked it up right away when I showed him my hands-sent me for > a big battery of tests, x-rays and more blood tests. Then he sent > me to the Rheumy-couldn't get a Rheumy appt for 4 weeks so back I > went to Ortho and requested (um demanded) to go to PT-was the best > thing I have done so far. Even before I saw Rheumy, my hands had > improved about 50%, they felt more like hands and less like > flippers. I had to take a note to the Rheumy about how bad they > were at first. > > I am now 5 weeks into treatment on Plaquenil and MTX-and I just got > my MTX raised (yech) not sure how much MTX my innards can take but I > don't want to give up on a treatment yet cause that takes one thing > away that we can use on this stuff. > > I'm scared too-every twinge or ache or pain makes me panic and > wonder if another body part is under attack. Lucky I guess, so far > only hands. Lucky as well that my hands even if they don't get any > better than they are now, will allow me to safely pick up my first > grandchild, due in July. Lucky that even at their worst, when I > could barely bend my fingers at all-I could knit-don't ask me how-so > the little goodies are piling up. Lucky that 3 years ago we bought > an > RV cause it made travelling with our flock (4-5Bichons) so much > easier and now when we travel, I have my bed right there if I hit > that good old wall and run out of steam. > > Life has changed, but then it always does. I hope I have half the > patience and courage shown by people on this list. You have given > me the courage to get up and get on with it. > > Kathy Schark > kschark@c... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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