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Date: 01.01.2011
From: Nicky

Subject: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Hi, my name is Nicky,
I was diagnosed with RA on the 21st December, i have felt scared, aloan, tired and very tearful some days,i am 45 years of age, i work in a school as an events organiser, so very busy, love my job but a bit worried as the tiredness does affect me some days.
I have RA all over but mainly in my hand and wrists, my hands look so old and swollen, i have
been put on methoxatrate, but i still dont know will it work straight away or does it take time to get in to you, as i feel i am getting worse not better at the moment,
My feel so aloan as my family are very supportive but because i dont have stitches or a cast on, they dont see what you are going through and i dont want to seen to be moaning, but i would like to talk about it to them, i read up on someone storey the other day and they cut out diary and with in 3 weeks they felt so different has any one got some advise for me.
So pleased i have found this site, it does help to read other peoples stories. Nicky
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Date: 01.01.2011
From: karen

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Hi Nicky

Im 35 & was diagnosed with ra in the summer

I started mtx about 6 weeks ago now & I can say that I noticed a difference within a month or so, I suppose its different for everyone but I hope it works as quickly for you.

Karen x
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Date: 01.01.2011
From: nicky

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Thank you Karen for letting me know,

I was thinking it just is not working, but i will give it time,

Nicky x
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Date: 01.01.2011
From: dolly

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

hi nicky, my name is dolly and i've had RA for 41 yrs. i feel 4 every1 that is diagnosed with this horrible disease. from my experience methotrexate does take 4-8 weeks 2 take effect. if it does work 4 u i hope it works well, some people it doesn't. every1 with RA some medications work 4 some1 and not the next. all RA patients r different. it's helpful 2 talk 2 other people with RA so this site is a good place 2 start. i hope your doctor finds the right "cocktail" [more than 1 medication 4 RA] that will work 4 u quickly. if your doc finds the right cocktail 4 u hopefully your RA gets under control sooner than later. one thing i can suggest is 2 listen 2 your body. if your a bit more sore than the day b4 that means u have done 2 much the day b4. another thing i learned is if u start getting more sore than when u got up that means it's time 2 have a rest and sometimes more than once a day. sounds like u have some busy days which would b ok if u get a cocktail that works 4 u right away but finding the right cocktail usually takes time. it is best if u share everything about your RA with your family because they will now have to learn about it 2 understand. if u like feel free 2 keep in touch and ask anything u like. take care
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Date: 01.01.2011
From: nicky

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Thank you Dolly,

I do really appricate that and i will keep in touch,

Happy new year to you,

Nicky x
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Date: 02.01.2011
From: dolly

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

u r very welcome nicky. one thing i 4got 2 mention was if u have a way of finding out about any type of arthritis support meetings, [it usually an once a month thing] family members can attend with u and learn about RA and also u can go 2 a library and research about RA and copy thru a printer and show family members. u can also let family read lots of things on this arthritis forum. there is a lot 2 learn. i'm only a "computer site" away. talk soon. dolly
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Date: 02.01.2011
From: dalton

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Hi Nicky. I was diagnosed with RA about a year and a half ago when my daughter was a few months old. I take sulphasalazine, methotrexate, amitriptyline and gabapentin. My RA is still not really under control and its hard working and looking after young children aswell as dealing with the RA but I definitely think having a positive state of mind helps. You cannot let the disease beat you and control your life. Its hard sometimes to be like that but I became so down and depressed at first that I got to the point where I had to make a decision to sink or swim and I chose to swim. Dont get me wrong I still have really down days and im so tired all the time and have pain constantly but I just wont let it rule my life. You have to accept that it will rarely ever go away as it cant be cured but it could go into remission (if you're luck). It took about 12 weeks for the methotrexate to work for me combined with sulphasalazine etc but it was worth hanging out for. I tend to get a bad headache on the day I take methotrexate but other than that I dont have any side effects from it. Just tired all the time and I can get quite agitated easily. Hang in there, I know its hard but you will find your own way of dealing with RA and accepting it. It took me months to accept I had it and felt very embarrassed for some reason as I dont think people understand that its an autoimmume disease. I think people hear the word arthritis and associate it with old age. Take care, you can ask me anything you like. xx
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Date: 02.01.2011
From: Nicky

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Hi Dalton

Thank you for replying, it has been so hard all over xmas i have had family here, cooking, cleaning and in pain and as you said feeling so tired, feeling sorry for myself,
but i kept saying to myself i have got to buck my ideas up and do some thing about it, i was reading a storey about a lady that has cut out all dairy and with in weeks she felt so much better, so i have started that today and joined the gym to loss abit of weight have you or anyone got any tips on food or fitness to what i should or should not be doing, i cant believe it takes so long for the medican to work, thanks again for answering,
Nicky
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Date: 02.01.2011
From: Lynn B

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Hi Nicky, I think the other guys on here are right, Methotrexate can take a while to kick in, some people are very lucky and it starts to help after a few weeks, sometimes a couple of months so you have to be patient, and like Dolly says as soon as your doctor can find the right "cocktail" you will start to feel much better I wish you well and take care. xx
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Date: 02.01.2011
From: Nicky

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Thank you Lynn,

Nicky x
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Date: 03.01.2011
From: Lara

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Nicky hi

I was diagnosed with arthritis about 48 months ago - i am 44. Methotrexate was prescribed (15mg a day) and although it helped for a while - about 6 months later i was worse than ever. My consultant then introduced sulfasalazine into my medication and said it would take a few weeks to work if at all. Pretty much within 48 hours i started to feel better and within 2 months i was sympton free and have been ever since. I weaned myself off the methotrexate over a 12 month period and now take just 1000mg of sulfasalazine in the morning, and same again in the evening.

I now feel 95% normal and the mouth ulcers i was plagued with all my life have gone. The point of my post is not to give up hope, its trial and error with what will work for you. I am in the military and quite a 'tough' cookie - when i was struck down with this disease, it was so bad i thought i could not live if this was going to be my future... keep the faith. Sending my love and good wishes to you all out there
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Date: 03.01.2011
From: dalton

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Hi Nicky

I think its a good idea to try and keep fit if you can but it depends on how much pain you're in on any particular day as to how much you can exert yourself. Swimming is really good as there's no pressure on your joints. I havent heard or seen any medical evidence to suggest a certain diet or cutting out particular food groups makes a difference because it is an autoimmune disease so unless the trigger switches back to normal I understand RA as a disease cannot be cured. Of course if we're lucky it could go into remission and obviously anything is worth a try so see how you go on cutting out diary but make sure you still have enough calcium in your body as of course we all need calcium for good strong bones and they can be damaged by the RA attaching joints etc. Just try and hang in there and be as positive as you can until you get the right amount/type of medication that suits you. xx
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Date: 03.01.2011
From: lYNN b

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

You are so right Dalton there is no evidence that diet can help,certain foods can agrevate it there is no known cure for RA or PA, we can go into remission but it does come back. Everyone is different, and certain drugs work for some but not for others. It is trial and error with most meds.X
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Date: 04.01.2011
From: Nicky

Subject: Re: Diagnosed with early RA just before xmas..

Thank you Dalton

I know what you are saying,
I have to take medican for menopause, only one tablet a weeks for my bones,
i am only trying this for about 3 months and if i see a change, that will be good, if not, i will be straight back on the diary as it is hard,
As for the gym i will only do it when i feel ok, as some days i just feel so tired or in pain,
Thanks again
Nicky x
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