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Date: 06.11.2010
From: tasha

Subject: lower than low....

Hey guys im new here... i think after being diagnosed with RA two years ago.. its all finally beginning to sink in.. im 22 and a feel about 80... :( my whole body have basically given up on me.. when i was 18 i was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, and as an 18 year old i didnt seem to take it in.. i was still young having fun and living my life.. finally when people close to me started having babies and getting pregnant.. it hit me like a tonn of bricks! i was already feeling low having to take hormones everday and started getting awfull pains in my feet i couldnt even walk on some days and then my hands wrists elbows shoulders every joint hurt all the time.. the doctors put it down to stress.. even suggested i had an STD... i was horrified, but persistant you dont feel like this when your stressed.. they finally put me through some tests and then finally sent me to a rhumatologist im currently taking methotrexate which has completly eased all my sypmtoms just some days are bad and some days are good. I feel at the moment like a yoyo with my mood swings. Im very low i just refuse to take anti depressants.. is this the right thing to do?? can anyone relate to anything iv said! its a very lonely world having all these things wrong with you when your only 22! people say to me it could be worse, and i know it could be worse and i appreciate that.Just right now i feel how could it get any worse... anyway thats my essay would really appreciate having some to talk to

tasha x
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Date: 06.11.2010
From: KayJay

Subject: Re: lower than low....

tasha it must be so hard for you being so young. I'm an oldie here and thankfully didn't get the dreaded arthur until I was in my 40's. But please try to stay positive. Anti depressants are fine in the short term it just gives you a boost usually by replacing Seratonin which makes dark thoughts a thing of the past. Well that's how they affected me anyway when I had post natal depression. Talk to your GP about how you REALLY feel [ as they will not know until you tell them ]and make sure you are taking the best painkillers for you. It's appalling when the doctors suggest things like STD - but you are not alone in this they even questioned this and alchohol abuse with my Mum who was 72 !! Turned out she had dementia but I remember being very angry with the doctor's who even mentioned that kind of stuff to my old Mum !!

I'm hoping someone not as crinkly as me can come along and put your mind rest and can talk about ' young un's ' stuff more with you ;0) tc xx
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Date: 06.11.2010
From: bel

Subject: Re: lower than low....

Hi Tasha, It is hard and to have a diagnosis of RA on top of your ovarian failure is a double blow. I've read somewhere about some research about RA and hormonal changes. Maybe you could google it and see what comes up. Lots of young people do get it but it's more common for women around the menopause so it could be that there is a relationship but I think very little is known about it.

I've just caved in myself and started on some anti-depressants and I have to say it is a relief. Sometimes you just need some help and you shouldn't worry about asking for it. It's not your fault you've got this. Maybe you could get some psychological support through your gp too. I am asking for that as well as I find it hard to cope with.

There are lots of younger people than me on here who I'm sure could relate to you. I expect they'll pick up this thread sooner or later.
take care
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Date: 06.11.2010
From: Dalton

Subject: Re: lower than low....

Hi Tasha,

I can COMPLETELY relate to EXACTLY how you are feeling. I was diagnosed with RA at 34, 8 months after I had my second child, my daughter and my consultant believes it was problems with hormones in my pregnancy that has triggered the RA. Apparently this can happen and it does appear that hormones have a major part to play in triggering RA. I was absolutely devasted (and still am). I had a small baby to look after and my son whos only young aswell. I personally DONT think antidepressants are the answer and I really do believe you have to have a really strong mind to deal with the condition, you either sink or swim. Both my GP and Consultant have told me that having a positive mind can make a massive difference. Dont get me wrong there are days when I feel so low that I could just collapse and stay in bed all day but you have to just find the strength to deal with it. Ive cried and cried on occasions and asked the dreaded "Why has this happened to me" question but Im not prepared to let it destroy me. I take loads of medication including 20mg methotrexate a week, 4 Sulphasalaxine a day every day , Tramadol and Amitryptline every day to try and control the RA. I have also developed numbness in my hands and pins and needles from the RA inflamming my wrists and trapping nerves. A Podiatrist at hospital has made me some special insoles to help with the pain in my feet when I walk. Just to try to get as much help as you can but PLEASE try and avoid antidepressants if you can. If not and want to take them have a good chat with your GP first. Im here if you want to talk and I'll give you as much advice as I can. I dont mean to be patronising when I talk about being postive but all I can say is that its kept me going for the last 18 months. x
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Date: 06.11.2010
From: KayJay

Subject: Re: lower than low....

Hi Dalton I think Amitryptline is an anti depressant ? But they use it as well for pain [ I take it for neck pain ].Perhaps tasha could ask her GP if this would be useful for her.
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Date: 07.11.2010
From: Dalton

Subject: Re: lower than low....

Hi Kayjay

I was worried about taking even more medication but more GP and Consultant confirmed that Amitriptyline is only used in high doses for depression but its been shown that doses of 10mg or 25mg works for pain relief in relation to pain associated with nerves - it basically works on the pain receptors in the brain for severe pain like for example back pain, slipped discs etc. I have it as my RA is trapping nerves when it inflames my wrists causing major pain, numbness and pins and needles in my hands. Like you say, it would be a good idea for Tasha to ask her GP about it to see if it makes a difference. I hate adding more and more medication but like we all know its gets to the point where we have to.
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Date: 07.11.2010
From: KayJay

Subject: Re: lower than low....

Hi Dalton yes I fully agree that Amy's are absolutely a miracle help for pain !! I used to get bad neck pain [ although my xrays shown no problems !! ] but they got so bad that it would spark off a Migraine and then I would be sick. As a Diabetic that's not a good situation. Since starting the Amy's the neck pain has gone. Whoever invented them should be given a medal.;0) I'm hoping tasha may find them beneficial as well.
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