HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

New to RA, weird side effect??

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/11/2007 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hey guys, I am a faithful healingwell member (crohn's forum) and unfortunately, my baby sister has just been formally diagnosed with RA sad
She is only 18 years old and about to graduate high school and go into pre-med.
She has been having lots of trouble with her right hand; has trouble driving now or even cutting a waffle, as she cannot clench a fist whatsoever. I believe it's the upper knuckles?

Anyhow, she woke up today with another "attack" or flare..where her hand was very swollen. She goes to her bf's house and within a couple hours, her face had broken out in about 50 little red raised bumps. Not itchy..she has already had chciken pox and did not start any new meds or skin care regime. They just sprouted out of nowhere..

I've tried googling symptoms of RA and I cannot find anyone who has this. Is it a possible symptom of RA?? Maybe just a "rare" one??
I know that before I get a flare of Crohn's I get all kind of red spots on my torso (I call them spleckles) they are not raised..even my GI and the head guy at my hospital had never heard of this..finally i found it in some obscure crohn's book that its a very rare symptom and even has its own name...maybe the same for RA???

Any input appreciated!! Also if anyone knows of a site/forum exclusively for young RA sufferers..she is young and apprehensive and scared and I think has some questions
Thanks guys!
Tara
Posted 6/11/2007 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
sad  awe Tara...break my heart!

i'm glad you wrote.  you can tell your sis that we're similar, if anything it'll let her know she's not alone.

i'm 26 now...but at 16 i tested + for RA (in a nutshell everyone ignored it as i "felt fine")

anyways...i too was on my way pre-med (changed to nursing a few years ago).

 

has she had her chicken pox titers checked?

could it be shingles? you mentioned they weren't painful...how are they today?

 

with RA...it's a multisystem AI disease pretty much similar to lupus so in that aspect...all tissues are effected and can be effected by RA, skin included.

 

not ruling out a topical reaction or a fluke or something unrelated...

 

she probably knows "Pettechia" if she's pre-med...that's sometimes common w/ RA.

so...the DX was from a rheummy?  and she's not on any meds yet?  what about steroids?

 

the arthritis foundation does have a JRA section, if she doesn't feel "too old" for that...it's mostly young kids, and she's basically yeah an adult.

heck...post here!!!!!!! we're all pretty darn youthful! lol.

 

ok...you take good care

and tell sis...never quit & never give up!

peace/love

erin

Posted 6/11/2007 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Erin/Tara:

New to all of this. After reading your thread, my g/f (41 yrs old) has been diagnosed with RA and recently had these single, lone skin eruptions on her back, torso and groin areas....5 spots in all. They are not chicken pocks, but they do resemble what shingles starts out looking like. She is on prednisone and one other drug which I can't recall, but the symptoms you have described seem similar.

I wanted to get on this site to see if I could find someone who knew a jeweler specilizing in rings for RA patients....and, well, I noticed the similarity. She already has some deformation of the joints in her hands, but I would like to get her an engagement ring she can take on/off over the enlarged finger joint....I'd appreciate any help.
Posted 6/11/2007 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Oooh...oh wow. Yeah I can see your problem here! Man you're in a tight spot! My ring was actually purchased too big...then we had it made smaller.
I told the jeweler what I had & about the swelling; but he had no constructive advise about rings regarding RA & joint swelling.
I wish he did!

If I were you & really couldn't find the answer to the ring thing...I would buy the ring a little bigger, that way she has the opportunity to either A) have a bridge put on or B) have it cut smaller.

Prednisone is a stickler for making the hands swell...I hate it! (in fact...prednisone makes ALL THE WRONG PLACES SWELL, lol)

Back to the skin thang...your gal's on immunosuppressants so the possibility of shingles is greater. So do be on the lookout for that.
I think I know what you're talking about. On my upper back between my shoulder blades I have about 4 sores that are like dime sized and one right on my shoulder....THEY NEVER HEAL!!!!!!!! Had em' over 8months.
They kinda get scabby...fall off....then ooze all over again.

She'd know if they're infected...it is a pain in the a** especially if she wants to wear something nice and sleeveless.

So hey...keep in touch & check back here to see if anyway knows about the type of specialty jeweler you're looking for. I wish you & your girlfriend the very best.
Be good to each other.
Enjoy the "good" times.
Laugh at everything.
*If she knew what you were doing with looking for a ring that fits her needs....believe me, that's really really sweet & it means more than you know.

Take care
erin
Posted 6/12/2007 10:42 AM (GMT 0)
Erin,

Thank you for the info and the encouragement. She is a wonderful woman and I want her to have a beautiful engagement ring....she's never been married. I have an idea for a "hinged" ring which I thought may be available online, but I've yet to find a jeweler. If I can't find one online, I'll take my design to a local jeweler and see if it can be made. I will be checking back frequently for that and more info on RA.

Thanks again.

Mark
Posted 6/12/2007 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
:-)  Dear Mark,

 

Yes, please do keep us posted.  I'm sure we would all love to hear how this turns out ( tongue and your ventures in ring shopping tongue ).

Plus, if you do find a specialty jeweler do let me know!  I'm sure many guys here could use that information as well.

 

You seem like a sweetheart of a guy.  Good luck w/ the ring!

 

And if your girlfriend needs a place to talk about what she's going through with RA or anything...tell her to come on down and join Healing Well!

 

Take good care.

erin

Posted 6/13/2007 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
hey guys,
thank you very much for the responses!
She did go to the hospital about it- and they think that it is unrelated to the RA..they think that an old sunscreen with PABA in it caused the trouble. Wouldn't luck have it, that she is about to graduate in a few days and have prom! They are hoping it will clear up ASAP.

Erin, she did not visit a rheummy yet, but she was in the ER with bad pain where they did the tests and are about 95% sure it's RA. She now has an appt with a rheummy for the end of the month, and was givin something but I think it was for the pain..def not pred..I am familiar with that nasty drug!!

Mark:
There is a ring sizer made in gold tone that you get from the jewelry store..it hooks onto the ring and it expends when need be. It is almost invisible when the ring is on straight..towards the back of the finger there are 2 little prong things that affix it to the ring. It is removable too. THe caveat with this is apparently there is a risk of scratching the ring, as it can wiggle around on the ring. So I would go for 10karat , not above, as it's not as soft as the 14k and up.
I have a trinity ring I bought that I have the sizer in, and I wear that ring instead of getting my engagement ring sized all the time when I am on prednisone..I find it easier and I am still wearing a ring on the right finger :) If you follow this route, I would get the ring 2 szs larger than she needs at the base and the sizers can be had at the jewelers for about $15.00.
Posted 6/13/2007 10:43 AM (GMT 0)
Erin,

Thanks for the encouragement and info. I'll be sure let you know how this turns out. I'm just learning about RA and its effects and will be checking back frequently.

Tara,

I'll check out the ring sizer at the jewelers here. It's certainly an inexpensive way to solve the problem. Thank you for the tip.
Posted 6/18/2007 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Erin/Tara,

I've found a website that offers the hinged ring I was looking for. It is www.superfit.com. They have the ring itself, less diamond, for about $675 in 18K. It has a snap lock feature and a stainless steel hinge pin and looks like a regular ring except you can put it on and take it off without going over the knuckle. I hope this information may be helpful to others who may be looking for a ring for an RA sufferer. Thanks for all your encouragement.

Posted 6/18/2007 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Mark,

Thanks for that information on the hinged ring, just one slight adjustment to web address: http://www.superfitonline.com/

Good luck to you and your special lady!

-Jem
Posted 6/18/2007 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
this is really great! what a terrific find. this will come in handy i a sure for many folks!
thanks!
erin
Posted 7/17/2007 12:03 PM (GMT 0)
Erin, Tara, & Jem:

UPDATE: Had a size 6 hinged ring made from 18K and a .60 pt diamond (VVS-2 grade, near perfect) and it was beautiful. Yes, I said WAS beautiful. After two weeks of telling each other that we loved one another and planning a trip to Niagara Falls where I was going to present the ring to her, she came to me the day before we were to leave and told me she "loved" me but wasn't "in love" with me, but someone else. confused I was devastated! All along she said how happy she was to be with me, then this. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the blood and bone marrow in early June....you think that had anything to do with it?

This folded me up, ladies. I'm so shocked and hurt that I had to go to the hospital after not eating or drinking for 4 days. I feel like I have no future whatsoever now. Who wants someone with cancer? I would have been OK with it if I hadn't been lied to, but unfortunately it happened. She didn't even want to look at the ring, but I made her look so she could see it open and close. She said, "That's nice".

Anyone want a size 6 ring that cost $2,240 for $1,800?

Thanks for all you've done for me and for each other. I wish all of you the best in the days ahead.

Mark sad

Posted 7/17/2007 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
If anyone may be interested in the ring, go to superfitonline.com and look at the 18K cathedral mounting. I forgot to mention the diamond is oval in shape and comes in a lighted, yes, lighted case. It is a spectacular ring. I have photos if anyone is interested. Send me your e-mail address. I will entertain any reasonable offer, and maybe an unreasonable one if you're lucky!
Thanks.

Mark
Posted 7/18/2007 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All,

Just to let you know the ring is sold. Someone got a nice ring for $1,500. Best wishes in your fight against RA. I am leaving this site for good. God Bless You all.

Mark
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply