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Date: 24.05.2012
From: tara

Subject: hard to take it all in !

Hi all .Went to my gp 20 days ago feeling like i had flu very sore feet hands shoulders knees hips . these had been bothering me over 6 weeks on and off ( i thought maybe a bug of some sort ) very shocked when he said that it was more then likely ra .make a long story short he did bloods and all came back pos for ra He refered me to the early arthitis clinic and i was seen yesterday I was given a steroid jab and put on methotrexate . The doc and nurse were really nice ppl and spent more than 2 hours sorting me out with x rays and so on .

As far as i was concerned 2 months ago i was as healthy as a horse now i have a life changing illness at 40 and trying to get on with things at home i have a great hubby and 6 fab kids that need me . MY head is reeling with it all .
thanks for reading my story and looking forward to meeting u all Tara
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Date: 24.05.2012
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

Hi Tara

realy feel for ya , mine started in mid 1996 & not nice , it will take time for them to get the condition under control but they will

the outlook for you is a lot better , there is so many new drugs around that they can control it a lot better , Methotraxate is pretty much standard as disease modifying drug , I have been on it a long time , they may add another at some point & maybe if you need it one of the new arthritis drugs

read up on RA , not everyone gets the joint damage & most are controled very well

hope you feel better soon
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Date: 24.05.2012
From: suze

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

hi tara

i know its hard to take in, i too have RA and have been suffering for the past 13 years on and off, im now 40 and have for the last 3 year been on methotrxate and luphludomide and now i self inject cimzia which is a new anti tnf drug, they are still trying to get it under control and there are days when i just want to stay in bed but you will find the strength to plough on and learn to adjust how you do things, we are all here to support each other take care chick xx
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Date: 25.05.2012
From: Tara

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

thanks colin and suze
nice to hear from you going to start meds on tuesday little worried about that but it has to be done ill have to get organised on monday and have dinner ready to just heat up and have snacks on hand for the little ones
thanks again for your kind reply . Tara
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Date: 25.05.2012
From: Lynnr

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

Tara I feel for you I really do it is a shock to the system when you first get diagnosed I know what your going through I am 35 and was diagnosed 2 years ago and it was such a shock I have psoriatic arthritis it's quick similar to ra but we don't have the immflamation markers showing in the bloods so it's a little harder to diagnose,I do hope they get you on a good combo of drugs to help the disease from progressing unfortunately for me I am still not on any drugs that have worked or I haven't had bad side effects with so it's a constant struggle but I must say this forum has helped me greatly it let's you see you are not alone, if you ever want to ask anything feel free or if you want to rant and get it off your chest it's a great place for that too.

Take care x
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Date: 28.05.2012
From: tara

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

hi lynnr nice to hear from you
sorry to hear docs have nt sorted you out yet it must seem never ending to you hopefully the warm weather will help a bit
i had a steroid jab last wed and i feel fab since i am worried about starting the meds as i feel so well i am trying to get my house and menu for a few days in order just in case the meds make me ill
will talk soon . Tara
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Date: 28.05.2012
From: Lynnr

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

Yeah the steroid jags are good for a little while I've had too many latley so not allowed any more at the moment. Yeah I was like that I do most tidying up at night when I'm feeling a little better and use a slow cooker or get my mum to help prepare meals and my hubby finishes them off.

Tc x
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Date: 28.05.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

Hi Tara, commiserations. Like everyone says, it is a hard thing to get your head around. I have to say it took me quite a while to accept it and still sometimes feel angry 3 years later. With a bit of luck, and some good drugs, you will do well. It can take time for some people to find the drugs that suit them. Unfortunately, not me yet.
Any questions, do ask.
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Date: 29.05.2012
From: tara

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

thanks bsk
got up this morning hands and feet sore and stiff i could nt believe it i thought the steroids would last a bit longer not even a week since

i am going to start mothotrexate to day any advice on what time to take it ect i have to go to the chemist to collect my script i am really worried about it but i have to take it could do with a large glass of wine noweven though it s only nine in the morning and your can nt drink while on these meds
oh well i better get on with it
talk later .Tara
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Date: 29.05.2012
From: Lynnr

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

Tara I would suggest you take it at night before you go to bed when I took my first dose I was sitting waiting on the sickness but it's was fine for first 2-3 weeks it takes time to get into your system, as far as wine you can have some mayb 3-4 units per week not much I know but can save you from feeling anti social let me know how you get on

Tc
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Date: 29.05.2012
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

hi tara

what level Mtx they starting you on & how many folic acid as well , it does vary from doctor to doctor

they should arrange blood test every month & maybe to start with every week , I been given a booklet that is updated so can see the results

CRP & ESR tells you how active your RA is but you will know yourself anyway , ALT is for your liver & tells if there is inflamation in your liver , MTX can cause problems with this & why drinking you have to be careful , folic acid helps this & other side effects from MTX

hope your feeling beteer soon
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Date: 31.05.2012
From: tara

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

hi lynn and colin
took meds on tues and i didnt have any side effects at all i couldnt believe it so happy ;0 on the neg side the steroid jab has worn off so my hands feet wrists are very sore and stiff not too much swelling or pain so that on the plus side just sore and stiff

dose of meds are 10 mg of methotrexate for the 1st month then 15 mg and folic acid 5 mg 6 days a week blood tests every 2 weeks i will see my rhummy in 5 weeks to see how every thing is going

thanks for all your help from a very wet west of ireland :( . tara
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Date: 31.05.2012
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

Tara

sounds good what your doctors are doing , it will take bit of time for the Mtx to work , but its a good drug if you can take it & works well with the bio drugs they may put you on later

the folic acid should help with most the side effects & let them put you on higher dose Mtx at some point

hope your getter bit better soon
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Date: 31.05.2012
From: tara

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

colin

docs are great , they spent so much time with me explaining ever thing , hubby did nt want me to go public as we have a very bad health system in this country and we were worried about the treatment i would recieve i could nt have gotten any better treatment from a private team , i was trying to explain to him that this cant be cured and so i did nt want to be paying private docs 200 euros every time i looked at them or them me not to mention the x rays meds ect it would have cost a fortune , so at the minute i am happy to carry with the team i have

sorry i was on a bit of a rant there
talk soon . Tara
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Date: 02.06.2012
From: Lynnr

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

That's great that you have a good team and one you feel can help you hopefully the mxt will work great with you but don't be disheartened as there is still quite a few others out there to try keep us posted on how things are going shame about the steroid I had 1 yesterday so here is hoping it kicks in soon

Take care
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Date: 03.06.2012
From: Tara

Subject: Re: hard to take it all in !

Hey Lynn
Thanks for every thing and your great advise .
Here's hoping every thing works out for us all and your jab helps .
Talk soon . Tara
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