Guest guest Posted October 10, 2005 Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 Welcome Darlene. Sorry for your diagnosis but glad you found us. You are very lucky to have found something to help so quickly. Most times it takes months or even years to find the right drug that is effective. If you hang around here, you'll learn a lot about RA. Hopefully since your meds are helping, you'll stop the damage and be able to hold your grandchildren more. It's hard for family members to understand what we go through, but everyone here understands. I'm 51 and on Enbrel & MTX. a On Oct 8, 2005, at 7:45 PM, dorsch03 wrote: > Hi. My name is Darlene, I am 54, and I was diagnosed with RA 16 > months ago. I had had a lot of pain in my left wrist for about a > year. Mmy primary Dr. tried different meds. For a long time he > thought my porblem was tenditnitous (?), However, after trying > several pain releavers, nothing which I may add worked, he sent me > to see a Rhumetologist. When I called to make an apppointment, he > told me to have blood tests done before I went to him.Before I had > made the appointment, one finger on my right hand bent inward toward > my palm. This terrified me. I had no idea what had happened. There > was no warning. I had the tests and when I had my appointment with > him, he told me then that I had RA. I did not know much about RA. > My mother had arithritis,however. He immediately started me on > Prednisone for 2 weeks and then come back to him and we would talk > stratedgy. He said the Prednisone would work quickly, and it did. > He then put me on methotrexate. First 4 a week, then 6 a week, and > then 8 a week. This did not work as well as I had hoped. He then > added Arava. Before the Arava, I was having flare ups once a week. > After 1 month on the Arava, I have had no flare ups. I have been on > this combo for 5 months and it seems to be working for now. When I > was first diagnosed, we had just had 2 beautiful grandchildren in 4 > months. I was totally unable to hold them, which greatly depressed > me. I still have to be careful, as I never know if my hands will > fail me. I know there is no cure, but I only hope to take care of > our family, we still have a 13 yo in the house, and enjoy the > grandchildren, there are 5. It has taken its toll on me though. I > get tired so quickly. I also have Thyroid problems, so I know that > doesn't help with being tired.Some days its just all I can do to get > to 9PM. My family tries, but they don't understand what I go > through daily. I am so blessed to have found this group. Thank you > for listening, didn't mean to go on so. It's so hard for me, I have > always been healthy and never had to rely on meds just to go on. > Again, thank you for being there. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 10, 2005 Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 Welcome Darlene. Sorry for your diagnosis but glad you found us. You are very lucky to have found something to help so quickly. Most times it takes months or even years to find the right drug that is effective. If you hang around here, you'll learn a lot about RA. Hopefully since your meds are helping, you'll stop the damage and be able to hold your grandchildren more. It's hard for family members to understand what we go through, but everyone here understands. I'm 51 and on Enbrel & MTX. a On Oct 8, 2005, at 7:45 PM, dorsch03 wrote: > Hi. My name is Darlene, I am 54, and I was diagnosed with RA 16 > months ago. I had had a lot of pain in my left wrist for about a > year. Mmy primary Dr. tried different meds. For a long time he > thought my porblem was tenditnitous (?), However, after trying > several pain releavers, nothing which I may add worked, he sent me > to see a Rhumetologist. When I called to make an apppointment, he > told me to have blood tests done before I went to him.Before I had > made the appointment, one finger on my right hand bent inward toward > my palm. This terrified me. I had no idea what had happened. There > was no warning. I had the tests and when I had my appointment with > him, he told me then that I had RA. I did not know much about RA. > My mother had arithritis,however. He immediately started me on > Prednisone for 2 weeks and then come back to him and we would talk > stratedgy. He said the Prednisone would work quickly, and it did. > He then put me on methotrexate. First 4 a week, then 6 a week, and > then 8 a week. This did not work as well as I had hoped. He then > added Arava. Before the Arava, I was having flare ups once a week. > After 1 month on the Arava, I have had no flare ups. I have been on > this combo for 5 months and it seems to be working for now. When I > was first diagnosed, we had just had 2 beautiful grandchildren in 4 > months. I was totally unable to hold them, which greatly depressed > me. I still have to be careful, as I never know if my hands will > fail me. I know there is no cure, but I only hope to take care of > our family, we still have a 13 yo in the house, and enjoy the > grandchildren, there are 5. It has taken its toll on me though. I > get tired so quickly. I also have Thyroid problems, so I know that > doesn't help with being tired.Some days its just all I can do to get > to 9PM. My family tries, but they don't understand what I go > through daily. I am so blessed to have found this group. Thank you > for listening, didn't mean to go on so. It's so hard for me, I have > always been healthy and never had to rely on meds just to go on. > Again, thank you for being there. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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