Guest guest Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 Hi there: I am 38, previously very healthy and started having symptoms in November--I was pregnant at the time so everyone wrote it off to that-- 2 months after I had my baby I am diagnosed with RA. The pain is incredible--my previous size 7 1/2 feet are so swollen they can't even be squeezed into a size 9! Thank heaven for Crocs! I have been on Etodolac for two weeks and getting worse the whole time. Doctor is going to start DMARD--but says they can take 4-6 weeks for relief. I have 2 year old and newborn and work full-time. Some days I can barely function, it's hard to hold the kids and I am so tired. My husband is picking up the slack but I really need some relief fast-- any suggestions about exercise, ice, heat etc? Sorry to whine--this has been such a huge shock to me-- I feel so useless...any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 Hi Grace, I am 34 and was diagnosed when I was 25, in between my two kids. I felt great while I was pregnant. I think it is strange that you started having symptoms while being pregnant. My doctor said that while pregnant your body produces a natural cortisone that cant be reproduced, so of course my funny OB just thinks I should stay pregnant LOL. I dont think so. I also got worse two months after giving birth to my daughter and I can so relate to you. My best advice to you is plenty of rest. Dont over do it. I think that will make it worse for you. Save all the stength you have for your children. I wish I could do my daughters first year over again. Before having my daughter I was treated with gold shots and prednisone. Since my daughter we have added methotrexate and Remicade infusions and it has helped tremendously. I cant say I am 100 % better but atleast 80%. I feel I can function again and have learned when to rest. There are so many options out there for treatment and I hope you find one that works for you. Are you seeing a rhumatologist? Keep in touch in Michigan .......email me anytime angelac71@...graceaches <graceaches@...> wrote: Hi there:I am 38, previously very healthy and started having symptoms in November--I was pregnant at the time so everyone wrote it off to that--2 months after I had my baby I am diagnosed with RA. The pain is incredible--my previous size 7 1/2 feet are so swollen they can't even be squeezed into a size 9! Thank heaven for Crocs! I have been on Etodolac for two weeks and getting worse the whole time. Doctor is going to start DMARD--but says they can take 4-6 weeks for relief. I have 2 year old and newborn and work full-time. Some days I can barely function, it's hard to hold the kids and I am so tired. My husband is picking up the slack but I really need some relief fast--any suggestions about exercise, ice, heat etc? Sorry to whine--this has been such a huge shock to me-- I feel so useless...any advice? Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 It sounds like you might be a good candidate for Prednisone. That is a corticosteroid (not anything like the anabolic steroids that are bad for athletes) that doesn’t help the RA much but for most people it works very fast to relieve most symptoms of RA. It has some bad and also some troubling side effects especially when taken in high doses (over 10 mg daily) for an extended period but if it’s the only thing that lets you function then it’s what you need regardless of dose. It is best used as a bridge medication for quick relief while the slower-acting DMARDs are taking effect. If you take it you should also plan to get off it as soon as you can. If you take it for longer than a week you are likely to need to wean off it slowly. God bless. From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of graceaches Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 1:45 PM Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: New Diagnosis Hi there: I am 38, previously very healthy and started having symptoms in November--I was pregnant at the time so everyone wrote it off to that-- 2 months after I had my baby I am diagnosed with RA. The pain is incredible--my previous size 7 1/2 feet are so swollen they can't even be squeezed into a size 9! Thank heaven for Crocs! I have been on Etodolac for two weeks and getting worse the whole time. Doctor is going to start DMARD--but says they can take 4-6 weeks for relief. I have 2 year old and newborn and work full-time. Some days I can barely function, it's hard to hold the kids and I am so tired. My husband is picking up the slack but I really need some relief fast-- any suggestions about exercise, ice, heat etc? Sorry to whine--this has been such a huge shock to me-- I feel so useless...any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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