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Newly diagnosed with rehumatoid arthritis, help please

Posted , 11 users are following.

Ljmillin
Ljmillin

Hi guys I'm 33 yrs old and have last night been diagnosed as having rehunatoid arthritis. Anyone else know to get it this early? Any tips or advice please? I've heard that the younger you get it the quicker it advances. I'm feeling quite scared atm so any help would be great thanks

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Emily1234
    Emily1234 Ljmillin

    Posted

    Hi there, funny I should read this.... I'm 33 and diagnosed 2weeks ago....it's nice to find someone same age, at same point in the same boat! What are your symptoms? How long have you experienced them? Are you taking any meds? What were your CCp results or RF results and your CRP results? these tell you how severe it is....I'd love to hear your story...

  • sherry29159
    sherry29159 Ljmillin

    Posted

    Sorry to hear that Ljmillin. I haven't heard that but I believe the sooner you know you have RA the sooner it can be treated and less time for bone damage. There are many drugs available now so its just a matter of finding what works for you. That's my opinion but you will get lots of great advice here. Stay calm and positive (not easy).

    Best wishes

    Sherry

  • elle09679
    elle09679 Ljmillin

    Posted

    Hi Ljmillim

    I'm 33 and was diagnosed 18 months ago. The sooner they get you on medication the better. It is not actually true that the younger you get it the worse it is. The only predictor of a worse outcome is if you have both positive RF and positive anti-CCP. However, I do have both of these and high ESR and CRP but generally speaking, I'm doing ok (a degree of pain everyday and some worse flare ups but I still live my life). Don't despair. You can read a lot of horror stories but I found Methotrexate helps massively for me. Good luck

  • sia34716
    sia34716 Ljmillin

    Posted

    I was diagnosed few moths ago with a high RF and a high CCP too 283 and 300 respectively 😞
    • Emily1234
      Emily1234 sia34716

      Posted

      If it helps my mum has had RA since she was 30, although she has joint damage and has had joint replacements because back 30 years ago the medication was not advanced. She is now 65, takes leflodomine and 5mg predisolone daily and is fit as a fiddle. She hikes, shops till she drops and never stops...she too had high RF and CRP at diagnosis and for many years. Currently she's the best she's ever been....hope this gives you hope.xx

    • sia34716
      sia34716 Emily1234

      Posted

      Really? I'm 41 and am living with pain and fear each day thinking that I will be crippled in a few years. Im so grateful that you shared it with me. Thank you so much Emily. You gave me hope!

    • Emily1234
      Emily1234 sia34716

      Posted

      I remember when I was 10, coming home from school she would be in bed I worried so much and now it's untrue, the doctors told her back then she would be in a wheelchair by 40 to this day she wants to hunt that doctor down!!!smile she's been on thousands of different drugs but those two work for her and she has very few side effects. I think you just need to find the right drug! The sad case Is she was so upset when I was diagnosed last week but having my mum I feel so lucky to know someone going through what I am about to. I think I would be 100 x more scared if I didn't have her as we both know no one else with RA. Have hope... I do xx

    • sia34716
      sia34716 Emily1234

      Posted

      Sorry to hear you were diagnosed with RA too. It's a horrible disease . I hv no one whom I could talk at all apart from this forum.

  • martin_F
    martin_F Ljmillin

    Posted

    Unfortunately it can effect any age group even adolescents, I was diagnosed at 47 but had many symptoms well before diagnosis. What you need to remember is you do get times when you can go quite long periods without much problem, especially when you get it under control with DMARDs.
  • Ljmillin
    Ljmillin

    Posted

    Thanks k you so much everyone for your replies. I get all my bloods bk on August 24th bit I'm a total nightmare when it comes to waiting and worrying lol! I will also find out if I jave fibromyalgia so could end up with both! Yippee lol! Pls do keep your replies coming. I really want to know I guess how quickly things could deteriorate in worst case scenario lol xx love and best wishes for you all

  • colin13638
    colin13638 Ljmillin

    Posted

    Hi 

    I was diagnosed with ra when I was 38 I am now 53

    i worked as a self employed painter & decorator and property maintenance

    i am on Methotrexate and Embrel injections plus coco damsel and steroids 

    i have walked my dogs every day morning and night which I believe helps me going

    i have times when I feel that I can't go to work or do others things but think I must keep going or I will be giving in to it

    i have been told today that the doctor I have had since getting ra as retired

    all I can say is don't turn down any meds as they will help.

    i even now do my own injections 

    get as much help from rheumatology and not from your GP 

    i go straight to the help line when I have a problem 

    dont be afraid to ask for help

    good luck 

     

  • mary76396
    mary76396 Ljmillin

    Posted

    Hi Ljmillin, I'm 64 and was finally diagnosed just over a year ago after suffering for a few years from what they knew was an autoimmune disease but not which one. I had to give up work two years ago as I was feeling so ill. I have now got a great Rheumatologist, I've been put on Methotrexate and then Hydroxycloroquine but I have blood tests every month and they showed my inflammation levels still not coming down. I just had a bone scan showing where the inflammation is and its pooling in fingers, hands, wrists, toes, feet and ankles so my Rheumy put me on Cimzia injections too. It has lowered my inflammation but Unfortunately it's caused my liver funtion to go haywire so I'm now off Methotrexate but staying on the folic acid. I have copies of all blood tests and keep a spreadsheet to see for myself how I'm doing. So far my feet are feeling colder so I think it's

    working. Don't get too down about it all, just do each day what you can and don't feel guilty about stopping if you have to. It's how early they diagnose it as to how much damage is done before you get onto a med regime that works. Good luck, your not alone.

  • ann31981
    ann31981 Ljmillin

    Posted

    I'm 36 and was diagnosed 6 months ago (but I think I've had it much longer). I had lots of pain and stiffness in the mornings, in hands especialLy). Crushing fatigue.

    I'm now on methotrexate 20mg Injections per week, 200mg hydroxychloroquine per day, 5mg folic acid per day. I'm doing really well though I had positive rh factor and anti CCP antibodies. Minor pain and stiffness, but I am very functional. I work out at the gym a few times per week, play with my toddler, and am. planning a backpacking trip for later this summer. I want to do as much as I can, while I can . I too am quite afraid of what this disease can do... I'm encouraged to hear about the woman in her 60s who is so active!

    Good luck - keep us posted on how you are doing.

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