Newly diagnosed with RA & worried what employers might think

I would listen to CA-Lynn if I were you.  She knows more about RA than any of us.  She has had it a long time and knows what needs to be done to continue living a somewhat normal life.  You have to take DMARDS.  I tried not to for the same reasons and couldn't do it.  I couldn't stand the pain either and I can take a lot of pain.  When it becomes full blown, you will be begging for drugs!

Yes it is your decision to go on meds or not go on meds.  I really haven't had any side effects from these meds.  And like I said before I am not all about taking these medications and the possible rare side effects  but I also dont want the horrible pain and joint damage.  There is damage happening even when there is little pain or swelling.   As research says damage will happen within the first two years of being diagnosed.   That scares the heck out of me as like u I was in bad pain for a year before being diagnosed.   Read all you can on RA and medications but also keep it in perspective.   Most horrible side effects dont happen or happen rarely but we know what RA will do.  It is your decision but make am informed decision.   When my doc wanted me to go on injectable humira I wasn't all that pleased with it or her.  She asked me to trust her and I decided I neef to trust her.  She knows more about the wrath of RA than I did.  She has seen years of damage.   My choice is meds but your choice may not be.  For your job be up front.  I used yo do drug testing and they would write down the meds they were on by the docs then it eas up front and no surprise.   There r many people on norco who take it responsibly and are employed.   GOOD LUCK

Thank you ALL so very much for the replies! You have calmed me down and I really do appreaciate it. It's also great to hear that there are people out there who don't deal with the side effects of the drugs. When I was researching online, it seemed like maybe 2 or 3 out of several hundred were the only people who didn't have a side effect that was, to me, even worse than the pain itself. 

I will definitely do more research on the Leflunomide and possibly give it a try. There is apparently a Chinese herb called TWhg I think that is really doing well for RA in China. The US hasn't approved it yet, but from what I read, it's really helpful, especially when used in conjunction with a DMARD. I wish we'd get more natural meidcations for these auto immune diseases. Thanks again to everyone!! xx 

 

Hi Sue, I've been taking an alternative drug called Low Dose Naltrexone because I felt like you about the strong drugs. I'm having good success combining LDN with various supplements and I was really bad (couldn't walk or hold a pen etc...) Where in the world are you? I'm in the UK but if you google LDN you can find out about it and how to get a prescription if you decide to try it. I haven't been taking any pain relief apart from a corticosteroid injection a few months ago which was when I got desperate (it worked!) Let me know if you want more info and good luck.

You wrote:

"I'm not going to say 'never' to the RA drugs, but everything I've looked up so far has so many awful side effects, that I just don't see the advantage of trying them yet."

I understand your hesitation. I spent six months after diagnosis exploring every kind of alternative route known to man (and woman).

You've done your research, so you probably know this already, but there is one advantage to not waiting too long to make up your mind. The drugs can prevent the disablement and joint damage that could affect you if you go the no-pharma drugs route.

Another thing it's good to understand....

When you look up these drugs online, you get the worst-case scenarios. This is not because they like to put you off taking their (sometimes very expensive) drugs. They do this to cover themselves legally.

They are obliged to disclose all the possibe, however rare, outcomes of taking their drugs. Otherwise they could have their pants sued off them.

Fair enough.

It is a reasonable alert call because these things could happen... probably to a minute percentage of users...

Having said all that, here's my own experience:

Before I decided to jump into the pharma drug-dependent world, I talked to three  people I knew with RA, all three of whom had gone alternative altogether.

One had contracted RA about 30 yrs before. Her hands and feet were totally crippled and was in ascending and descending pain, with sometimes fairly long periods of spontaneous remission.

Walking and using her hands remained difficult throughout. She lived a very closeted life.

The second one regretted not taking the drugs because now, about 20 years after diagnosis, she had fixed wrists – fused hand and wrist joints. It is not evident to look at her, but she told me it seriously limited a number of things we barely are even aware we use our wrists for. You can imagine...

The third, a musician, whose fingers were vital to his work, was an illegal immigrant somewhere, and dared not go to the authorities when he got sick. All his finger joints fused (not sure what the correct term is for what happened) and he now had to change his instrument of choice to accommodate fingers that are in permanent claw position.

He was a beautiful young man, both in looks and in spirit, and I felt deeply sad for him that we would never know the joys of being able to run his hands over the skin of his beloved.

It doesn't happen quickly, but it is almost certain to happen if you let it go untreated as these three did.

Add to that the comments of my homeopathist and my acupuncturist, honest folk and up front from the start (for which I'm forever grateful):

"Homeopathy cannot touch RA."

"Acupuncture has not been known to affect RA, it can relieve the pain in some people."

But to sweeten this pill, let me tell you that, so far, after 8 years of RA and a 9-month bout of PMR, plus heaps of powerful little drugs that have eased the pain magnificently, and a great number of supplements, my permanent side effects have been limited to some damaged capilliaries at my feet and some hair loss.

I have a liver function test every three months and I grateful to be alive (so far) and (occasionally) kicking.

Yes, vanity does take a hit. But you get your life back.

All I suggest is... there are supplements that can reduce the toxic affects of the drugs by supporting your system in other ways.

For that, see a nutritionist.

I wish you all the luck in the world on this often difficult journey.

Hear hear light,

When I was diagnosed the mainstay of RA treatment was Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatories. I took 3 Diclofenac a day and not much else. Pain was horrendous, with stiffness which lasted for several hours. I was eventually introduced to Sulfasalazine, but not before extensive damage to my elbows, wrists, fingers and toes. This is irreversible. I also had internal bleeding because of NSAIDs and had to stop all treatment. I was then put on Prednisolone with the accompanying weight gain and moon face (on it again incidentally). When I was put on Methotrexate (and later Leflunomide) all my flares stopped, no more joint damage, no liver problems or any other problems. Having a small blood test every month was a small price to pay. Sadly, because of a cancer diagnosis I had to stop Methotrexate. Guess what, my sero negative status changed to sero positive and I've developed Rheumatoid Vasculitis and several other deeply unpleasant additions. This MIGHT still have happened if I could have stayed on MTX, but I seriously doubt it.