Hi everyone, Thank you all so much for your kind words and help, I feel so much better mentally today after reading all your replies, i had to come of my medication at end of November 2020 because of stomach and bowel trouble, i was on benepali, most of the medications caused side effects from hair falling out to rashes, Im starting again on another injection called abatacept next monday fingers crossed this one works for me, iv had some awful days/nights but i refused to go back on benepali so the r. a. doctor said see how you go without treatment and i managed for few months but it was awful. So I'll be starting again on 17th may. I have a 5year old tabby 🙀 shes lovely, with having polyarthritis especially in my spine and knees i dont think its a good idea to get a dog, i did think about getting a greyhound but was advised not too. Take care everyone and thank you so much for your lovely replies. 💖
Depression, loneliness and fatigue. : Hi everyone... - NRAS
Depression, loneliness and fatigue.
I adore tabby cats - I had a pair of them, who were with me for 15 and 17 years. And the first cat I remember, when I was a young child, was also a tabby that I used to dress in a dolls bonnet and push around in my dolls pram! I'm so glad you're feeling a bit more upbeat today and hope you do well on abatacept. Like you I did not do well on Benepali and had bad effects from the DMARDS but my current drug works well. Thank goodness there are plenty of drugs to try these days and even more under development.
Take care of yourself. x
I had a huge old cat called Wilko when I was a child who used to leap in my own Silver Cross pram I used for my dolls. He let me put a pink frilly bonnet on his head and was happy to go under the covers of his own accord with his head on the pillow! I was wheeling him down the lane one day and an elderly neighbour stopped me and she said .. what a lovely pram, can I have a look at your dolly? I nodded. She stuck her head in to find a big grinning black and white cat with a pink chiffon bonnet on! 😜😁. She said .. oh have you tied him in there? I said .. no he jumps in as he loves it! 😆😄
Is that you in the photo with Wilko? He is enormous! What a coincidence we both had cats that put up with wearing bonnets and liked riding in prams!
That made me laugh a lot re us both having kitties in bonnets in prams! Yes that is me age 8 .. a couple of years after the pram/neighbour incident. He still often slept in it was I had it in my bedroom with dolls in! He also picked the back door open of a huge dolls’ house and slept in there! I had to remove the furniture in one room. I first saw his big grin at the bedroom window through the curtains of the dolls’ house. Really sweet cat and yes he was huge. Part Persian.
That is a whopping cat. Lovely! Xx
Thank you he was a beaut. I also had another huge Tuxedo boy about ten years ago. xx
Glad to hear you are feeling a bit brighter today ladybird. We also had a Tabby cat and boy was she a character! We had her for 18 years and she brought nothing but joy and she knew who was the boss too...but in a loveable way! So hope your Tabby brings as much happiness. Good luck with the new meds when you start them too. xx 🐈
I’m glad you’re feeling a bit brighter. The rollercoaster of this disease means a rollercoaster of emotions too . So hope the next drug is the one . I’ve had a bit of trouble too trying to find the right drug . Started baricitnib in December seams to be working. I have a greyhound called Darcy I love her too bits a gentle soul well most of the time.. not too keen on cats 😁x
It is good to hear that you are feeling a bit brighter today.I dearly would love a dog too, but know that I couldn't look after it, nor give it adequate exercise.
Have you considered adopting a senior dog? Not sure if it’s a possibility for you or not (so apologies if not) but some shelters have dogs about 12 years old that just need a quiet home and a warm lap for their final years. I know it’s not quite the same, and you don’t always get long with them, but it can make a huge difference to both parties!
A good idea for some, but I really could not look after a dog. I had my own dog until he was 15 years and 3 months old with increasing visits to the vet and health needs to cater for. I have a slipped disc myself at the moment and struggle to look after myself.
Finger crossed for the abatacept, its all really draining isn't it trying to find the right drug.
I find this forum a god send, we are always here for you, between everyone here there is so much knowledge and understanding.
Hugs x
Good luck with Abatercept and sending gentle hugs. xx
My granddaughter Bella
Heart appointment today and after being blocked from this site it seems i have access to it again.
AF and RD... Anyone have both? 
Tocilizumab concerns .. 
