Young age when diagnosed

Hi Jesse, sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with RA at such a young age. I was 54 when I was (I'm 61 now) and the rheumatologist referred to me as a young woman! I guess the younger you are potentially there are more years ahead in which the disease can be debilitating but with all the advancements and new drugs it isn't like generations back that suffered terrible deformities etc. My diagnosis was quite a shock as and took quite a time to get my head around and learn about...as I'm sure it is/will be for you. If its any help i was told my type of RA is the more aggressive type and yet it is being managed really well and i feel fairly positive about the future. The sooner you have the diagnosis and put on the right medication the better. The consultant told me it's all about dealing with it early, good management and hopefully periods of remission.That's really good you've lost some weight as it helps the joints and the swelling has gone down. Unfortunately the fatigue is a real pain and I do struggle to accept I can't do all the things I once used to but you will learn to pace yourself....rest and exercise... which is really important. I'm just getting ready to go on holiday and plan to walk and swim every day if I can. It definitely helps to try and keep active if you can...I think mentally as much as anything. Good luck.

Hi Jesse

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis so young. I was diagnosed at 30 but in hindsight I'd had symptoms since I was 25 - now 48. I was put on steroids,gold injections,sulphasalazine and anti inflame initially. After 10 yrs I was given methotrexate and hydroxychroquine which helped more. Two years ago I started on enbrel. That really made a difference but it was too late as I am just getting over double knee replacement.

The point I'm trying to make is that you should have faith in the new medicines. Even in the 18 years I have had RA there has been huge advances.The biologics are great and the side effects less than all the anti inflammatory pills. The new medicines keep the disease at bay much better and less deformity aa a result.

In a perverse way it's a better time to get RA than yrs ago. Hopefully it's not the crippling issue it was for previous generations.

This forum and community of lovely people also make things easier to cope with. RA is scary at first but if you get the right meds and a good mindset then RA will not define you.

Good luck, be strong and be happy.

So sorry to hear you have this nasty little disease so early on. But getting quick control will make sure you don't have any deformities, and remember there are many new ways of treating it.

I was 60 and now I'm 70, so I'm not much use for comparison, but RA is not uncommon in one so young.

Be reassured you will be able to lead a relatively normal life, though it might take a while to settle.

Think of it as another learning experience. Pain makes you more compassionate towards others, more able to empathise with others' complaints. This could be a plus. Also, it will slow you down and give you a longer look through your window on the world. That can be a treasure. You will begin to see things more clearly.

Most people get angry at having a chronic disease. It is esier on ourselves if we learn to make peace with it. It's hard enough having an illness, but to hate yourself for having it only makes matters worse.

Be caring towards yourself and aware of your needs. You will grow as a person through it. I wish you luck...

 

HI

  I am sorry to hear that you have not had success on Methotrexate, but there are new drugs out there that your rheumatologist should be able to help you with. Some new ones are Otezla and Cosentyx, Enbre.... I was diagnosed very late with a bit of a different arthritis, AS, but still will not letting it define who I am . There are many ways to help with this disease, by exercise, mediation, eating clean, generally keeping a clean life and being grateful. I hope this doesn't sound corny, but all these things improve your attitude which is really helpful to staying better. I wish you success in finding new ways to control your RA. Hang in there, Jesse!  you are not alone.

 

I was diagnosed at age 52.

Hey Jesse

Thought I'd post to give you some good news. I was diagnosed at 16 and I'm now 40. I've been really well controlled on first steroids, then sulfasalazine, then aziothioprine and finally methotrexate which I've been taking for nearly 20 years. I have 2 knuckles that are a tiny bit arthriticky looking but that's it! I've been able to do everything I wanted including a round the world trip for a year and trekking in Nepal. And I've just had my first baby. So don't get down. The drugs nowadays are amazing and let you live a normal happy life. I've had flares and painful periods but the vast majority of the time i'm completely normal. And often seem to be healthier than my friends! Hope that makes you less worried. X

Ah that is very young, I was diagnosed at 11 after years of GP visits which resulted in growing pains being the diagnosis. I feel your pain lol physically and emotionally. Being so young you probably couldn't absorb what you were being diagnosed with...

I wanted to add, Jesse, that youre mistaken to think it will get worse. On the contrary, as long as you deal with it head and are patient through the teething pains of the first few months, it will settle, your treatment will take root and you can, as I and many others have done, lead an almost normal life.

I was diagnosed at the age of 15 in 2013 After being told that for 7 years I just had growing pains. The doctors only decided it was arthritis because my wrist had actually became inflamed was swollen and painful. Of course that was before they accused my mum of breaking my wrist . I lost 3 stone and my day consisted of going to school and then coming home to get into bed to sleep. Fatigue and anemia was a big issue for me. I used to do dance and I was crushed when I couldn't do it anymore simply because I couldn't move.

Good to know that there are a lot more people around my age who understand what it's like to have RA.

Hi Jess

​my daughter was diagnosed at 9, she had a really bad time, then she was given embrel and was told that when she had children there was a chance that the RA would subside, my daughter is 27 now and since her first child has been almost symptom free, embrel was like a miracle cure for her.

​i myself was diagnosed about 5 years ago, im 52 now  and i recently stopped taking cimzia and started taking embrel (both biological injections) which seems to be working, i used to be very active but could do almost nothing for the past 5-6 years which was very depressing plus due to the innactivity i gained weight, since taking the embrel my energy levels have increased, im almost pain free and i can do much more these days ive even bought some running gear and intend to start working on my fitness, this would have been unthinkable for me 6-9 months ago, try to stay positive about the future as they are developing new drugs all the time and i think there is a much brighter outlook these days. 

My heart goes out to you being diagnosed at such a young age.  I was 20 when diagnosed with RA and I am now 48.  Like many have already said, the drugs used 28 years ago were not as good as they are now.  I have been on loads of different medications and I have needed surgery on my hands and my feet.  I am now on Cimzia by injection and I seriously feel the best I have ever felt!  Just a word of encouragement if I can...it hasn't stopped me doing anything.  I work full-time as a class teacher with 6 year olds...on the floor with them most of the time!  I have travelled quite extensively, and I have done 2 sky dives!  Whilst of course there are days when I haven't been able to walk upstairs, the bigger picture is that most of the time, it is managed reasonably well and you can 'park it up' in your head.  Thinking of you and wishing you all the best getting this controlled. 

Hi Jesse, im sorry to hear about your early diagnosis. I too am young and have just been diagnosed with RA. I have been put on Methotrexate also and am quite worried about it. How are you copying with it ?

Thanks Ebony☺