Diagnosis last year

[Greatgrandmother71]

Hi all, I am new here, this is first post, finally plucked up courage. Diagnosis last year, RA, OA, Fibromyalgia, finding drs won't give me any help, only advice is take morphine for pain, when I say no, because not ready to sit and sleep , have to try to do things,they say you will have no life with the pain and will be begging for it one day,and that is it. I have heart disease, and unstable angina which limits my ability to do things, but I try. Sorry for the negativity, but sometimes get very sorry for myself. Have a cry say, that's it, then pull myself together and get on with it.

[Pippy25]

Hello and welcome, I am so glad you plucked up the courage to write a post. I am so sorry that you are having a difficult time of things and send you some supportive wishes. While I can't give you any medical advice relating to your situation, would it be helpful to you to perhaps contact NRAS helpline and talk to them? Have you been referred to anyone by your GP? I really hope that you can get the support and help you need, we all need a shoulder, an ear or a friendly voice sometimes when things get hard to deal with so don't feel alone. Take care x

[Greatgrandmother71 in reply to Pippy25]

Thankyou for your reply. Yes I saw the rheumatologist last year, he diagnosed me, said he would leave treatment for drs to organise, that is the response that I get from them,so find you just cope with things,but will take you sorry to sound miserable, I'm not really, but will take your advice, thanks.x

[Hidden in reply to Greatgrandmother71]

Are you in the UK? I don't understand your Rheumatologist's reply. Doctors (GPs) can only prescribe DMARDs for RA under the supervision of a rheumatologist. If you've got RA, you need to start on DMARDs asap to minimize the destruction of your joints. Ask your GP for a referral to a different (better) rheumatologist.

[Lolabridge]

Hello greatgrandmother! Well done for posting on here and I hope you will find it helpful. I’m sorry to hear you have not been getting the help you need. I don’t understand why your Rheumatologist has not put you on a proper treatment pathway with medication to help your conditions. Leaving it up to your GP seems like a cop out. Perhaps you need to see a different Rheumatologist for a second opinion. Pippy has given good advice. Do talk to NRAS and see what they advise. Hope it will help you see the way forward.

[muffin]

Hi, So sorry you are in so much pain and struggling. I also have RA, OA and fibromyalgia. When you are in pain it is not funny and impacts on your life so much. I had a wonderful RA consultant and she sorted out all my meds, and I am happy to say I feel OK most of the time now, but do have a few ups and downs. I take a biologic and hydroxichlorique which takes care of the RA, and for the rest I take 2 paracetamol 4 times a day but my main pain killer is a slow release tramadol, which I take when I get up and when I go to bed. This combination works for me, so I only have to take oromorph "every blue moon". You need a good RA consultant and you will find such a difference with everything.

Don't be put off my your GP's not acknowledging your pain, it is something no one should have to deal with these day, with so many different meds to try. Don't give up, you are entitled to good medical assistance.

Muffin.