I wasn't bitten by a tick after all.

[Ex-zombie]

After six weeks of antibiotic treatment for lyme disease I went back to the doctor still suffering with pain. After more tests, x-rays and a joint exam that made me want to punch the doctor's face in I have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I have it in the bones of my toes, ankles, hips, shoulders, and the middle of my back.

I have been prescribed prednisone and methotrexate. I was told to stop smoking.

RA does not run in my family so I have no idea how or why I got it. Does anyone here have family or friends who have it and can give me info or advice? I admit I'm a little freaked out by the diagnosis having seen photos of the deformities RA can cause.:(

[livius drusus]

That's horrible, Ex-zombie. I'm sorry. :badday:

Are the medications helping with the pain at all?

[beyelzu]

shit zombie that does suck, i think i would prefer the lyme disease.

you should rub fetuses on your joints, it worked for reeves in southpark

[Watser?]

Wow, I thought this was gonna be good news...:(

Sorry to hear it Ex-Zombie.

[curses]

Sorry to hear that, Ex-Zombie :cheerhug:

My aunt has it. Not sure I can offer you advice, though, I've never really asked her.

[Sock Puppet]

My wife has RA. Apparently she acquired it after suffering from rheumatic fever as a child. So you might have gone the same route with a childhood fever that was also misdiagnosed.

The deformities, I believe, come about primarily due to untreated RA. There's no cure, but there are lots of ways to treat it. For one, copious glucosamine & chondroitin supplements can help arrest (or at very least, significantly slow) the joint degeneration. Our doctor said sure, the studies aren't 100% conclusive, but they look very promising.

In choosing a supplement, look for absorbability, not just dosage amount. IIRC, the glucosamine derived from rock shrimp shells is better than other varieties. Also, the herb boswellia appears to aid in absorption.

[viscousmemories]

Damn, Ez. I have no family history and firsthand knowledge to share, but I'm sorry you have to deal with this. :(

[Legs]

Sorry to hear the news Ex-Zombie, hopefully the meds will kick in and give you some relief soon.

Legs :rarrow: :closehug: :larrow: Ex-Zombie

[Leesifer]

Sorry to hear this Ex-zombie. I don't have any dealings with RA but am sure the meds will work for you.

[Plant Woman]

I'm so sorry to hear this diagnosis. I echo SPs recommendations as I have a friend with RA that swears by the stuff. I've used the glucosomine for other joint problems and it's definitely worth trying.

[Ex-zombie]

Thus far I am not getting much relief from the pain, however I do have percocet which I take when it gets really bad. I don't believe I ever had rheumatic fever as a child. I did have a bad case of strep throat, mumps and chicken pox. The only illness I've had as an adult was the flu when I was 32 that turned into pneumonia. Oh, and a stomach ulcer when I was 27.

Thanks sock for letting me know that it is untreated RA that leads to deformity. That's a relief.

According to my doctor I will be on methotrexate for the rest of my life which is scary as the possible side effects are pretty serious. I have to get lab work done every three weeks to check liver and kidney function.

[Shelli]

Wow. That's too bad, EZ. :hug:

[Julie]

Take Tylenol and ibuprofen at the same time...much more effective than the other drugs, less risk, non addictive (Blah blah blah) but really do work the best. There are many different NSAID that help, but work even more when combined with tylenol.

As for the joint damage That is from the inflammation. As long as you can control that you can slow down (Not prevent or stop) the damage.

Go see a rhumatologist not just your GP. There are new WAY more effective meds than methotrexate (And plaquanol and sulphsalazine and gold salts ect) The newer class of biologics are MUCH better than the old treatments.

Orencia
Enbrel
Humira

Humira is the one I just started for my Psoriatic Arthritis (Which is kith and kin to RA) it is 20-70% effective and is so far the best out there.

Find some arthritis classes, there are things in life that you can leran to adapt around, plus it's just great having others around that have been there done that and can give support.

Don't let your fingers go...there are braces that you can wear that will slow down the degeneration! Get your Rhuem to send you to an OT and PT for your fingers and toes if they are bad. There is much that can and should be done.

Get informed, it's your best weapon. Thats where classes and groups help.

custom home (www.arthritis.ca) is just about the best reference site on the net.

Heres to lost of time between flares!

[Ex-zombie]

There are many different NSAID that help, but work even more when combined with tylenol.

I'm not supposed to take NSAIDs, not sure if they react with the meds I'm on or if it's because I've had any ulcer. The doc said it could cause stomach bleeding.


I've checked around the area where I live and the earliest appointment I could get with a rheumatologist is in late February.


* Ex-zombie runs off to check out custom home.

[livius drusus]

Late February?! Jesus, that's insane.

[Julie]

yup ulcers mean no NSAID. Shitty!

And it may take until feburary...that sounds about right, so book now and get on the cancellation list! Rhums are few and far between apparently. There is ~ 250 of them in all of Canada!

You might end up surprised. I was told to expect a 4-5 month wait and ended up getting in in just 3 weeks. Make friends with the secetary! They will be your best friend.

And you don't have to be on Methltrexate for the rest of your life. Like I mentioned there are many new drugs that are better (You do have insurance right? Does it help pay for prescriptions? The biologics are EXPENCIVE)

[Pinecone]

Major ouch diagnos! Sorry Ex-z. :sadcheer:

[Crumb]

Sorry Ex-z. :manhug:

[Ymir's blood]

Sorry to hear about this, Ex-Zombie. :(

[Petra]

Oh, shit. That sucks. Sorry to hear it, Ex-Zombie.


The only thing I can advise, is that you save up for annual trips to Rotorua, NZ (where I live) to soak in the hot mineral springs at QE Hospital.

http://www.qehealth.co.nz/home/downloads/gp_service_referral_midland.pdf

[Dingfod]

Sorry to hear about your rheumatiz, Ex-Zombie. It probably comes from being the former living dead.

Thus far I am not getting much relief from the pain, however I do have percocet which I take when it gets really bad. I don't believe I ever had rheumatic fever as a child. I did have a bad case of strep throat, Rheumatic fever actually is a bad case of strep throat, it caused by the same streptococcus bacterium and often results from untreated or under-treated strep throat.

[Ex-zombie]

Thus far I am not getting much relief from the pain, however I do have percocet which I take when it gets really bad. I don't believe I ever had rheumatic fever as a child. I did have a bad case of strep throat, Rheumatic fever actually is a bad case of strep throat, it caused by the same streptococcus bacterium and often results from untreated or under-treated strep throat.

I didn't know that.

* Ex-zombie goes off to google rheumatic fever.

[pescifish]

I'm very sorry to hear about this, Ex-zombie. It is a scary diagnosis, but I'm glad they recognized it finally so that your treatment can get on the right track. RA does not run in my family so I have no idea how or why I got it. Does anyone in your family have some other autoimmune disease?

When I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, the doctors explained there is evidence of a genetic marker for a variety of autoimmune diseases. The current thinking is that a person who inherits that may not develop the same disease (or any) but perhaps environment or some earlier infection might mean another autoimmune disease will manifest itself in the offspring. My father had multiple sclerosis, so when the docs couldn't find any other cause for my eye disease, they chalked it up to genetics and who-knows-what-all environmental push that caused me to develop it.

[Ex-zombie]

Does anyone in your family have some other autoimmune disease?

No autoimmune diseases. The only two diseases that run in my family are Graves disease (hyperthyroidism) and Type 1 diabetes.

[maddog]

Sorry to hear your news, EZ. Here's hoping that viable treatment options are forthcoming. Best wishes!

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