Hello, NEW MEMBER

[purple]

Hi,

After a year of reading the forums I finally got up the nerve to
acknowledge that what I do have is rheumatoid. I have been treated for a year now, Plaquenil and Celebrex. The inflamation has decreased but the chronic aches and pains are always there
lurking behind the clouds on a "good day"

For those who have been living with rheumatoid how good is good?
Will the aches always be there just better?

I am 39, wife, mother of 2 and artist.
I garden, cook, read and love to paint.

I have been diagnosed for a year now.
But I still haven't been able to find out what to expect for rheumatoid. I want to be informed as I can to fight this condition.
The books explain the condition. I want to be told about the day to day.

Lachele

[loneil]

Lachele,
I think each person is different. I am on several medications and still have really bad days. I am 58 years old and have had problems since I was in my late 20's but didn't know what it was. I have a thryoid problem so that is what the doctor first thought was wrong. I finally found out about 4 years ago and have been on medication since. I am on Plaquenil, methetrexate, Ultram, Folic acid lots of vitamins and minerals. My inflamation has never really been really good. I think to stay positive and continue to do your normal things but only in moderation. How good is good? Being able to get out of bed some days is good for me but others I am sure have much better days. I don't think the aches will ever truly go away only some days they will be better. I have read every thing I can on RA and I do believe that each person responds differently to treatment. What works for one may not work for another. I hope someone else my have a more accurate answer for you and I hope you can continue to enjoy your 2 children and do all the things you love to do. Welcome to the forum and have a good day. Linda

[purple]

Linda,

Thanks for the answer. I guess I am just baffled by the symptoms of
rheumatoid. I question myself when I have days that getting out of
bed are a struggle not to mention the day to day activities. I am
blessed with a very considerate husband who is understanding when
the laundry may not get done.
I thank the Lord that for the last 3 days I have felt great. The
only thing sore these days are my hands. It also helps that the weather is so warm. 80's during the days. The sunshine helps me alot.
I better knock on wood.
I know that tomorrow could be different but I will wish for the best.
Do you suffer with fatigue?
I seem to need a nap for about an hour a day then I can tackle
the rest of my day and night.
Which to be honest I cannot nap everyday some days are too full.
Then I get tired the next day and if I don't watch out I will get
over tired and then my symptoms flare.

I did not know that Plaquenil and Methetrexate could be used in conjunction. Will ask my rheumy about next vist.

I hope that you will feel well.....Lachele

[loneil]

Lachele,
Sunshine is good! I live in Oklahoma and the winters here are killers for me. Whenever fronts move in I can tell when they are just off the coast!! Fatigue is something I have all the time. I also have fibromyalgia which is an all over ache, like when you are coming down with the flu only 10 times worse. That can only really be managed by diet and exercise my RA doc says. There is Lyrica but it caused the right side of my face to feel like it was asleep or numb. I stopped taking it. I can't say that I recommend methotrexate because it makes me pretty sick. Of course I am on 8 tabs every Tuesday. I have to take a nap too. On my worst days I am up and down. My husband is really supportive too. He loves to go places but it really hurts me to travel very far so we don't go as often as he would like. Like you, I thank the Lord for the good days and pray every night for a better one the next. I hope your days get better and that you also feel well. Take care. Linda

[purple]

Linda,

I live in South GA. This year has been very warm so I consider myself blessed to be in hte south. The northtern or
midwestern winters would be more than I can imagine. I looked on one of your previous posts and you mentioned some
days needed more than one nap to get through the day.
I was so glad to read that because I thought i was alone In feeling that tired. I tired to hide it from my loved ones which added to my guilt.
I will have crash and burn days that I honestly sleep for hours on end. These are the days that I feel flu like.
On the subject of fevers. I often feel feverish. But I take
celebrex twive a day and I think that makes it harder to register a fever. Then when i do register a fever it is a doosey.

My diet does have a corilation with how I feel.
I have cut out most sugars and carbs and even count carbs in my veggies and fruits. I am not on Atkins I just found
restricting my carb entake to around 50-60 makes me feel so much better. I do eat some cheeses no milk but yogurt.
I still am in the guessing process.

I use alot of Olive oil. Take Flax Seed and MIlk thisltle.
My liver emzyemes are out of wack. this is one reason that
I cannot go to a higher medicine for RA. I am hypertensive
and diabetic. I am 20 pounds heavier than I need to be but i exersise on a bycicle the weight just stays.

I am convienced that my Metabolism is shut down to minium.

sorry to burn a hole through your ears it is just such a relief to talk to someone who is walking in my shoes.

take care and have a great morning
Lachele

[loneil]

Lachele,

Trust me, there are alot of people that are experiencing the same things we are and I am sure some are worse. You do have some problems that I don't have, like diabetes and problems with liver emzyemes that makes things a lot more complicated. I really started feeling alot better when I started taking the supplements and doing stretching exercises. They seemed to be alot easier on me. I do walk. Sounds like you have a good handle on your diet though. Maybe with time your metabolism with kick in. I know sometimes I still feel like mine is at a stand still. It is a relief to talk to someone else that is going through the same thing. I also try to hide the worse part of my illness from my family. I don't want to be the subject of attention. They ask how I am and I try really hard to convince them that I am ok, when what I really want to do is go home and go to bed or have a pity party by myself!!!! I do that sometimes to... Wait til my husband is gone and then cry for most of the morning. I feel alittle better but wonder what I did or why I have RA and fibromyalgia. I look back and realize that when my kids were young I didn't get alot of sleep and tried to be super mom ( never got there) I guess I just didn't take good enough care of myself, I don't know.. Probably will never know. Again I think staying positive is a good thing and I am not afraid of trying different things to get better. You have probably read in my posts about going to a Homeopatic dr for nutritional value. I do believe that has helped. With all the meds I take it has to effect the way my body can metabolize vitamins and minerals. And the diet has helped alot... Anyway, now that I have talked your ears off, I will say goodbye until next time and I hope your days are filled with sunshine and hope! Take care. Linda

[purple]

I havve really needed someone to talk to. My Mother keeps telling about all her friends that after one epesode went into remisssion have and haave never had another problem. Well I would love for that to happen but not so far. She also thinks that when i take a
nap i am giving in. this makes it hard on me. I am so relieved
to hear that you need naps. I thought it was all in my head.
Sleep at night is another issue when i hurt I can't sleep yet i feel to bad to get up an be prductive. I am tired just aching and throbbing. I do have pity parties but I just tell myself that the
Lord will not give us more than we can bear if we keep our focus on him. Maybe my focus was slipping and he felt that I needed more reminding than others. He did answer my prayers in finding the right DR. to diagnoise me. I had even been told to see a thearapist
because I must not be handling stress well. I do test Zero negative so we went around the block a few times to gget the right dr. and diagniose. Sorry for my spelling never my strong point. Sorry to burn your ears so much I have been in the need for a fellow sufferer.
MY girlfreinds try but to them the outside looks fine what should be wrong. Plus i push myself to keep up with my girls activities.

Linda Take care of your self and chin up. You didn't do anything to deserve this condition it just was the luck of the draw. PLus as my husband reminds me this isn't terminal cancer and he his right.

I will keep you in my prayers
lachele

[loneil]

Hello Lachele,
Thanks for the encouragement! I just feel so down sometimes. I have been given alot of blessings though, I really have but some days. Just like today. I woke up feeling so bad again. I couldn't hardly get out of bed. I thought I was doing pretty good then boom! It has just been hard to get motivated today. It has been one of those napping days. I don't think you are giving up when you have to lie down. It is your body telling you to take it easy. Trust me, I have tried pushing on and it only makes it worse... I will keep you in my prayers too. Take care. Linda