newbie!

[star73]

Hey everyone! I'm new here. I am 36 and a single mom of one daughter who is 12. I work full time at home typing all day which my rheumy said is good for my hands with RA...hmmm...well some days it doesnt feel that way! I was diagnosed with seronegative RA this past year. My hands are starting to get weak and I have been in more pain lately...probably due to winter :p I have been on mtx but it really hasn't helped much so now my doc has increased it and has added Arava. I am hopeful this med helps! It's great to find a place to talk to other RA'ers cause nobody can really understand what we go through except those who have it!

[kageyd]

Star, Welcome. You got me going this morning on celiac and gluten and RA, so you can see my new post that references you. Now that I've read your Intro -- welcome, sorry you have to be here!!! -- I looked up Arava on WebMD That URL below has a lot of "user reviews." I've learned that sometimes these very long URL's don't open if you click on them directly, so if you just Google WebMD Arava, I'm sure you'll get to the page (5 pages actually) where there are about 50 or so generally positive but some problematic reviews of users. May you be one of the positive ones.

Stay tuned in, and help us all learn. You've already started me on two big lessons this morning. Kageyd (pronounced cagey-dee, old nickname.

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drugreview-16559-Arava+Oral.aspx?drugid=16559&drugname=Arava+Oral&pageIndex=1&sortby=3&conditionFilter=-500

[star73]

Hey Kageyd! cool name! Ok...I'm trying to find my way around this board still....where did I post about gluten and where is your new post? :p I think I'm getting lost here lol! Thanks for welcoming me here :) I have read lots of user reviews on Arava on WebMD and other forums...some go back years....I just really like to discuss this with people themselves but thanks for the info! Maybe someone will come along who has taken it. Thank you, I sure hope it helps. Sorry to start you on some research! hehe! :)

[kageyd]

Star73, there is no guide, really. People start off threads in one of the five categories, but almost always the thread diverges into other subjects. So you kind of have to follow them all. The only "rule" is that Lounge is supposed to be only for posting things NOT directly related to RA - movies, jokes, sports, hobbies, what do you like to eat, where is your favorite place to travel.... Fun stuff. Yet RA material does get posted there, so once I caught up with the history in the forums after I joined end of last year, I just automatically scan all five forums all for new ideas, new people, new stories, personal pros and cons about meds, etc.

There's a pretty lively group active right now, hope it stays that way! I'm for now anyway the "elder," age 69 (Mac, at 62, is the only other one here I've seen here over 60), veteran of atrial fibrillation and consequent ablation(s), moderate celiac/gluten problem, 40 plus years of osteoarthritis with one Wonderful artificial hip 7 years ago, totally unexpected cerebellar/vertebral artery stroke (no permanent damage) a year ago, just a few months into RA diagnosis from rheumy's looking at my knuckles, etc. -- and I'm still very, very active with travel and much else (live in NYC now)., though retired professionally from a long career. Kageyd

[star73]

oh darn...I think I posted about Arava in the lounge area! OOPS! Sorry! Well, so far I find this board to be good. It always helps to talk to others with RA. I go to other boards too as there is always great info to be read and learning from other experiences. Of course, there are always those things not everybody is gonna agree about , it is still great to hear about others.