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Date: 08.10.2012
From: Jennifer Sutherland

Subject: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

My name is Jen and im 34 i live in glasgow. I was a auxillary nurse in a Rhumatolgy Clinic. Ironically i have had to give up my job about a year ago as i have seronegative Arthritis and Fybromyalgia.I actully had all the signs for a good 6 months before diagnosis but actually though it was because i was hearing all the patients symptoms and it was my mind playing tricks on mw lol But then as it got worse I had eventually realised it was actually Arthritis and i needed to get help.
Although that is my diagnosis i am thinking there is a change developing as im currently in major major flare at the moment. Im due to see my Rhumy on thursday and im expecting him to work his magic lol.
Im on Sulphasalazine mtx and aswell as arcoxia highest dose and a combo of paracetamol and tramadol which does nothing for me. On lots of other stuff to but thats the relevant meds.
Im thoughrly miserable in constant pain and trying not to be a constant grump with my OH and 7 year old daughter.

Every joint feels like its been chopped thru with a white hot axe. My muscels ache from doing all the work the joint arent doing. My stomach isnt to chuffed about the high dose anti inflammatories and my memory has gone on holiday and forgot to tell me lol.

Not sure exactly wots going on but it all started to go haywire about 2 months ago when i had a bad and persistant chest infection. after 2 lots of antibiotics it wasnt clearing so my GP gave my Predisalone in a short sharp blast of 6 days. Since then iv had a huge flare up of inflamation morning stiffness that last all day, pain ans had a rash all over my scalp, arms hands and chest. I have also been having irritated eyes which are red and inflammed. My GP has said its conjuctiveitis but its not going away.
Im sure there has been significent change and flare. Since i was diagnosed its never been ok but its was bareable but the last 2 months have been awful. Thank God im seeing my Rhumy on Thursday. Does anyone else have the same?
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Date: 08.10.2012
From: Jennifer Sutherland

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Oh forgot to mention the severe back pain. Iv always had a bad back but its just constantly sore around the lower back and neck.
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Date: 08.10.2012
From: Colin W

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

hi Jen

welcome to the forum , the tramadol never worked for me , on sulpha + 25mg Mtx myself but my RA went made after taking high dose predisalone because RA attacking my eyes & now have to take mantainace dose , high dose steriods can make the RA go made

with your eyes I would get it checked , was told I had conjuctivetis but was Scleritis

hope you feel better soon
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Date: 08.10.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Hi Jen, Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you are having a tough time at the moment, it is just as well you are seeing the rheumatologist on thursday.

I also have r/a and it is a horrible disease. I got a kenalog (steroid) injection 2 weeks ago and it has made a big difference and i take mtx, sulphasazine, plaquenil and also the new biologic drugs. Make sure you tell them everything on thursday and see what they suggest. I hope you feel better soon. Let us know how you get on.
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Date: 08.10.2012
From: Deborah

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Hi Jen,
There are a lot of symptom's you discribe that I have myself I have psoriatic arthritis and we all on here know exactly how you feel.
Welcome on here I know that site has been a god send with great people on here with all the same illness's really helping as much as they can it's make's you feel not so alone.
I found when I was first had this illness everything changed from week to week until the doc's got me on the proper drug's
and they can make a difference make it more bearable so hope that when you see your consultant they will get you the help you need take care Deborah.
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Date: 10.10.2012
From: Jennifer Sutherland

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. So glad i found this forum, Iv been on others but there wasnt much activity on them. Its good to know there is others suffering the same as me and im not alone. also its good to compare how we feel and wot works for others.
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Date: 10.10.2012
From: Lynnr

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Hi Jennifer welcome to the forum I'm 36 and I've got psoriatic arthritis and fibro and be tried all the dmards and been in methotrexate 3 times each time it affected my WBC and bone marrow so at the moment I'm on humira injection fortnightly I do get a lot of infections and the jags have to stop. I hope you get on ok with ur rhumy and he may be able to change some of your meds fingers crossed keep us posted

Take care
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Date: 10.10.2012
From: karen

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Hi Jennifer you poor thing really feel for you. It seems all they do is pump you full of more and more drugs. I have PA and am also on Pred, MTX and Humira now trying to control it. I have 2 small children which makes life so much harder. This is the first forum I have been on and its nice hearing I am not alone. I hope it helps you. Good luck with your appointment.
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Date: 10.10.2012
From: Jennifer Sutherland

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Thanks everyone, iv made a List of everything I want to discuss at the appointment tomorrow. Never been so desperate to go to a hospital appointment in my life.
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Date: 11.10.2012
From: marlene

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

hope all went well!!!
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Date: 11.10.2012
From: Jennifer Sutherland

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Well as I thought I'm in major flare and the consultant has suggested trying Mtx injections rather than oral as its obviously not doing aswell as it could be. We spoke at great length and want to fully give Mtx the best shot before having to move on to biologicals if need be.
So I'm going on Tuesday for my first injection and I will be showen how to self administer. Im back for review in February but if things don't improve I was told to call the rhumatology sister ( got a rolicking for putting up with the flare up and not calling them sooner :( ) but I no how kaotic it can be when I worked there.
I was abit disappointed that I couldn't get a kenalog I M but the consultant doesn't want to mask the effect of the Mtx incase I get a boost from the steroid rather than the Mtx working.
Any ways I'm just hoping we can get. it under control as my xrays show a degree of change.
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Date: 11.10.2012
From: marlene

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Wish you luck with your meds!!!!
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Date: 11.10.2012
From: rhona

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Hi Jennifer, I don't understand why the couldn't give you an injection, if you are having a major flare i would have thought it would make sense to give you some relief until the mtx works. I was given 2 steroid jabs days before getting a rituximab infusion which i was surprised at. I hope you find a difference with the mtx injections. I sometimes wonder if i would be better with the injections. Hope you feel better soon.
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Date: 12.10.2012
From: Jennifer Sutherland

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

I was hoping to have a steroid injection and we discussed it but she explained that if the Mtx injection doesn't help then its better to add in something else sooner to prevent the continued joint damage. So the steroid injection may have masked wot happens with the Mtx.
So if there's no improvement then I can contact them and try something else. I can see why they are doing this and iv heard them say this to other patients before. So im going to stick with it and hope the Mtx kicks in and if not I no they will see me ASAP.
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Date: 20.10.2012
From: william mccurdie

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

Hi my name is billy and a student nurse just about to start 3rd year the pain you described is very similar to what I have been getting, I go to see the rhumy next Wednesday hopefully I will be put on the right target
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Date: 21.10.2012
From: janet o'melia

Subject: Re: Im a new member so i guess i should introduce myself.

hi my names janet seems like u been through the mill this year im afraid no matter what drugs u take don't take all the pain away but some if u come of them(which i would not advise)u would then now how mutch pain u are realy in i have osteo athritis four 25 years in all joints like you i'm on tramadol paracetamol and also atistriptoleen to help me sleep
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