Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Where is eveyone from and at what stage in life did u find out you had ra? I'm from illinois and I found out I have either pa or ra pending xrays right after the birth of my 3 child?

3C, I'm sorry you are hurting and in the waiting for DX stage. When do you go for the xrays?

I had MCTD for 10 years with no DX. Then the RA jumped in 3 years ago and no DX. Then it all flared together last year with horrible Raynauds attacks and all the DX's were given. I raised 2 boys by myself thru those 11 years, alot of depression from feeling unwell and flulike so much and muscle pain...oh, the muscle pain. Alot of pity parties and secluding myself but during the inbetweens, I would be back to my old self and pushing on soldier style. One son is done with college and home with me and the other is still in and just received his Masters. I am thankful that these flares didn't get debilitating until they were grown. No way the last 3 years i could have cared for toddlers. I could barely, and sometimes not at all, take care of myself from this last flare. I hope you have help around you. Hug those babies and hang in there. I am impatiently waiting for an announcement of grandchildren now but I fear I raised my boys so well, there have been no accidents and they are in no hurry. LOL.

hugs, donna

Donna, there's no shame in raising your boys well!! LOL Don't worry.. the grandbabies will come.. your sons aren't that old yet, don't rush them! lol

3C.. how are you doing? Is the weather getting cooler or cold where you are? Some of us don't do well when it sets in, even if we've lived and/or grown up in cold climates. The body changes...

I live in New Jersey. Got diagnosed about a year ago, but began with symptoms after the birth of my youngest child 6 years ago. Symptoms were up and down, until last year ( after surgery) when I went into a horrible flare. Thought I was dying. It was awful. No one can understand the pain unless they go through it, that's for sure.

Hope you are getting some relief from your symptoms.

Post edited by: kvnj, at: 10/24/2009 08:03 AM

I'm from Maine and was dx a little over a year ago. Even while we continue to find the right meds, my RA has gotten worse

It's just my hubby and I at home as both of my children are grown and married.

This RA battle along with some other illnesses I have has proven to be quite a battle for me, one that I intend to win but every now and then feel like surrending too, it's just to much somedays.

I live in Texas....I have had this forever...but only in the last

few years has it gotten to the unbearable stage....I am also thankful

that my children are grown, and that the grandchildren do not depend

on me for a lot of care......I couldnt do it....frazzled nerves, and

old tired body....perhaps yours will subside during some of the years

your little ones grow....

Hang in there!!!!

I must say that I have intermittant bouts at ages 6,

24, 26 ....then gradually increasing after 40.....

Post edited by: Cyrusray, at: 10/27/2009 05:37 AM

I am from New Jersey and was diagnosed about 4 yrs. ago.

I am glad that my children were adults by then, I have two children 25 yrs. old and 28 yrs. old. My hubby and children give me great support.

Having said that, I believe that no one can understand this disease really unless you have it.

I originally went to the rheumy..because of my osteoarthritis. Then one day the rheumy told me my blood work indicated RA.

RA hit me hard almost from the diagnosis... because I didn't present symptoms at that time, I chalked it up to just in the bloodwork. Then 3 months later it hit me like a tornado...I awoke on morning thinking I was crippled in excruciating pain and swelling. It was a wake up call for me. So, here I am now, I have been up the ladder of all kinds of meds (that I didnt want to take) and as of last year had biologics added to the regime of meds.

Despite all the meds...I still struggle each day...

I'm from PA originally, but have lived in Boston, Missouri, Arkansas/Tennessee(Memphis area), Georgia and now Virginia. I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago but became overtly symptomatic for RA 7-8 weeks after the birth of my now 4-year-old son. Suspect symptoms from my RA as far back as when I was 19 and had just had a two-inch growth spurt plus a big back injury. Pain on and off through the years but nothing to red-flag it as "RA" until I became a lot more educated about the symptoms.

My paternal grandfather had RA and died of methotrexate complications my senior year in high school. I understand that exposure to environmental pollution in higher concentrations (poor air quality such as automobile or manufacturing exhaust) can increase your chances to develop RA if you're female, as well as exposure to certain viruses/bacteria and major trauma.

I hit the point prior to official diagnosis where I felt like a 35 year old trapped in a 75 year old body in the mornings and when stressed. Had to quit firefighting, playing softball and other things where coordination, speed and balance were important.

My med combo now, however, has me feeling the best I've been since I had my son in 2005. This has been the best four weeks I've had in a long time - no flares, no pain and less fatigue. Hooray for good drugs!

Hope you're working on getting your drug combo search working and best of luck with three little ones - I struggle sometimes with just one. (And the husband of course.)

Jen in VA

Let's see..... i live in Kentucky, and i think i've had RA for several years. I would go to my doctor with puffed up ankles and he would think i needed to lose weight, or exercise more, or something. He didn't understand when i described feeling like i was walking on leg stubs with no movement to my feet or ankles. For several years i've had wrists and knuckles puff and not, puff and not but they didn't hurt. Earlier this year i started having knees puff up too - and they hurt. I'd already been to the doctor (new one) for heart problems, lung problems, liver problems, and kidney problems so she decided to do some tests to check for "everything" as she put it. It came back positive for RA, Lupus, and gout. At that time i got a Rheumy and he decided i also have Sjogrens. My biggest joint problems are my ankles. They swell and my tendons feel like they slide and snap and i would crawl except the knees can't handle it.

I guess i'm one of the lucky ones - i retired in 2005 so except for herding kids (my husband's grandkids live with us - she just graduated h.s. and he is a junior) and trying to babysit our daughter's 8 mo. old (almost always with help) i don't have to move. I'm also lucky cuz i've had 27 years with the right man. I have whined about wanting a hot tub and he looks at me like i've lost my last brain cell but mostly he's good.

Hello. I have lived in Northern Indiana most of life and still do. Family and I are thinking of moving to Texas for some warmth and no snow!!! I have had symptoms of RA for many years but got official diagnosis almost 3 years ago now. Rheumy and I firmly believe I have had RA for at least 8 years. What part of Illinois are you in???

Warmth and no snow??? Given that I'm from Maine, I can relate. I wouldn't be able to live anywhere hot as I don't tolerate the heat well at all or I should say, my body doesn't. I could do with living someplace warmer for a few months in the winter though, that's my ultimate goal