Hello everyone just want to say I haven’t been on the forum yet, l just look at now and again for hints and tips from others, just want to thank you for you help, I’ve written a bit on my profile 🤦♀️ (sorry for the essay) it’s even been cathartic just doing that, feel I’ve been very lucky so far, not out of pain but I can function almost normal 😏
Take care all and stay safe, thank you for reading my little post.
Welcome - you'll fit right in! Lots of great advice, support and understanding here 👍
Hi, welcome x
Good to hear you are feeling nearly normal 😁
You take care too
Hello Marionfromhappydays, thank you, let’s hope it lasts 🤗
Take care Jen xx
Hello and welcome quatjen, profile info is always helpful and interesting to read people’s journeys 😊 It’s good to know the group has helped you. Don’t go back into the shadows we don’t bite 😁
Hello KittyJ, thank you I promise I’ll be back, it’s been so helpful especially looking at people’s treatment and how they manage, even though my mum has this as well I don’t know too much about the treatments she has tried, only the ones that haven’t worked, sorry the profile was long, don’t always know when to shut up 🤫😬😂
Hi quatjen, welcome -it’s nice to ‘meet’ you, and read your story, but sorry for your suffering.
Your story is very familiar to me - I was diagnosed just a month before you. Your little bit about the deodorant really hit home - I remember a very similar scene playing out in my house, along with lots of tears.
Glad to hear things have improved, as they have for me too. Here’s hoping that continues for both of us.
Please stick around, sometimes contact with people that just understand is invaluable, x
Thank you Kajo68 it’s hard to get your head round that this is for the rest of our lives, I do try not to cry in front of my husband as he gets worried when I’m poorly as I’ve always been the stronger one mentally.
It’s a good that I can have that contact and share with others that sadly suffer with the same disease,
Take care all the best Jen xx
Welcome to the "gang" this is a wonderful forum full of lovely people who not only give great advise but make you laugh and listen to you rant and rave. It doesn't matter what you post there is always someone that will reply with a virtual smile 😀
Hello Bootoo, thank you it be nice to have an offload here where others may not get it, I could do with a good giggle 🤭 Take care Jen xx 🤗
Hiya Jen, welcome now you've decided it's a good time to join in! You've have a time of it haven't you? If we could turn back time... there's a song in there. I hope your current regime works well for you once the LEF kicks in fully, then you can come off the pred completely. I was fortunate than most & diagnosed very early. I'm on MTX, I understand your reticence given your Mum's experience, rare but still. It's done wonders for me for over 10 years now. I started on HCQ then the MTX, tried SSZ & LEF, that latter two as double therapy with the MTX but just on that now with low dose pred, long term unfortunately but it keeps me upright. Other meds help too, pain relief, NSAID, muscle relaxants & such, the usual suspects.
Hope to see more of you from now on. You've experience to share so do share it! 😊
Hello nomoreheels, thank you I know it’s early days in to treatment I’ve said to myself it I can find treatments that can slow it down in the next 18 months I’m doing well, inflammation markers are better than March last year 🤞
I’m still furloughed so got time to try and be well enough to work and not have to rely on others 🤦♀️
Take care, speak again soon xx 😊
Welcome to the forum quatjen. I've only been here for a week myself, but I've already found some wonderful information. People are so helpful! I'm pleased to hear that you're nearing normal.
Hey. I haven’t been on here long either. Still in a bit of shock and finding my way round. I was really poorly in March last year and following that ended up on crutches as could. Or walk. Along with my hands like you could not hold deodorant or brush my hair I couldn’t lift my arms or use my hands 😩my poor husband had to dress me 😂 anyway I had sulfasazine but was allergic and currently in methotrexate I think the arthritis is still very active as feel awful a lot of the time but definitely better than I did. The guys on here are great and you can always get help with any questions 😃
Hello Gottaloveastaffy, oh bless you, I really can relate to your story, I got to the point where I couldn’t wring out dish cloths, open bottles and jars, use tin opener, crawled up the stairs even driving was painful, how I pushed myself to work I don’t know how I did it, hate to say I was so grateful when I was furloughed last March.
I do hope you find some relief soon, it quite a journey 🤞
I didn’t have a good experience on Sulfasalazine only managed 3 weeks.
The forum have been invaluable 🤗
Take care all the best Jen xx
Hi quatjen,
Welcome! I'm a newbie on the forum too, having only stopped lurking!😉
I'm glad you're functioning almost 'normally' now. It's such a relief when not in constant pain.
Take care.
Hi Choccy23,Thank you for your lovely message, yes I have been lurking 👀 I’ll be about a bit more now.
Takes a bit of getting used to, the pain is like fog just creeps up on you, next thing you can’t move, glad haven’t had that for a while, hope your managing.
All the best, take care Jen xx
From one Jen to another, hello! Lovely to have you with us, and looking forward to getting to know you better. Huge sympathies for getting diagnosed during lockdown, first few months of adjusting to RD are difficult enough in normal times, so well done for staying sane! Big hug 🤗
Hello Monkeysmum,
Thank you, I knew what was happening to me, never had such a bad flare up, did hit hard, just sad that so many have to suffer, thank you for the support, just hope I can help someone.
Sane don’t think I was that before lockdown 1 🤪
No if anything it’s helped being furloughed can get myself together and fit for work 🤞 I’m a Chef and it’s hard going, hate asking for help 😢
Will be around, speak again soon all the
best Jen xx
Just joined, wanted to say Hi
New here, just wanted to say Hi
Stopped prednisolone 
Just thought I would say 'Hi!'
Hello & help! Tocilizumab or Baricitinib?
