I am a 46 year old woman who has recently (June 2012) been diagnosed with with RA.
After struggling along for nearly 3 years with well intentioned doctors scatching their heads (no RA positive bloods) to not so well intentioned doctor saying I had middle age burn out! Now as you can image as a busy working mum who really does not like to make too much of a fuss this one really did knock me for six! So I went away for two and half years and battled with pain in my hands, knees and elbows along with the awful tiredness that after busy days would leave me exhausted to the point of almost not having the energy to get up the stairs as my muscles burned with the extreme fatigue.
Eventually my family said 'no more, you have to go back to doctors'. I have to admit I was reluctant to go back with how I had been treated in the past - they made me feel I was either wasting their time or even making things up! I did go back though, and this time bloods now showed a positive RA.
Now I have a very sympathetic consultant who immediatley put me on Sulphalazine - unfortunatley these gave me the most terrible headaches so have now switched to methotrexate. They also gave me the long acting steriod injection that was a god send. After being in pain and feeling so awful for so long I actually felt quite eurofic, I had genuinely forgotten what it felt like to be pain free and full of energy! My husband said there was such a transformation in my whole being. Unfortunately as great as this was it was only a relatively short term fix (although I was very thankful for that time).
Thinking positively though for what the future may hold.
Many thanks for reading and I hope to chat to more members soon.
Written by
Sophie123
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Once the MTX takes effect which is about three months you should start to feel better, if not there are other DMards out there that will help you. In the meantime take a look at some of the blogs on here including the archive ones, and you will see that we are a happy and friendly bunch, even though we are in pain most of the time.
Many thanks for reply. I will, as you say delve into the archives. I feel I need to learn as much as possible at the moment in order to move forward and manage this illness in a positive way.
Welcome Sophie, you have found us and we will support you through the good times and the bad times as well. If you want to rant and rave feel free to do so and if there is anything funny happening please share with us as we do need to laugh with this disease.
Great that you have blogged and that at last they have sorted you out a diagnosis, bet you are relieved now.
I got RA in March 2011 and it has definitely been a steep learning curve!! but theres always someone on here to give advice or cheer u up, i know i wouldn't have done so well without this site, so hear from you soon, lots of love Axx
Oooooh it makes me so cross to hear of people who waited ages to get diagnosed...I don't have the RA factor either but luckily had a GP who referred me anyway as she knew people could be sero-negative and still have RA. MTX (methotrexate) has been great for me, along with other DMARDS, and has given me my life back. So hope it does the same for you. Polly
Hi there and welcome to the RA family. This is a fab site and everyone is so supportive and helpful. I'm glad youi have finally been diagnosed and no longer feel like you're losing your mind. The MTX is great once it kicks in (if you can tolerate it ) lots of good luck and i look forward to reading how you get on. Take care xxxxxx
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Hello there,Iam so glad that i found the NRAS and this site, your are all so helpful and friendly
Just thought I would share this 
Hello! I am new to this site.
Hi guys thought i would share 
