A reason to celebrate and something I didn’t think would happen.
I had a conversation with the rheumy yesterday who informed me I am in remission and we will now start reducing the meds.
Obviously some damage has already been done and can’t reverse that. Six years from diagnosis of severe R.A., steroids, biologics, various DMARDS, wheelchair, compression gloves - the whole kit and kaboodle, I’m in remission 🍾☀️🙌
Think I would put this partly down to last year. Like many of us that run businesses, we had to close our doors. Well, all our clients did so we had no business, so there was no pressure or stress. And when the clinics all came back last summer, I decided I wasn’t going to go back to 15 hour days again. And I haven’t. I work half days max now and delegate most things.
My doc already thought the R.A. was originally triggered by stress so it makes sense.
My wish is for everyone to find remission although I know that’s a bit of a pipe dream. To be honest, I didn’t believe remission actually existed. I am very grateful.
Pic of My Mary. My gorgeous feral cat from Cairo 💕💕
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HappykindaGal
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Terrific news! Thank you for posting and giving us hope.
Interesting that even your doctor thought that stress triggered your RA and that lack of it has helped you achieve remission. There’s a lesson for us all in that.
Love your beautiful cat 😻and that’s a great photo.
I think I am very similar as had massively stressful job and family issues. RA drove over me like a train... I did all the lifestyle things, turned my life in circles, took my drugs and achieved remission.....
11 years later I am still largely in remission, but still on drugs. Tapering off had never been successful for me so please take it slowly and insist on dropping doses in baby steps!
Yes. It didn't particularly surprise me as I had a new business so 15 hour days 7 days a week and stressed out of my head. I went to Portugal and 5 days in had really painful knees, then wrists, then I couldn't walk. Wheelchaired off the plane. I'm always a bit dramatic!
I think being forced to sit back last year has proved that stress was a huge factor.
Congratulations - fantastic news 🥂I think my RA was stress induced. Caring for sick mother who lived 180 miles away, then dealing with her death and selling the house etc. then divorce. Went on holiday to Turkey and BOOM swollen, red and painful hands that were agony and so it all started.
Snap! Plus the mother bit too. When I look back at that month in Portugal, it was like some kind of comedy. Started with my knee and two friends came out, one a doc who got me high doses of ibuprofen. They left. Another friend arrived and she was piling the outside chair cushions up on the sofa so it was high enough for me to get up off, hahaha. She left.
I have no clue how I drove myself to the airport, was wheeled off then I had to drive from Gatwick to Norwich. In tears. I didn't know what was happening to me. Couldn't get up one step without having about 20 attempts. I had builders at home whilst I was away knocking down walls etc...they ended up making me cups of tea and running around after me for weeks on end, haha.
I am quite hard core - definitely my mothers daughter. Even though I could barely walk, couldn't hold pen, cup etc...and had compression gloves on both wrists, I still managed to go to business networking at 6.30am once a week. Looking back, I don't know how I did it. Denial I think that my life had changed.
Sorry, I'm a bit of an over-sharer, haha. I definitely think it was the stress reduction that changed everything. Enforced closure and I realised there was no point in worrying as I couldn't change anything.
There's absolutely hope. Always. Hopefully you will find what works for you - and soon!
Wow brilliant news - yay! 🎊 I've worked from home during lockdown but reduced hours and obviously no driving (and parking!) issues and am aware that's reduced the pressure a bit.
As I'm freelance (and in my 60s, no mortgage etc) I've decided to think carefully about how much work I take on in the future or, at least, how much I do in a day, much as I love my work.
I've already turned down an offer of a day's work early next month which would be seven hours of concentrated, taxing work with 5 hours of driving - it's just not worth it! I realise that I'm very lucky to be able to make that decision though. 😊
It’s hard as a freelancer as you always feel like you should be banking money when it’s there for the taking. But overwork definitely does not help. Like you, I’ve had to learn to turn things down x
Exactly - it's partly the "work to live not live to work" issue but I've always found that hard as I LOVE my work.I've done a couple of longer days this week and am definitely paying the price now - not flaring, thank goodness but feeling wiped out so I've been sensible and cancelled something arranged for today. Spoons and all that! 😉
It's hard isn't it, particularly as a freelancer. I was a freelancer but realised in the end I didn't want to be the one 'doing the doing', so spent 5 years slogging my guts out building up a team. Then Bam! Thanks RA. But for me, the good thing is I've done the hard work and can delegate now so I'm fortunate. I'll always wonder though if I'd stepped back a bit before if the RA may never have been triggered.
Please don't go down that route - honestly it's wasted energy (I'm a devil for 'what if'). I got RA 3 years after retiring early - my life of commuting, long hours, stressful job was all behind me.....
True but hubby and I both have "jobs" which many people love as hobbies - we're just lucky enough to get paid to do them so we don't plan to stop doing at least a little until we have to. We'll gradually change the amount we do and the focus of it but I'm sure that we'll "keep our hands in" for as long as possible. It keeps our minds active and gives us real pleasure so what's not to like?! 😊
You sound as if you have your life balance in control- some people seem to let whatever their disease is.....rule their lives.....& that is probably why this mystical remission evades them.I never hankered after remission.My RA struck just as I retired at 55......throwing all my plans out of the window......it took a long time to get where I am now ....I am controlled & comfortable....& that suits me just fine.
Now I just need to trust all these wretched Covid travel rules & I will be off travelling again.....but I do wish they would hurry up ✈️I’m no Spring chicken...I need to get going again!
Horses for courses as they say; we're home bunnies and aren't bothered if we never go away again - certainly not abroad 🛩️ We might have a cottage holiday in this country again one day but certainly not in the near future.
I hope that you get to travel again soon and have a great time!
I would fight tooth & nail to keep my Biologic.... at my age the NHS has probably worked out that I would cost them more dealing with side effects without it than I cost them with it..... so these days nobody tries to swap me to a Bio similar!Do hope I don’t have to eat those words!
Exactly this! I totally overdid things and became obsessive. In some ways, it's paid off now, but I do wonder if I would have triggered the RA if I hadn't worked every hour in the day and more. I'll never know!
My RA was thought to be stress triggered too and I agree. Glad you are feeling so much better. I never use the word remission re myself but guess it is med induced remission so therefore I am since 2014 and was twice before. Good to be in such a place whatever you call it! Well done. 👏🏻💗
All those who are finding it hard at the moment .. keep going and trying to achieve all you can to get your RA/RD under control. xx
Now that is wonderful, such good news! Lovely cat too. I do miss having one.
I had reached drug induced remission on MTX but it did not last long at all. Not even reached it with Rituximab, to my knowledge. But not had an ultrasound scan since Dec 2020.
But celebrate, enjoy, remain careful to keep stress limited and have a good quality of life. Very pleased for you, Happykindagal. 💐🎶👏🎊
Great news, HKG - always fantastic to hear such words of encouragement. Knowing there is hope! Please continue to share your journey if you can.
For some last year and up until now allowed for reflection and how we think about the value of work and value of lifestyle - those that could alter it did so, placing a less stressful lifestyle to the forefront!
It's wonderful that you are in remission. Enjoy it! I am glad to hear that you are working with your rheumy on adjusting your medications.
I was in remission in 2008, and somehow I thought if I lived healthy, I could just walk away from the meds - big mistake. The remission actually lasted a year or two, but when it ended it was bad. It took a year to get things under control again.
I guess we have to resign ourselves to the fact that, although we will always needs medical care and medications, a relatively good and healthy life is possible. I hope your remission continues forever.
Congratulations. That is great news. I have been in mxt induced remission for several years now but can't stop taking the drugs. Good luck to you. I love your beautiful cat.
It would be great to get off the drugs. We’ve reduced the mtx, but sticking with biologics. I can’t go back to where I was when I couldn’t walk or even hold a pen or anything. Nightmare.
Mary is a nightmare. Mischievous and cheeky, but a nightmare. She still thinks she has to scavenge for food and can get into the kitchen bin by bouncing on the foot pedal somehow and catching the lid open 😂😂 The banging is a joy at 3am!
Wel done, I too am in remission and have been able to reduce meds a little, but beware of trying to do too much because you feel good. I often make that mistake and then suffer with aches for a few days.Good luck.
Wonderful news. Life in remission is good. I still have to be careful not to overdo it too often, otherwise RA will remind me that it is still there.I hope it will last for the rest of your life. I am so chuffed for you.
Thank you so much for posting such happy and positive news. It really gives others hope. You sound surprised about it all, would you say you don't particularly feel like you're in remission? Or is it just that you feel great but you didn't believe it was possible? Also you mention tapering off MTX, but not biologicals, how often do you take biologic? Sorry for questions, I'm still not stable and other people's experiences are helpful x
Yes, interesting question. I didn't think it would happen to be honest. I realise how much better I feel - yes, there is damage that I can't do anything about now, but c'est la vie. I think because it was so severe, I didn't dare to dream that it would diminish to this stage. Stepping back from my business and slapping my wrists when I micro-manage has changed my lifestyle. I've re-found my love for drawing and can immerse myself in that for hours. Whereas before, I'd be working from 5am and doing, doing, doing. Zoom calls, meetings, networking meetings either end of the working day. Non-stop. Now I've forced myself to step away and the benefits are huge.
I take Benepali weekly and tapering MTX. I also took Sulfa until May last year when I knocked them on the head myself. I take daily VitD, VitC with rosehip, Bitter Melon (no, no idea either), Omega 3 and something or other and, MSM Organic Sulfur.
My diet is appalling - when first diagnosed I tried omitting almost everything. Just to make my life even more miserable. Didn't work so stopped. I love cake and biscuits. I also love gin and wine And a passion for almond croissants, haha.
I feel I can really put it down to stress for me. Or perhaps I just got lucky. Hopefully, things will even out for you soon too. Honestly, I didn't think it would happen x
Fabulous news for you. My consultant also believes stress management is a key factor in gaining control of RA. I took early retirement in October last year and am feeling much better. 👍
I think stress can be underrated and perhaps misunderstood in some ways. A little pressure is good. That bit of jeopardy too. I have some massive business goals that make my tummy flutter when I think about them, but have learned to work differently now and it's not particularly stressful. Wish I'd learned this years ago.
Fantastic! You got your life back! (Also love your furry friend.)I had heard that a stressful event can trigger RA. I had an infant granddaughter and my mother pass away within a few months of each other and was making trips back and forth to England (I live in the US).
Then I had back surgery and “boom” I was aching all over. So , yes, seems like stress can RA.
What an absolutely fantastic post to read. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
It is so lovely to hear that with the right meds things can improve.
I know this deep down but having lovely posts like this makes it seem so much more real and achievable. I’m a work in progress but a hopeful work in progress. 😊.
Love your cat too. I have a cat called Billy. He is a rescue from a shelter and even though he is a old chap he gets into all kinds of mischief. Love how he keeps me on my toes. x
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My wife is officially in remission
Remission indicated
NRAS answer to my question about remission.
In remission ? 
