Just diagnosed with RA

[akimbo]

Well, this is totally new, and I'm not sure what to expect. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can right now. My rheumatologist gave me a diet, and I'm not sure if it's just for losing weight (which I need to do) or if it is an RA diet. It is SO strict. Basically, no starches whatsoever. No rice, noodles, breakfast cereals, white potatoes, crackers, chips, corn, popcorn, sweetened drink, soda pop, and of course pastries, cakes, candy etc. Just wondering if I could have some rice in moderation or occasional noodles...:o. Anyway, I just wanted to connect with others like me. Also, does anyone have any evidence or thoughts about chemotherapy igniting RA? I had ovarian cancer two years ago, and had a radical hysterectomy and ovaries removed. So I, of course, went into immediate menopause. I know that link to RA. But then my Vitamin D was down to 9 and I had osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and bone pain and then multiple RA symptoms and blood tests showed I have early RA. So....just wondering if this is all connected......

[kageyd]

Welcome, Akimbo. Need to tell you that for unknown reasons all the regular posters here (nature lover, crimson, laurie, mac, others…..) stopped posting about Dec 12, and have not yet reappeared. I hope they do, because their contributions were very comforting and helpful for me. I am newly diagnosed just late last fall, so like you am still in the learning stage.

I am older, 69, so am especially interested in RA for the elderly, but that’s a lifelong interest of mine (social work for the elderly for many years…). I’ve seen very few people on any forums, only one here, over 60.

With regard to “causes” of RA, my husband (who is a physiolgist), and I agree that, except in the very young, the fundamental cause(s) of RA are unknown. They know that certain kinds of white blood cells start doing damage, but have no real idea why. So the heavy-duty treatments, like the new biologics, are all aimed at blocking the complex chemical processes. The earlier treatments in general are inflammation blockers, but are not as “targeted” as the biologics. But the biologics are costly, and can have serious side effects.

My RA may be linked to a couple of occasions of gout within recent years, but my excellent rheumatologist doesn’t think there’s any causal relationship there. Like you, I also have osteoarthritis (artificial hip, OA for over 40 years), and have had other diseases like atrial fibrillation, celiac, a cerebellar stroke (with no lasting effects, thank goodness…) but nothing we cold tie to RA.

People talk a lot about diet, and as usual some individuals swear that some specific dietary regime or product is a help to them, but in general people don’t feel that diet is any real answer to RA’s causes or processes. In your case, I’d guess that the diet is strictly weight loss, as you suggested (been there, years of up and down, finally used strict calorie-counting to keep weight down and get the stress off my osteoarthritic knees and hips). I’ve always figured specific dietary things are usually not harmful, so thus they are worth a try. Haven’t found anything especially useful for myself.

I use celebrex for pain control, have for years, as I am unable to take NSAID’s because I am permanently on Coumadin (after the stroke and just in case the atrial fib comes back), and NSAID’s counteract coumadin’s effectiveness.

Akimbo, I hope some of the above is helpful. Despite the absence of my usual conversation partners here, I check in regularly to see if anyone new has posted, and to see if I can offer anything useful. And I’ll continue to do so. Do let me know if you have any more specific questions. (kageyd is pronounced cagey-dee, an old nickname from colleagues at work).

Oh, I am seronegative, but my x-rays show definite RA problems in my good hipe and in my hands, so my rheumatologist has aggressively (with my approval) put me on sulfasalazine, thinking that the quinine drugs are not strong enough but that I'm not quite ready for methotrexate.

My best to you for a “happier” new year. Kageyd

[akimbo]

So nice to hear from you, Kageyd! And love the nickname. What you wrote is very helpful. I think I am nonserotype, also. It's like I had some minor RA symptoms for a while, then it was just like a rock rolling downhill. It got worse quick. I'm glad it was caught early. Sure wasn't due to my primary care doc. I was put on multiple supplements and Plaquenil. My rheumatologist didn't want to put me on prednisone, I think due to the bad side effects. Anyway, thanks so much for your support. I hope everyone comes back too. Take care,

Kim:o

[prasanth5]

I remember how my mother suffered by Osteoporosis. I imagine the disease is caused nu the reduction in the density of the bones by a gradual speed. What would happen to the body when the bones begin to brake! But she did not survive for long. She passed away 7 years ago.

[kageyd]

Glad to know it was helpful, Akimbo. Sounds like you have an excellent GP. Stay in touch. Your story of how mild progressed so quickly is an eye-opener to me, first time I've heard it stated quite that way. Fingers crossed. And some of the others are back now, as you'll see. Good people, all. Kageyd

[naturelover]

Hi akimbo,

I take this opportunity to wish you a belated merry christmas and happy new year, 2010. As informed by kageyd and being in stock market, I was totally held up to round up year end work and got relieved just last week. It was an unintentional delay. By all means you got a great support and advice from Kageyd. With pun intended - I would like to point out - there may be pain in life, not a painful life.

With my wife and sister, both are having RA and undergoing medication, it's natural to advice, suggest and get solace from fellow members by conversing.

Just now I returned my post to 2 other new members. I take exception with Kageyd and your ideas on diet. You won't believe my sister who was diagnosed with severe pain and administered heavy steroid dosages to get relief over pain during initial period, through the 3rd year now. It recurred every now and then. At one stage, she stopped under advice and now she is totally in diet control. After this, pain does occurs but she was able to manage, which is really not understood even by her Rheumatologist. Upon seeing her, my wife who is getting regular pain in her foot, too started to follow diet.

I think over the course of time, you too understand and I would suggest that you strictly follow your GP and Rhuematologist.

[kageyd]

Nature lover, please tell us the nature of the successful "diet." That word means so many different things, from trying to lose weight, or trying to gain weight, to low carbohydrate, to low fat, to low salt, to all organic, to no caffeine, to all "natural," to hi protein, to high fat, etc., etc. Please share with us the essential elements of the apparently successful "diet." Many thanks, and hoping to learn!! Kageyd

[naturelover]

kageyd wrote:

You have taken my time and energy too to make my reply easy by writing a few thing on diet like - to low carbohydrate, to low fat, to low salt, to all organic, to no caffeine and just to add both take much greens.

I cannot prove by any medical report, but follow up. It really pained watch my sister in her initial stage when she was not even able to move her arms and wriggling to get relief from pain. Yes and true, all of a sudden she started reducing her intake and concentrated much on yoga and reading. I myself wondering and as anyone expects, I wish all our fellow member too get relieved of their pain by one way or another.

[kageyd]

Be careful with both low carbohydrate and low fat. That necessarily means high protein for her to get enough calories; excessive protein can, in some people, be hard on the kidneys. I try to keep fat below about 30%, a fair amount of protein and the rest in non-sugar (non-refined-sugar) carbohydrates. I love vegetables and green salads, and a rich mix of vegetables and salads, with a piece of meat and fish, seems to work pretty well for me, keeps weight down and keeps me feeling good enough to do a lot of walking. I have absolutely no way of knowing whether it helps or hinders arthritis.

[star73]

I just thought I would post on this....I follow a low-carb diet with getting only carbs from veggies and it has made me feel some better. There is some research going about gluten intolerance being a cause for RA and that people with gluten intolerances have an immune response when consuming gluten-containing foods. It's interesting stuff.

[star73]

I guess I should clarify and say that what has made me feel better is that I don't have IBS or that sluggish feeling I would get from carbs anymore. I also have less retention of water which would make my joints hurt more. Eliminating gluten has not helped my joint pain from RA and I now have hand weakness I didn't before. My doc has added another med, Arava...to my mtx. So...I know really know if gluten free is a cure...but it sure has helped my belly issues! It would be great if I could go into remission but it hasnt happened yet

[akimbo]

Well, that is very interesting. I was talking to a nurse friend of mine, and she said the diet my rheumatologist gave me appeared to be a gluten-free diet. Thank you all for posting here.

[star73]

akimbo....that is very interesting...hmmm...it sounds like your rheumy also realizes the importance of diet in RA. My rheumy just told me that there is no evidence that a gluten-free diet can help RA but if I feel better than by all means do it. He said he has also has some people say that avoidance of chocolate and other things have helped but there is no proof that certain foods cause problems. I guess that is a scientific approach to things but I do feel that foods are important. I have also noticed that peanuts can cause my joints to hurt so I avoid them and anything containing peanuts.