Anyone here have Rheumatoid Arthritis?

[VroomieMama]

My dr suspects that I may have Rheumatoid Arthritis and we're waiting for the blood tests result to confirm it. I have read enough about RA and it really does describe the pains that I have and what I'm going through.

I'm just wondering if anyone on here have it?

What was it like for you when you are in pain but still have to attend to your small children?

What did you do to minimize the pain and how did you remain attentive and entertain them?

Did you have RA when you were pregnant and what treatments did you have?

I am 32 years old and I have a 7 yrs old girl, 1 yr old female twins and a baby on the way.

[kjbrown92]

You may want to get checked for Lyme Disease as well (Igenex test) since symptoms are similar.

[VroomieMama]

I have already been tested for lyme disease and it came back negative. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Viola41]

I was diagnosed w/ RA after I had flare-up of major joint pain about 2 months after my 2nd child was born. I was also tested (came out negative) for Lyme, and had all the symptoms of RA (including the bloodwork). I was in pretty bad pain for 2 months, but held off of the heavy meds and just took Motrin and soaked my joints in warm water.

However (and this might be just my very personal experience), after about 2 months, my family went on a beach vacation, and I got a bug bite that turned into an infection in my leg. I had to take 10 days of antibiotics (augmentim), and after that, my symptoms virtually disappeared. I had a little residual redness in my knuckles and some soreness in the soles of my feet, but I really felt back to 100%. It led me to look into if antibiotics are connected to RA treatment, and I found a book called "The Infection Connection" and an online site called www.roadback.org that both support antibiotics for treatment of RA. However, whenever I've brought up my experience to my rheumatologists (I've had 2, since I've had to move), they both shrug and say it might be coincidence.

Anyway, I'd highly suggest researching antibiotics before doing any major drugs. I hope you're not having a lot of pain now, and that pregnancy has helped some symptoms subside. I actually just had my 3rd baby and am waiting to see if I flare up again postpartum (babe is only 4 weeks old right now). If I do flare up, I'm going to try another round of antibiotics...I figured it can't hurt, women get prescribed the same stuff for mastitis and stuff.

I hope that you find some answers and healing, it's not easy to be sick, especially with small children!

[VroomieMama]

Hello Viola41.. its funny.. my first name is Viola but anyways.

This has been my experience:

Last month, my both ankles (joints area) started to hurt then the day after Easter, my elbows started to hurt really bad and I had a hard time getting myself out of bath tub that I even fell back into the tub when I tried to get up after realizing how my elbows really hurts as I tried to pull myself up. I got fed up and went to ER b/c I wanted to know what’s wrong with me. They tested me for Lyme disease, MS, HIV and pregnancy. The result came back and said I am pregnant but nothing else came positive.

Recently, my DR tested me for rheumatoid arthritis and it came back negative but my sedimentary rates were high. My DR noted that the SED RATES were high because I’m pregnant and I have some kind of inflammation. My dr gave me two contact information of rheumatologist and I need to call and make an appointment.

Basically, some days my joints (ankles, elbows, knees, wrists and hips) and legs, arms and thighs are so sore as if they are so stiff from not stretching before strenuous exercises from a previous day but I had not exercised or did anything. Also, my right foot, on the top of my arch area, it would feel like its burning whenever I moved or if it is slightly brushed by my cat, or if it was touched by my blanket as I moved around in bed or even if I tried to get off of my bed to walk before touching the ground.

I’m pretty much not active and I don’t exercise much but I do have lots of steps on my stairs and walk up and down a lot to go outside to walk my dog or to do errands.

I just hope that I will be able to have some kind of treatment to ease up the pain while I'm currently pregnant. These pain are so UNBEARABLE! Its so HARD to lift my twins or to clean or to do simple things that I have to do on daily basis. Its so frustrating!

[mum4boys]

I am being worked up right now for psoriac arthritis. I have had problems off and on for years. I prefer to bury my head in the sand. I am the mom and cannot be ill. It is ironic because I have 3 children with juvenile arthritis. My 17 year old just got diagnosed last month. He did not tell us about symptoms he was having for two years (until he lost the ability to walk). He now has some major joint damage. We were really upset that he kept this to himself then I went oh that is exactly what I am doing so I finally went to the doctor.

I try to exercise every day which does help. The number 1 thing to help arthritis is movement. I have now reached the point that the stiffness is unbearable. It makes movement tough. I can deal with pain, a lot of pain and still function. I have the attitude that the fact is I am going to be in pain I can be happy and functioning and in pain or miserable and in pain. I try to be the first. The stiffness though is kicking my behind. I am not nearly as active as I use to be. I am a morning person and it takes me a good 90 minutes to get out of bed because of the stiffness.

[VroomieMama]

Originally Posted by mum4boys

I am being worked up right now for psoriac arthritis. I have had problems off and on for years. I prefer to bury my head in the sand. I am the mom and cannot be ill. It is ironic because I have 3 children with juvenile arthritis. My 17 year old just got diagnosed last month. He did not tell us about symptoms he was having for two years (until he lost the ability to walk). He now has some major joint damage. We were really upset that he kept this to himself then I went oh that is exactly what I am doing so I finally went to the doctor.

I try to exercise every day which does help. The number 1 thing to help arthritis is movement. I have now reached the point that the stiffness is unbearable. It makes movement tough. I can deal with pain, a lot of pain and still function. I have the attitude that the fact is I am going to be in pain I can be happy and functioning and in pain or miserable and in pain. I try to be the first. The stiffness though is kicking my behind. I am not nearly as active as I use to be. I am a morning person and it takes me a good 90 minutes to get out of bed because of the stiffness.

A good 90 minutes to get out of the bed?! Your pain must be a lot more than mine! It takes me about 1 or 2 minutes to finally get out of bed. I certainly hope that I won't reach to that point!

I have been reading that it is important to be active to "overcome" the arthritis pain and I'm thinking about joining maternal water aerobics class. I have done water aerobics before and I loved it so much. So much more fun than the regular aerobics.

[mum4boys]

Originally Posted by VroomieMama

A good 90 minutes to get out of the bed?! Your pain must be a lot more than mine! It takes me about 1 or 2 minutes to finally get out of bed. I certainly hope that I won't reach to that point!

I have been reading that it is important to be active to "overcome" the arthritis pain and I'm thinking about joining maternal water aerobics class. I have done water aerobics before and I loved it so much. So much more fun than the regular aerobics.

Ya it totally bites. Especially since I am a morning person. I want to get my day started. Plus the coffee pot is downstairs in the kitchen and I have yet to train the cat to bring me a cup.

We were swimming very reguarly. I need to get back into the habit. It does help a lot.

[JaneS]

A friend had it, until she went strictly gluten free. Now it's gone.

[mamalisa]

I do. But I'm on my phone and I hate typing long posts. Be back tomorrow!