Hey all! Just curious as to whether anyone here has RA. I was diagnosed with it about a year ago now and am only 26 years old. Let me tell you it was one painful ordeal to go through until they finally diagnosed it and started treating me. Before they determined what it was i was eating 30 advil every day. I could not let the advil wear off because if it did i was guarentee'd to not walk or move until it kicked in again. When they finally figured it out and got me on medication it was like a whole new world to me for the most part. I still have much morning stiffness but after about an hour i'm good to go. The meds they have me on are not the greatest because they can affect my liver, kidney's, stomache, and eyes but at the same time i'm glad they finally determined what it was and got me feeling back to "normal" again. Does anyone else have it and if so how are you doing and how do you deal with it?

Thanks...

 

Raises Hand

I take Entrophen (max strength)

It works great for me.

Just wait until you get Fibromyalgia (it's possible) then you can complain even more.

 

I am sorry to hear that you have RA. But at least now you know what you are up aganist, instead of wondering if you are dying.

I have fibromialgia, and also arthritis in my upper spine, between my shoulder blades. Because of the pain, there are days, weeks, or months, that I can hardly leave the house, or go to sleep at night. At times it will ease up for a while, then come back. You never know from one day to the next if you can do something, or have to stay in bed. I have been having a bad couple of months, but not near as bad a 4 years ago.

Hang in there. You will have a hard time making people believe you are not well, when you look as if nothing is wrong. Even those closest can not understand the toll the pain and lack of sleep will take on your energy level.

Try to have an allergy test, for sometimes what you eat, or are around, can make the pain much worse, I have found this out. Drink a lot of water. Try different remedies, like accupuncture, or natural suppliments, anything to cut back on the meds.

Doctors only want to prescribe pills, and sometimes the side effects are worse than the disease. If I were taking everything I have been told to take, I would go broke buying pills. I have found some things that are natural, and not very expensive that I take. I now only take one pill a day, and I was taking it before the fibromialgia.

Try whatever you must to keep the pills to a minimum. This is a cronic disease. The medicine will over time lose effectiveness, meaning you must take more. You also have the damage to other organs that this medicine causes. Do a lot of reasearch, find RA forums, talk to others who have had this a long time. When I went to the fibro forums, I found that most people were on 10 or 20 different meds a day, and were not any better than they were to start with. In fact most were addicted to the meds, and could not get off.

That is when I decided to try different, safer things. I get by on as little medicine as possible, even if it means hurting a lot some days. If you hurt the same with 20 pills as you do with 2, why take 20.

If you need to talk, or ask me anything, access my e-mail, or post on this thread. I have it marked. Sometimes just talking to someone who can understand, and has been where you are for a few years, can help a lot.

Good Luck.

 

Ah yes Fibromialgia, doctor had told me that i can also get that as most often it goes hand and hand with RA. I dont have that yet and from the sounds of it feel terrible for those of you that do. The one thing as of lately that has driven me the most crazy is the RLS, or restless leg syndrome. It not only drives me nuts but those around me get a little irritated by my constant need to move my legs at night. It often takes me hours to actually fall asleep, about the time i start to fall asleep next thing you know i'm ready to crawl out of my skin!

Thanks youngbird for the info and the offer to email you for more info! It's a struggle that's forsure.

 

I take Imipramine for helping me to fall asleep.

The restless leg syndrome & Irritable bowel syndrome seem to be a part of FMS.

I have had FMS since 1984 & after 2 years had to leave my 22 year job.

Doctors just shrugged & said :Your blood is okay,the sacns don't show any brain damage. We're known as the walking wounded.
At this time I am having difficulty walking & it's getting more prevelant.

I don't envy anyone with these two diseases.

I am also here to discuss things if you need to.

My suggestion, find a swimming pool in your area that has the warmest water & do some aquasize. This way is far less harmful to your body due to the buoyancy.

One thing that I find works for reducing pain is M.S.M. available on the shelf at your pharmacy.

 

THey've got me on something similar to Valium for the RLS, works great aside for the wierd dreams i have when i take it. What is M.S.M?

In the summer i use mom's pool, however, now that it's winter i'll have to look into getting a membership through my work for one of the health clubs.

 

http://www.msm.com/