Hi All,
I was diagnosed with some version of Spondyloarthropathy/Psoriatic Arthritis/Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis in May 2011. I went from having a few sore joints/tendinitis and one bump on one finger that I thought was just from smashing it to many times working on my old house to everything hurting in May along with a larger bump and what looked like be a few more on my fingers. Went to Rheumi on June 28th with an ANA of 160 and nothing else showing on tests including a negative on RA and 1 on sedimintation rate. He redid the tests with a less sensitive ANA test and everything came back negatitive, I guess that is good thing. He started me on hydrocloriquine 200mg twice a day plus Aleve (I can only tolerate 1 pill twice a day and even that causes me to have cancor sores, any more and I wouldn't be able to hardly eat). After about a month my general body felt better but my hands and feet felt worse and I have developed nodules on almost all my knuckles and now my toes. My fingers are twisting and it hurts to do simple things that I am used to doing (I live in a 120 year old house that my wife and I are slowly restoring and I fix my own vehicles and love woodworking, even my 4 year old son has to be careful of my hands and feet or he will hurt me and he loves to rough house and so do I). My second appointment was Tuesday of this past week. I was given folic acid and Methotrexate 7.5mg to take once a week with an appointment in another 6 weeks, it is actually my wifes due date for our little girl. I know people who have full blown RA and have had joint replacements by the time they were 30. I don't want it to get that bad so I took the Methotrexate last night for the first time right before bed. I woke up in the night last night cold (I usually wake up hot if anything). I am tired but can manage to stay awake and my body aches, no real stomach upset (but it sure did gurgle and object after about an hour. This whole thing is rather depressing to say the least. I am used to having things ache, but I know why and how and know it will go away in a day or two. Now everytime I get up or move around something different hurts or sometimes doesn't.
The medications are tolerable and I know should the side-effects get better with some time but does any have suggestions as to things that can help or things to avoid and questions to ask of the Rheumitolgists?
Thanks,
Chris