How many men have RA

[RichardG]

I was diagnosed with RA about 18 months ago at the age of 55 and although I have talked to many people with RA since then I have yet to find any men with this condition. Am I really that unique?

[Hidden]

Have talked to a least 4 men with ra on here..you arent unique... think us women like chatting more and tend to be more gaggly.. if i name the 4 men i might get in trouble with the invigilator... so i suggest first click on the red directory tag.. list of all members.. most specify male or female.. you can narrow search to my area or in your case your area.. im gloshire, you are margate... whose county at midnight escapes me.. cant sleep pain and steroids.. keeping me awake... any way people male... one name begins with z and one begins with s that should start you in your search and their at least 4 or so more men.... some men suffer from another form of arthritis called ankolysing spondylosis.. this is a male dominant form of arthritis.. Ra is auto immune can be any age from childhood.. thouggh stat most common age of onset 30s-40s

[Hidden]

Hi Richard

Women are more frequently diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis than men; studies suggest 75-79% of those with RA are female. Many studies have suggested that women experience more severe RA than men but certain serious “complications” of RA are more common in men, for example vasculitis.

The gender differences are more than skin deep. Men tend to have more involvement with larger joints. They are more likely to have heart damage from RA although some studies have shown there may be fewer bone erosions and eye damage. Disease patterns can be quite different.

Regardless of where it hits no man or woman wants to have RA! Our local group is predominantly women, perhaps 7 out of 40 are men, the NRAS forum again mainly women likewise this site, HU, nearly all women. Perhaps we are more 'social' creatures, ready for a natter, an exchange of views and symptoms. In most health walks of life women are generally regarded as being more open to their feelings and more ready to express their concerns.

But, for us all it's the same battle, not a battle of the sexes but one of the daily war that comes with living with RA. Please keep blogging Richard, you might encourage other men to join in too. We do have some male bloggers so keep your eyes peeled

Here's a link, you may find interesting. It's from the NRAS website and contains some male case studies. nras.org.uk/about_rheumatoi...

Lyn x

[Tone]

I'm here - and I have spotted at least one other man posting here.

As Lyn says above, the ratio of women to men with RA is approx. 3:1, that means at least 100,000 men in the UK are affected. I know at least 10 men who I recognise as being regulars for monitoring etc at my local rheumatology unit.

Men seem much less inclined than women to sign up to online forums, write blogs, attend support groups etc than men - the population of men on this community is definitely less than a 25%. Out of the approx 20 people who attend the NRAS group in Stoke-on-Trent only 3 are men (and one of those comes to care for his partner). This seems to mirror what studies show more generally about men's relation to their health, bodies etc - I wish it were otherwise

It's good to see you posting here.

Tone

[Mark-1411]

Hi Richard

You've asked a question that i have been meaning to ask.So far theres two of us. I was diagnosed RA Feb last year resulting in the familar pattern of eveyone else's treatment which has helped but i was told that my RA was very aggresive and the way i was going i would not be working 5 years time, i was given 3 choices by my consultant , stay as i am, go for anti-TNF or go for a clinical trial which i could be on in a couple of months where as anti-TNF would be a lot longer. The trial went well at first but after a few months the rapid progress i made in the first few months stopped and i started going backwards. I'm still on the trial which finishes in september and after that i think its Anti-TNF. Its nice to know i'm not the only male with it if you know what i mean, i wouldn't wish this on anybody(then again i could think of a few candidates ;o) )

[Tricia-P]

Hi Richard

Welcome, I actually met a chap at the hospital, he was going for his first appoint with nurse, but I do think woman are probably more open to talk on these sites, but it's good to have both sides of the coin, so please don't stop blogging, it's good to talk sometimes.

best wishes

Tricia x

[Hidden]

Hi Richard, having had RA for 17 years have met many men with the disease in that time.

Most of them I see when I am admitted to the Ra ward, which is quite often.

I think like the others said us women are a bit more open and find it helpful to talk to each other and to learn better coping strategies.

keep blogging like Lyn said might encourage more to sign up.

Take care

mand xx

[NigelC]

Hi Richard

As others had said you are not alone, I've had RA for 3 years after developing Raynaud's in my late 30s. I'm on both RA and Raynaud's sites.

regards

[Hidden]

welcome Nigel and Mark, and hello Tone and Richard. Oooh ... 4 men, things are looking up Keep posting guys, it will be good to get to know you

Lyn x

[Dave]

Hi Gents,

I have had RA for over 30 years now having been diagnosed back in 1978.

I must admit that it took several visits to my GP plus Xrays etc. before I was refered to the Rheumatology consultant, a period of some 3/4 months.

I have had 10 operations since then but I must admit an earlier referal might have saved some of these.

Things have moved on at quite a pace since my early days and the treatment

is now so much better, but early referal to Rheumatology consultants by Gp's

would save a lot of pain & heartache.

[ismael]

hi richard make sure that you found the right team,welcome i'm a man also and i'm only 32 years old don't even start enjoying life and today i'm victime of RA but discovering this group helps me alot...regards

[Hidden]

there a total

of leat ten or eleven of you men on here lol xx

[Hidden]

Hope that the site is offering something to RA people of all backgrounds and no-one feels excluded for any reason.

[TaiChiMan]

Hi Richard - I've had RA for about 4 years but apart from on here I have not met another man with it...I think that makes me special or I could just need another handful of tablets regards Jim

[jakjg]

Hi Richard Am Auther JJunju from Uganda East Africa its true that few men have RA, i was diagnosised of RA in 2005 and at first i thought that i was the only man with this problem till i joined the arthritis association this way and i found out that there other men. in our association out of the more than 200,000 patients men are about 260.good time