Newbie

[linandpete]

Hi I’m new to the site I’ve had ra for about 20 years also osteoarthritis, osteopenia, emphysema and now macular degeneration beginning to wonder if these are somehow related does anyone know?

[Heraripley]

Hello

I just wanted to say welcome. I'm pretty new to the site and have had some really lovely interactions with people - so much support and wisdom. It's really great to finally find a space where people get what I'm going through, and often have experiences that I can draw on to help inform my own decisions.

I don't have any answers to whether the conditions you suffer from are related.

I do know that since developing RA I feel like I'm constantly trying to unravel the reasons why my body is doing what it's doing. In my experience it's one of the hardest bits - not knowing why.

I'm glad you've found this place and I'm sure the people here will provide much support for you

🌻

[Hidden]

Welcome so difficult to say if they are connected. Auto immune diseases can hunt in packs . I don’t think your other problems are auto immune diseases. Do you take any medication ? Osteoarthritis and macular degeneration are often hereditary although some meds can cause macular problems

[linandpete in reply to Hidden]

I take methotrexate also have 2inhalers, nortripolin and a few others but these are the main ones

[Hidden in reply to linandpete]

I take it your well monitored while on methotrexate. Methotrexate is not always a lover of the lungs and with your added complication of emphysema...

[linandpete in reply to Hidden]

I know another worry but I do have bloods done monthly and in our gp you have to have them done before they give you your methotrexate a month at a time not seen consultant for 18 months but have a direct access to rheumatology if needed but they still take 48 hours to get back to you

[Hidden in reply to linandpete]

🙄🙄

[barbieg]

Hello and welcome. I have RA, Osteoarthritis, Osteopenia and Macular Degeneration. I’m lucky that the Macular Degeneration is under control as my mother had it and I understood the implications the minute it was spotted in its very early beginnings. I was told to take Lutein Capsules and I have to say it’s not developed any further according to my optician who I see every year. I don’t think any are linked in any way but I also have Oral Lichen Planus which is another autoimmune disease so I do wonder we are prone to these diseases once we have one. The Osteopenia is in my mind half way to Osteoporosis and I wonder if the drugs for RA are responsible?

[Ern007]

Hi linandpete,

No they are not related. I have Angina at the top pf that and Valve problems. Just bad luck.. You say you have " macular degeneration" - Is that wet or dry MD - I have wet macular degeneration and have to have my eye injected once a moth with £1000 a shot (Lucentis) . Wet is the severe form. I mention this because they are all different,

Osteoarthritis, has no connection to MD or emphysema - I have Cervical degeneration and that causes

Radiculopathy - That is reffered pain down the arm and Codeine and Dihydrocodeine 30mg won't touch the pain so I have to use Morphine with Paracetamol when bad,

Golden rules with your complaints - don't smoke - Keep Warm in winter and take inhalers as given for emphysema and medicine for flare ups - be seen in you get a chest infection or use a rescue pack if you have one.....As for MD in normally is age related - Other factors can do that.. like me I do not think you have "autoimmune disease " like RA..

Osteopenia - That could be caused if you have been taking steroids for a long while for emphysema flare ups. My doctor won't give me steroids for OA but does for COPD because steroids thin bones.. Good luck and I doubt very much your problems follow on from one another, just bad luck... I would like to know what MD you have, if dry what are the symptoms.??

Last Osteopenia can be caused by over active thyroid - I have that and have regular bone bloods done,,

[linandpete in reply to Ern007]

Hi Ern007 my MD is the dry one no treatment unfortunately. Symptoms are the middle of the eye is becoming more blurred. Lately just seems to be one thing after another. I do take all inhalers given and try to keep warm. I gave up smoking 3 years ago when first diagnosed with emphysema

[Ern007 in reply to linandpete]

Hi, similar symptoms - Straight lines jagged like forked lightning and it started with bright colours in middle of eye. without the injections I would lose all central vision.. The cause is fluid behind the eye. Both have one thing in common, poor central vision it seems.. Wise to stop smoking, I did 25 years ago as I would have died...I know the feeling one thing after another, a tip is there is there is nothing you can do but accept what you have. it gets you down I know that, but after a while you become resigned... best of luck linandpete - you have done everything right, nothing else you can do. Stopping smoking slows down the progress of emphysema dramatically . Well done on that.. Take care and with emphysema keep warm and away from people with chest infections, in particular flue...