Been reading for a while

I am new to this so try to bear with me.  I have been reading your questions and answers for a while.  I was diagnosed with RA about six months ago.  Did the Plaquinal, MTX and now just had my first Humira shot.  Was scared to death but have given my dogs shots so I said I could do it to myself.  Really I was very nervous but listening to you all and how brave you are gave me strength.  You all are life savers.  Will try to check back often.  It is so hard to work 40 hrs and I will probably have to get another part time job just to cover the $365.00 a month for my shots.  Thank God I have insurance which picks up most of the cost.  Just wanted to let you all know how grateful I am you are there.  And I wish you all the best.

 Hello and welcome,

Congrats on your first shot..see it was easy.

You have found a wonderful place and you will find a lot of friendly folks here. Hope you can visit us often.

Sorry you are having to take on more work, but hope all works out for you,

flopsie

Well, I'm here again. Been doing a little better. Would be a lot better if I could get of the Pred. Rhuemy said have to continue until the Humria has time to kick in. Guess I sure don't want to go back to not being able to move my hands or wear shoes. With the weather getting cold I would be a sight wouldn't I. To top it all of I would be a looney bug too with all the Tylox I take when I'm flared up but only way to function. My regular MD is wonderful but my Rheumy leaves a bit to be desired. I hope everyone is doing ok. Guess if you don't hear from someone for a while that means their not doing so good. Will try to keep up with everyone.
My husband is fixing to start a partime job to help with the meds maybe when I feel better I can get a small part-time job also. He is such a wonderful husband always does what ever I need help with at the time and never complains. I don't know if I would be so good at this. He has helped me get dressed, brush teeth, etc. I am so lucky to have him and love him so much. I hope you all have someone to help when you are flared up also.

Cat

Thanks you all are so great. I'm sure I will get all the info to help me learn to deal with this horrid disease and get me through the ruff spots. Guess I better try to get some beauty sleep and take my seems like 100th pill just to sleep through the night. Oh well at least I sleep. Ha Ha

I guess according to my blood work it is very advanced according to my rheumy he had it done 3 times before he belived it and each time it got worse and worse. He said must be a lot going on inside. But you couldn't tell that to my fingers, wrist, neck, feet. I have had 3 major flares in the last 6 months. I went about 3 months on Plaqunil with no problems then surprise flare (cort shot, pred, meth, diflenac) Did a little better but flared again then he upped the meth to 7 once a week (shot, pred, diflenac) Sick as a dog took me off meth and just on pred, diflenac and humira shot. Seems to be working a little. Maybe wishful thinking but I am having faith. Needless to say my pcp has seen the worst of it and let my rheumy have it about getting me in when I am flared. Once they told me it would be a month before I could get in. (I overheard my doctor let him have it and I was in the next day surprise)

Right now I am just trying to ride it out until the Humira kicks in, with the pred, diflenac and Tylox when needed. It is all I can do to get up and go to work in the morning. I sure don't want to but sometimes I think it is a blessing because I would probably slip into a major depression.

I am 47 years old my husband is 39 yrs old. He is soooooo sweet to me. Got me a younger man. Hee Hee guess from the looks of things that is probably a good thing. We have been married almost 16yrs and he has practically raised both of our boys as his own. I also, have two boys the oldest was 4yr and the youngest 2yr when we met. One is going to graduate in the spring with his BS in Construction management and the other is in his 2 yr majoring in Physical Therapy or something like that according to him. Ha Ha. We have 2 minature schnauzers 1yr and the other is 6mo. They are my replacements for the empty nest. They are much cheaper than the kids. Ha Ha and no back talk. We also, have a very old cat (15 yr) she is such a baby. I work as a payroll administrator for a electrical contractor.

I do have a question is there anything that can be done to get rid of that bloated feeling when on the preds?

Thanks,
Cat

I took predinose for a while and I never got rid of the bloat... to this day I still have the "moon-face" and "buffalo-hump" which neither of which I am very fond of... good luck to you

Hi Catz,

Hope you are feeling better. I was on Decadron Shots for 2 1/2trs. I gained alot of weight and had the moon face. I ran across some old pics not long ago and it wasa taken during the Decadron days, gosh, I looked like humpty dumpty in those pics. I had terrific neck, low back and shoulder pain and my neurologisst is the one who did the injections every six weeks. Little did I know, 2 1/2yrs later and a week in the hospial that I should not have been on the stuff for more than six weeks. It did a number on me, long history of high BP and I ended up stroke line-thats what landed me in the hosptial. Now, if given any type of steroid in go into congestive heart failure on day 3.

Hope you get some relief soon. Hugs.... Susie

Hey Catz.I just wanted to say hey.I am very new here as you can see.
I am so glad you have such a wonderful husband.That means so much.
Working must be so hard for you.I don't know how so many of you can work.
But I know many of you have no choice.I stay at home to take care of my
daughter that has many health problems.But even before she was born I struggled
working.I would always get so sick.Now I know why.

Take care,
Sheila