Hello - new here too!

[Guest guest]

Hello -

I am new to the forum and RA. I got diagnosed on October 4th, the day after

my oldest's (J) 15th birthday.

My onset was very fast, on Labor day (Sept 6th) I was at my moms house & I

had some pain in my knees. The next day I also had pain in both wrists. By

Thursday the 9th I couldn't move, and I had gained 9 pounds of water weight

- I was admitted to the hospital. They drained my left knee (it was the most

painful) and tested it for infection. I stayed until Friday night & they had

diagnosed me with Reactive Arthritis. Sent me home with no pain meds and no

anti-nausea meds. I was so miserable that whole weekend! My 5 year old

daughter (K) had her first Girl Scouts meeting Saturday & I was determined

to go. We bought me a cane & I took a bucket with me & I was there, even

though I puked twice thru the ceremony Monday morning I called my regular

doctor & she got me on pain meds & anti-nausea meds.

I am in the process of getting divorced, and my soon-to-be Ex husband (A)

moved back in that weekend to take care of me and the kids. It was weeks of

him helping me from the bed to the couch - that was all I could do. He took

care of the kids & getting them to & from their respective schools (all 3 of

my kids are in different schools. J in a Charter High school, C in the local

Jr High & K in a Charter Elementary). I finally felt good enough to try

driving a couple of weeks ago - but I couldn't start my Expedition. So A

made me a device from PVC pipe that fits over my key & ignition & I can

start the car now! He moved back out last week & things are slowly getting

back to " normal " as the case may be. The kids have all been such big helpers

- they have taken over much of the housework & making dinners. I help &

supervise - I could get used to this lol!

My affected joint are both knees, wrists, thumbs & pinkys.

Right now the meds I'm on are: Methotrexate pills 20mg, Folic acid,

Prednisone 10mg/day until Monday, then down to 5mg/day for 2 weeks then off

(hopefully!), Morphine ER at night along with Phenergan since the Morphine

makes me puke (going to try and go off of this over the weekend), and Norco

for pain 3x/day.

I go to a warm water therapy pool twice a week, that has really helped my

knees. My hands & wrists I have found really like a paraffin hand bath - I

dipped both hands last night, wrapped them in a towel & watched tv for a

half hour while they heated This morning I can actually move my pinky!!

I'm going to be doing that each night from now on.

I have really great family, friends and church members who offer to help me

as I need it - it's wonderful to have that support, but I am glad I found

this group so I can talk to others who have RA as well....

in SLC UT