Well, I knew I had it. I just had to be diagnosed and now I have been. So why am I upset? I've suspected this since my first appt with my primary care physician.

Suddenly I feel like I am doomed, yet all along I've been so positive. Doc put me on Daypro and I am starting Plaquenil (sp?) next week. I also have to have my knees drained.

I guess the part that is getting me most is the baby thing. She won't treat me with anything other than Plaquenil until after my childbearing is complete. I am only 27 and really want another baby!! DH and I have been married for 2 1/2 years and have a 1 year old baby boy....he is my life! I guess I should say they both are, I love them so so much.

I feel a bit guilty about what life may bring to them now. I'm sure I am just overwhelmed and need time for this to "really" sink in. I am shocked I feel this way, I thought I had already accepted it. Guess not!

Anwyay thanks for letting me vent. If anyone has been on Daypro or Plaquenil please let me know what i can expect for improvement in my symptoms and side effects.

Thanks again!

Angela

Hi Angela -
I'm sorry you have RA - I know it seems REALLY overwhelming right now, but rest assured, it's not a death sentence! I'm 31 - a doctor mentioned I had RA when I was 18, but didn't give it a thought b/c I was "only 18". So, I consider my "official" diagnosis about 3 years ago...

Why don't you get in touch with your local arthritis foundation office and see what sort of services they offer? (arthritis.org) They might be able to offer you some support and education to find ways to effectively cope with the disease. Did your doc talk to you about options other than meds that won't impact your future pregnancies - ie exercise, diet, counseling, stress relief, nutritional supplements...?

How was your symptoms while you were preggers with your baby?

I've been on Plaquenil (you spelled it correctly) for about 9 months. I personally haven't noticed any improvements, but A LOT of people rave about it. I've been under a lot of stress in the past year, and my diseases have run amuck - my doctors say I would be a lot worse if I wasn't taking it. Most folks say it takes a couple of months to really get results.

Good luck, keep us posted and keep your chin up!

[This message has been edited by scbagrrrl (edited 08-01-2002).]

Hi Angela -

I've been watching for your name to see how your Dr's appointment went. I am sorry it's RA. I totally understand how your are feeling right now. Remember my post a few weeks ago? I was a mental case and I can't tell you how much better I am now that i have accepted my RA diagnosis as well. YOu are just going through the natural stages. I actually even PHYSICALLY feel better since the mental side of me as calmed down!

I am on Plaquenil and Celebrex. The Plaq will take a few months to kick in, but so far it has not given me any side affects. I, too am concerned about getting pregnant and don't want to be on any harsh meds until after that. I just got married in October and we want to have a baby next year.

Definitely stay positive. You will be upset right now and are allowed to be. But, trust me... you will feel much better very soon. I have gained so much from just this site alone and I know I have support out there - from people we barely know!! I have also be reading up on this so much and am very confident that I will not let this interfere with who I am. They say a positive attitude goes a long way - and I'm trying for that every day.

I have my next Dr. appintment on Tuesday. They wanted to rerun all my blood tests and took xrays the first time I was there. I am also going to for a second opinion to a Dr. in NYC in September - at a very well known hospital for rheumatic conditions. I see you are from NY. I Don't know how far from NYC you live, but I would be more than happy to tell you about this doctor when I see if and tell you if he's good.

Take care and I agree - "Keep your chin up!"

Angela,

I too am 27 and am dealing with this. Although I havent gotten my actual diagnosis, I know I'll have to deal with this for at least a year or two (and maybe longer if my diagnosis comes back RA on the 8th). So I can defintely understand how you feel especially about having a baby. Im 27 and am getting married in May of next year and wanted to start a family right away since thats been my dream but now I feel like I might have to postpone that for a while, which upsets me because I didnt want to wait to have kids. I want to be just like every other young married couple and now I cant. I know how upsetting this is for you. Be glad you have your hubby and your son, together they will help keep your spirits up and will give you the support you need right now. Best of luck!

Meg

I am a psoriatic arthritis sufferer. I have RA degeneration in the fingers and toes, and I have Osteo arthritis in every other joint of my body. Capitalize the word EVERY.

I was taking Plaquenil along with either Vioxx or Bextra for several years. That combination worked quite well. When both of those Cox-2 drugs were withdrawn, however, my life became a drug nightmare. It was hard to find a suitable replacement.

I tried just about every other major NSAID---including Daypro, Voltaren, Relafen, and Lodine. Daypro, the last one that I tried, produced the least amount of relief. (From what I've read, it was rejected by the FDA three times because the drug really couldn't do anything more than aspirin and other existing products. It's only advantage is that it absorbs more slowly, putting less strain on the stomach.) After using each of the above four drugs for just a little while, I began to experience an allergic reaction that increased the joint inflamation. Also, they all produced drowsiness. The tiredness problem forced me to drink caffeine, which, in turn, made the arthritis problem even worse. As a result, I had to search for something else to use.

Naprosyn appears to be the only solution for me. It is the best inflamation fighter by far, and it produces no drowsiness. I was concerned about the heavy burning sensation that the drug produces in the upper GI tract. My doctor explained, however, that any irritation that occurs is the result of the drug passing from the bloodstream into bodily tissues, not from the drug floating around inside the stomach. (That's why the enteric coated version of Naprosyn really doesn't do much more to protect the body. The problems don't begin until after the drug is in the bloodstream.) Furthermore, with Prilosec (the OTC version of Nexium), you can minimize the danger of excess acid thinning out the stomach lining.

I hope that this information helps someone who is struggling with how to choose the right medicine.

Hi Angela74,
So sorry to here you have R.A it is rather a shock when the doctor confirms it. l to have R.A. and osteo as well ( and other nastys) l am one of the unlucky ones who cannot take any of the normal drugs given to sufferers in order to help with the pain and swellings , my 'other conditions' make it impossible. If l take an anti-inflammatory drug l end up doubled up in pain and bleeding for days on end , its to do with my digestive problem.
l lead a positive life most of the time, l dont work as such ............but l am self employed as a writer and about to have my first book go into print ( ripe old age of 50)
l always try to think ahead , like if l'm going out ,what to take in case of emergencys, can l sit down anywhere, drive the car as near as possible etc, in doing this l find even with all of my conditions and constant pain l can work around most things.
Dont try to be a 'super mum' or 'super wife 'in order to prove that it wont make a difference to your life! what you must try to do is when you are tired or have the horrid pain is to let hubby help out , its a good excuse to lay on the floor or bed and read or watch a video with your little one, l used to do this a lot.
l have had my condition since l was about 16 yet was only diagnosed with it in 2002 ( yet you can SEE l have it ) l struggled for over 30 years being told 'its all in your head' its just 'growing pains' or ' you've pulled a muscle ' it wasnt until l was sent to London for tests on my heart and brain functions that they discovered my R.A. + osteo as well as others..........god being told you have R.A. is bad enough , but l was told five conditions at once!!!!
l remember swearing at the consultant rather loundly and calling him every name under the sun ( words l never knew l knew before!) he was great, he say there arms folded and took it all , when l'd finished he said laughing 'right now thats out of your system , lets sort you out' and l havent looked back from that day.
l'm really pleased that you have the answer now and dont have to struggle on, many of my friends are still undiagnosed , hopefully now you can think to the future , l've got three children and four grandchildren , so if an old 'crock ' like me can hang on in there and make a life for herself............well , there is no limit for your life . Best wishes for a wonderful future Holeinheart.

Hello,
My Sister has had R.A. since she was 8 years old, she now is 52 and doing great!! She is now an Xray tech. at a hospital, and she has also had three kids and did pretty well with that also, but I will tell you she exercises alot!!and I think that has helped her quite abit. Her exercise is walking and she does that place with all the different machines (don't want to do any free advertising) Anyway good luck!!

I am sorry you have been diagnosed. Don't be surprised if at some point you take a huge step back in denial about it, though. A few months ago, I was thoroughly convinced that this was lyme disease instead of RA. My doctor humored me and checked for lyme's even though he was sure I had been diagnosed correctly. If you are wanting to have another baby, I'd go ahead and do it. The longer you wait, the longer it will be before you can start the more aggressive DMARDS. You can manage to have RA and a family and work. You just have to listen to your body and rest if you need to, even if the laundry and dishes are piling up and there are dust bunnies playing under the couch. :-)

Hey.

I know how you are feeling. I have JRA. was diagnosed with it when i was 16. i remember my gp called nad left a message with my bro saying they found a rheumatic factor in my blood and she was refering me to a rheumatologist. i didnt know what it was at the time, i just remember thinkin, isnt that something old people get. so i remember crying and nt knowing what was gong on. then went to see my arthritis doc and at the time i would get fluid on both my knees and my hip was sore. nearly 10 years later ive just had a hip replacement 6 months ago which was so successful and it looks like im getting a toe fusion too. my knees still swell too but the doc siad that ones you have a problem wit your hip, that will give you knee problems and the same with foot problems, that will give you knee problems so they are putting it down to that. i have crohns disease too which can cause inflamation of the joints but they dont think its that thats making my knees swell. i know its a lot to take in right now for you but you have to understand that this is your destiny and this is your life. some people thing you are hear on earth with one struggle and thats your purpose in life is to cope with that struggle
of course we all get our bad days thinkin "why me, what did i do wrong" but unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it. the rest of my family are so healthy that it makes me think, well why did i get all of this. id ont like complainin to my family about hwere hurts cos i dont want them to worry and i also know that its something i have to live with for the rest ofmy life so i have to be able to deal with it myself.
i do worry about hwen i have kids cos more than likely they are gonna have arthritis or crohns. at least i will know what they are going through and understand then
good luck with everything
x