More confusion and questions

Before making any decisions on meds, remember RA is a disease with active progression unless controlled.

Usuall  a rheumy starts with DEMARDS. Thre are many important drugs to help slow the progression, it depends how you react to them. Antiinflammataries are also important. Cold damp weather is hard on RA .

Then next down the chain of RA drugs are the  biologicals. These are helpful for many & many who have done well on them. RA can be tricky as it eventually destroys joints. 

I agree with you last statement. I am always grateful for all the new drugs available today. Just a few yeas ago there was very little that could be offered to help those with RA .

A healhy diet antiinflammatory foods are helpful. Also becoming Mindful with daily tasks, as well as exercises designed for RA. It's looking at life thru a different pair of glasses, adjusting to the levels of RA and how it effects our daily lives. Stay positive and strong. 

I have to say it is strange to me that you have no pain etc. I had lots of pain even before I was finally diagnosed. If you do show to have RA then it is obviously in its early stages which is good news. All these drugs that are available are amazing despite how we all moan about them! Yes they do have side effects and for some they are worse than for others. I am lucky as I seem to cope well with them . I think you should not assume they are going to be so terrible and consider what will happen without them. RA is progressive and the longer left the worse the damage so I think you are 'lucky' to be able to halt RA if you do have it. You may not need such high doses at an early stage either. Its a tough thing to accept but you have got to be positive. Yes diet and things can help although as a vegetarian I have not gone down that road and just eat reasonably healthily. You may not have RA!

Good luck and keep us informed.

Cathy

I am a bit puzzled. As far as I can tell your ownly symptoms are when have had too much to drink. You do not sy wha took you to the rheumatologist or your GP in the first place.

Don't fret too much about these drugs. Of course there could be side effects, but there just as easily might not be. I've been on all of the RA drugs variously over 11 years and am doing fine. Some pain but no joint damage, so far.

Bangkok has good doctors, I'm told. My only experience of medical help there was very positive. Nothing to do with RA, though.

Take care and good luck!

Hiya,

I got diagnosed with RA last November, which was kind of found by accident. I had gone to the gp about pain in my knee and been referred to physio and just by chance the nurse sent me for rheumatoid factor (which was positive) and then to rheumatologist where my ccp factor was positive and esr was high etc.

I even had an ultrasound on my hands and it is very present in esp my left hand but i don't feel pain. My consultant says i greatly annoy him as i present in one way and he thinks one thing and then get my blood work back that tells a different story.

I was started on 15mg of methotrexate, which i had trouble getting my head round, as i felt fine and had read so many horrible things and didn't really think i needed it.

Fast forward 8 months and i am in pain. No one knows whether the medication is not working or if i would be even worse without it. My esr in particular continues to climb, although my consultant said his impression is without the meth it would be much much higher.

I am having problems in my knees, ankles, wrists hips, fingers and back - which recently had an mri which said early joint degeneration (however that one is osteo and not connected)

Somedays i struggle to get up as my whole body just hurts and i'm so so tired, other days i'm ok.

My point is that it can just creep up on you! I also had sever nausea and sickness from the methotrexate and recently got switched to the injection. I have only had 3 but the sickness has massively improved and the only side effects i now have are the 'meth fog' for about a day and a half and a banging head for 2 days, which that is worse than the tablets!

I am sorry for the such long reply, but i hope some detail may be of some use to you?!

Good luck :-)