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Date: 30.09.2010
From: caroline

Subject: Hi there Im all confused!!!

Hello there Im Caroline im 35 here is my moan of the day soory its so long.For the past 6 years ive been told my pain joint was because i was over weight. Then 5 years ago i got diagnosed with Carpul tunnel, I had the operation on my right hand only to find the operation didnt work,so, the consultant discharged me and that was that. I went back to the docs early this year as we have Marie charcot tooth that runs through the family. Which I was tested for and told yet again i didnt have (thank God) but still have carpul tunnel and awaiting to see the consultant. In the mean time. I have a bloodtest taken rheumatiod factor was normal but my ESR levels was raised so they sent me to see a rheumatologist who has diagnosed me straight away with RA and put me straight away on tablets and took bloods awaiting results. Im very shocked as what now! Was told to come back on tueday to see a nurse so she can go through my meds with me Is that it. For years Ive tried hard to loose weight with no success been so tired that its been a constant fight trying to move Im struggling with the stairs Im finding most things difficult to do Is That NORMAL? any advise will help!!
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Date: 30.09.2010
From: helend

Subject: Re: Hi there Im all confused!!!

Hi Caroline I have only been diagnosed 6 months with RA and know how you feel.hopefully your meds will kick in and you will start to feel better.i take one day at a time setting myself small goals or tasks each day on my bad days if I cant manage my set task in my head i assign it to another day when I will feel better.I think a positive outlook helps and although there are days when I feel really sorry for myself.I give myself a talking to nothing stays the same for ever.Just as I have bad days I will have good days.I to am carrying extra weight and have tried without success to shift it and keep it off but I am 50 and was never a stick insect so I have to be realistic I will probably always carry a bit of weight but remember skinny people get RA also.stick with the meds get all the info you can go on the forum and talk i have only been on the forum a few days but it is definately helping me if you had told me i would be doing this 6 months ago i would have laughed at you good luck be happy
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Date: 30.09.2010
From: Sally

Subject: Re: Hi there Im all confused!!!

Hi Caroline, Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It is a shock to hear that. You should get lots of answers to your questions when you see the specialist nurse. Finding things difficult to do is part of the illness with swollen joints, pain and tiredness. I'm surprised they told you your joint pain was due to weight at the age of 35. Seems a bit young to me. Also, if you've got arthritis it's hard to exercise in any case, as we all know! So, yes, it is normal!!
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Date: 01.10.2010
From: Lynn B

Subject: Re: Hi there Im all confused!!!

Hi Caroline,sorry but that is total rubbish to say your joint pain is because of your weight, what kind of doctor is he, ok weight can make the joints a lot more painful, but dear god to say its because of your weight is total RUBBISH!!you must have had the RA for a while. Now you are under a rheumy maybe you will get properly treated. Please dont just give up tell the nurse you want to know exactly what you have, what they can do to help what you can do to help yourself, and what your prognosis is, You have everyright to know everything there is to know about RA. please take care, let us know how you get on. x
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Date: 01.10.2010
From: davina

Subject: Re: Hi there Im all confused!!!

Hi there caroline i'm so sorry it took so long to find out you have ra. i too am a woman with extra pounds and was told after i had my son 16 months ago i was fat by a doctor and should loss weight. now i'm on steroids and start mtx 2morrow and i'm still about the same weight after lossing and putting on due to steroids. i hope the meds start working soon for both of us. good luck.
davina. x
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Date: 02.10.2010
From: caroline

Subject: Re: Hi there Im all confused!!!

Thank you Ladies I guess im just finding it difficult at the minute. People just say "loose the weight the pain will go" if only it was that easy when some mornings i cant even walk down the stairs. Im so embarressed I wouldnt min but im a size 18/20 so would so i was overly heavy witha 5ft 8 statue. I even found my employer questioning the docs diagnoses Feel like Im lying to them if only i was. It would be a lot easier. Hopefully my bloods will be back and i can get some proper answers from the nurse. I hope shes nice lol
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Date: 04.10.2010
From: rose

Subject: Re: Hi there Im all confused!!!

Hi Caroline. What an awful thing to say to you - "lose the weight the pain will go" and what rubbish that is. I too have RA and am a size 18/20, and find moving around very hard some days like us all. When people say those hurtful things to you I really think they dont know firstly what they are talking about and secondly wouldnt have a clue what the pain of arthritis is really like and how hard it is just to get mobile some days much less excercise and lose weight! I know this as I was told the same by some insensitive doctor for years till I ended up demanding to see a Rheumy.He told me I had had Ra for quite a few years and should have been seen earlier. When they put you on the drugs to help the disease its sometimes hard to move the weight too so its a bit of a viscious circle. I also agree that if we are overweight then that does make the joints especially the hips, knees and ankles and feet a lot more painful as they are the weight bearing joints but you dont get RA because you are a bit overweight. There are a lot of size 18 people out there but I would agree that with your statue that wasnt such a bad weight anyway. What you are feeling is all normal. You can only keep positive as much as you can and stay with the forum where there is so many wonderful people to help us get over the bad days. Please take care and keep us posted Rose X
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Date: 09.10.2010
From: charlotte

Subject: Re: Hi there Im all confused!!!

I know exacatly how you are feeling. I am 30 and a size 20. I put the weight on orginally when i was on beta blockers for a heart problem so for years couldn't excercise. Then when i started to excercise and lose wieght i had terrible pain etc - and diagnosed with RA. I too cant do much some days. Have a walking stick when its bad, the pain is so unbearable at times.

My parents keep telling me to lose weight. Its becouse your fat they say. Nothing to do with RA. Its so frustrating - they just don't understand the pain i am in and the effect that the steroids are having!!!

So you are by no means alone. Chin up
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