Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Hi everyone. My name is Heather. I am 38 years old. I am a 1st time Mom of a 20 month old son named Charlie. Four months after his birth I was diagnosed with rheumatoid Arthritis. The first few months home with him sometimes I could not even hold him. That led me to my doctor and it took some time to diagnose me. Since May of 2008 I have been taking 5mg/daily of Prednisone to control pain. We have been trying to conceive now for about 9 months with no luck. As soon as we are done having children (which should be in the next year or so) I have been recommended to start Plaquinil. I am scared but some days honestly I want to start it now. As you all know you have good days and bad days. I never thought I would be living with such chronic pain at 38. I can no longer do the things I used to love so much and I pray one day to be able to once again. Yoga was a great love and it's just not possible with my pain level. I cry a lot just missing those things. And my husband says he understands but it's hard to know what we feel and go through everyday. I put on a good front because I have no other choice than to make the best of it. It's not going anywhere so I have to manage it and live with it. I have been denied extra life insurance through my work insurance because of it. It doesn't make you feel better when something like that happens. Anwyay, I have rambled on too much. I have searched high and low for a support group in cleveland but have found nothing and thought I would start online. I just need others to talk to who can relate. Thank you for listening and I look forward to getting to know all of you. THanks.

Post edited by: hihobs, at: 10/06/2009 10:20 AM

Heather, You poor girl...taking care of a baby and having RA. My 3 boys are all teenagers. I sure hope you can get on something that will help with the pain. I know you will meet some great people here at MDJ. Take care.... and welcome!!!!!! Kim

Hi Heather and welcome. You found a great group to share with. I give you lots of credit for being able to hold off on meds to have another baby. It can't be easy. I know my last flare would have been impossible to care for a toddler. Is Pred the only med you can use while you are trying?

Hi Heather and welcome. It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm so happy that you found us. This is a wonderful place for support and we will help you through anything we can. Although you are frustrated it still sounds as though you have a positive attitude...that's so important!

It's hard for people that don't suffer with the disease to truly understand whay we go through but it does help when they at least try. Sometimes you need to let go of that brave front and just let it out, you can't hold it all in and smile to make everyone else happy. If you can do that with hubby and he can help you through, that's great, if not, you have all of us now

I'm going to keep you in my prayers as well as your family. There will be many med choices you will have once you are done conceiving however just be prepared that finding the right meds can be the most difficult part of the disease. The trial and error and deicisions to be made regarding side effects can make you crazy.

Please feel free to PM me anytime if you need to talk. I hope you will stick around with us

Hi Heather,

Welcome to the group! Im sorry that you're going throught such torment both physically and emotionally, but rest assured that the people here are very supportive. Even if we all don't live close together, we are close in spirit.

I too got RA symptoms within months of my youngest being born ( hes 6 now), and it was horrible. I was always afraid I'd drop him, it was difficult to lift him as he got older.. we started doing floor diaper changes! That had issues too if my knees, feet and "cankles" were particularly swollen and painful... I was barely still 39 when I had him, so I was where you are now.

Naturally we wish you luck in your quest to conceive, because that can be challenging.. although in theory it should be easy right ? I had issues with that too, due to severe "female issues" which they now relate to being AI disorders too.. Go figure.

Please feel free to post here any time you want to. Send PM's to any of us, and don't feel that you need to put on that good front for us. We all KNOW how you're feeling, and truly understand your pain, frustration, and sense of loss.... Its very therapeutic being here, and I hope you'll come to really enjoy it.

Looking forward to seeing you on here.... {{{{{HUGS}}}}}