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[Twinks80]

Hello, I'm new to the group! I've recently been diagnosed with RA by my pcp, I also have a pending upcoming rheumatologist appt. My symptoms of RA started shortly after I delivered my twins earlier this year on 1/1/2016. Before we were discharged from the hospital, I had to get an MMR booster because of decreased immunity along with a Rhogam shot since I'm RH B-. I've found a couple of articles that have linked the MMR vaccine to RA. Has anyone heard of this? I'm just trying to make sense of this. I'm a 35 y/o mom and wife to 4 kiddos and Im worried about my future with this condition.

Right now I'm on my second round of steroids, currently taking Prednisone 50mg daily, Meloxicam 15mg and Tramadol for pain. I've been pretty miserable for the last couple of months and it just seems like it keeps getting worse everyday 😔

Teresa

[Preacherman]

Hi Teresa,

Sorry to hear you have R/A, but I don't think there is any sense to as why we get R/A. For me, I think maybe it was my alcoholic drinking in my younger days that helped bring it on, I really don't know, but the fact is I have it and where do I or we all go from here. For me, I don't drink at all and haven't in over twenty-five years. I believe meds work better if folks don't drink, ok enough on that. I would think and hope the prednisone is working for you. Your Rheumatoligist will probably start you with Methotrexate, probably about five or six pills taken once a week along with folic acid about 1,000mg daily, this is where most of them start, the problem with most of the medicines weather they be dmards or bilogics is that many of them take six to twelve weeks to work and or rule them out. I'm sure there's a medicine out there that will work for you, it's just painful until you find the one that works for you. I'm going through that now, because most of the meds run there course for a person and simply stop working after a period of time, some will work for just a few years and some maybe forever, it just depends on the person, what one med works for one person may not necessarily work for another person. Also, please make sure you get a good Rheumatoligist, some are definitely better than others, get one that listens to you, it is your health and you are the one suffering and I've found out when it comes to taking care of my health it's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil, so my prayers are with you, I'm the Preacherman-Brian and now I have to go preach. Keep looking up, faith will help. I hope your ok with the Lord and if you are, know this. If all blessings are in His hand, why don't we just go to Him for our help? After all, if the blessings are in His hand we might as well go to the One that can dish them out, because ultimately all healing is from Him. Amen, blessings,

Brian

[Cscefcyk in reply to Preacherman]

Really great info Brian! My faith is tight with the Lord and I do leave it with him! I have RA and Lupus and man o man it's tough! Right now I am up trying to walk around to get the swelling down so I can go to church! It tough but the move I move the better, so I just keep swimming!!

[acooke082]

Hello Teresa. I'm sorry you've been so miserable. I have been the same way and I am also a wife and mother. I am new to all of this as well. I've had the RA diagnosis about three weeks now. My Dr. put me on methotrexate and I am now taking enbrel. Like you I was worried about my future. While reading about enbrel I read that 55% of the people that were taking it showed no new joint damage. There is hope for us with the right treatment! As for your other questions I don't really know. I believe that most of us carry the gene for autoimmune issues and that there are many factors that can contribute to its development. Hang in there ma dear. There are many treatment options it just takes patients to find the one that works best for you.

[Prettypanda]

I don't know about the vaccines; but I myself had my very first symptoms right after my son was born July 2014. Pregnancy can bring it on. I thought the pain would go away and it took a good year and a half before it was clear I had RA. I totally understand feeling scared about the future! All I am focused on myself is treating the RA and keeping permanent damage from happening so I can play and take care of my 2yr old now and in the future. I myself am only 36 and cannot imagine the stress you must feel with so many little ones! I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the medications you take...

[Twinks80 in reply to Prettypanda]

Luckily, my hubby is very helpful with the kiddos! Otherwise I probably would have lost my mind already! lol

[Twinks80 in reply to Prettypanda]

Prettypanda did you have any symptoms prior to giving birth to your son? Prior to have my twins recently I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia years ago, but nothing like how I feel now. The pain now is so different and worse.

[Prettypanda in reply to Twinks80]

You know, I've always been unbelievabley tired but just always figured it was stress. I was on bed rest from 8 months pregnant on- but I definitely had swollen joins in my hands and wrists really bad - I was in tears at times, I also had a tough time walking down the stairs. Looking back it was clearly more than arthritis or being pregnant- I guess I just learned to live with it any time I had those pains in the past at jobs etc. I just kept telling my husband over and over "something is really wrong". Felt like a lot of Dr's blew me off. I see my Rheumatologist tomorrow and cannot wait to actually GET treated. I've already decided if I get blown off I will change Dr.'s.

[Twinks80 in reply to Prettypanda]

I hope you get answers tomorrow! Please keep us posted!

[Barbgalvin in reply to Prettypanda]

I hope you get some answers as well .Hoping that the confirmation of your symptoms ease some of your stress. In the beginning I know I sometimes felt that I had to "prove" to my friends that a bad day really was a bad day not an excuse to utilize in life. People just don't get what they can't see.