Hi,
My name is Carmen, I am 54 years old, I am originally from Colombia, and live in New York City for 26 years. I was diagnosed with RA one month ago after suffering from excrutiating pain in almost all my joints. I could barely move. I began to see a rheumatologist who put me on Prednisone for a month and he added the methotrexate and folic acid last week after my second appointment. Right now I can say that I almost pain free, and hope to begin working again next week. I see food as medicine so I changed my diet completely after the diagnosis, and I will never drink even a drop of alcohol again in my life. I became gluten free 7 months ago after I began waking up with pain and stiffness in my hands, which was the first symptom, and since the diagnosis of RA I am eating only vegetables (except the nightshade vegetables), fruits, grains, legumes, fish and eggs. But I am thinking of stopping eating eggs also. I take a turmeric, ginger, apple cider vinegar and raw honey tea twice a day, and try to put turmeric in all the food I can. I also put two table spoons of grounded flax seeds and a table spoon of unflavored gelatin in my oatmeal every morning. I think that it is very important to help us with our diets in addition to the medication. I also practice affirmations and have a very strong faith. I would like to find a RA support group here in Manhattan. Please let me know if you know of one. After being in such pain and having so much difficulty moving I thought about the people who go through the same, and maybe they don't have anybody to help them. I would like to volunteer for that in my free time. I was lucky that my sister could fly immediately from Panama, where she lives, to take care of me for 20 days.
Take care,
Carmen
Long battle with RA
Fighting Without Meds
Red eyes
Needing Advice!!!