Yes, honey: breathe. The only thing that's changed in the days since you were diagnosed is that you now have a diagnosis and have begun a plan (and it's the same protocol most of us followed, to start hydroxychloroquine first and add to it after three months). You have enormous advantages: you're young, and you caught this early, and you are knowledgeable about it because of your family history. Your people don't need to be educated, because they've learned about it already through your mom. Her history suggests that you will be able to get this under control and not be burdened with too many symptoms. You have celiac, so you've already learned to take care of yourself in terms of your diet (which can't fix RA, but it can make you healthier overall). And you're an athlete, so you know how to take care of your body, and you have self-discipline. I would say that you're positioned about as ideally as someone can be, if you have to go through this.

It's tempting for all of us to think in terms of 'before' and 'after' with the diagnosis as the turning point. But the truth is that the diagnosis is when the upswing starts. This thing was affecting you for awhile before that, causing the pain and fatigue you attributed to your workouts.

I ran marathons (slowly - I'm old and overweight) and giving up distance running has kind of sucked, even though I wasn't very good at it. I'd like to suggest that you keep your gym habits but focus on stretching and mild aerobic activity. It's going to pay off for you when you get the RA under control and can get back to the things you were doing before. You and your boyfriend can still do this together. Think about it - if he broke an ankle and could only use a few of the machines at the gym, you'd still go with him while he healed, right? This is still something you can share, you'll just have to adjust for a bit.

Life is uncertain and every day needs to be celebrated. I think the people who cope best with RA understand that. This will become 'normal' surprisingly quickly. You may reset some goals, but you'll still be making them. Life is still very, very good. Hugs.

Yes, I have advice. As an athlete you know how to control your brain to do one more set or rep or mile. Only you can control the six inches between your ears and I suggest that you begin doing so immediately or you might allow your existence to become miserable. You're going to have good days and bad days. You'll be able to do things you never expected and you'll find there are things that you just can't do anymore. Whatever happens you must control your brain. Your meds may increase anxiety levels, they may not. Be aware of your body, listen to it. Be aware of your thought process, control it. This is a journey but you don't get to choose the road or the condition of the road. You can choose the way you react to the road conditions. Life can be just as fulfilling if you allow it to be so. Whine, rave, cry all you want in here because we will understand. We may not reply but we do understand. Rare is the individual beyond these cyberwalls without RA that will understand so don't expect it of them. You can do this, you will do this.

Unfortunately, mind control doesn't make the disease, pain, fatigue, etc. go away. Pretty much everyone here will understand your pain, but not everyone necessarily wants are will be capabale of achieving the outcome you want. I think more doctors than not would start you on something stronger than Plaquenil (or generic), but that may depende on how your symptoms present on exam or in blood work. Be a strong advocate for yourself, and work with your doc to get an aggressive treatment plan. You DO get to choose the road (assuming your doctor and insurance comply), and with good treatment, there's every possibility you will continue to be an athlete. I'm 69, take an excellent drug (Rituxan) for me, and I'm very active. Be patient, but be proactive. Good luck and best wishes.

Katie, your post was amazingly inspiring and brought me to tears. nonightshades2 you remind me of my sister who has chron’s and deals with daily chronic pain lol.
I understand some is mental, the more I think about my pain the worse it gets, the more immobilized I feel, but I seem to not be able to talk about it either. I want to express the pain that I feel to my family and my friend, but I don’t know if I’m complaining or explaining.

My boyfriend and I do pain scales of 1-10 and that seems to be very helpful, but lately I always seem to be at a 4 which makes him nervous. Sometimes it feels counterproductive. I will reach a level 4 pain, but I’m not going to call out of work so I push through it. I just don’t want my pain level 4 being my new standard of what normal is.

It IS hard to get your head round this stuff. It's hard when you want to keep achieving as much as ever, but feel weak and scared.

My physio always advises that movement and exercise for people with ra is important/should be maintained as far as possible, but that you should stop at the point of pain. Don't push through it.
I know it's hard not to when you just want to keep doing what you've always been able to do! But if you do push through, you'll tend to crash and burn and feel much worse for a while. Then you'll feel less able to exercise and that gets you down.
You can however be kinder to yourself by changing the type and amount of exercise you do when you're hurting. Eg, swap running for swimming. You still exercise and feel you're achieving something, but with less impact on joints. You're less likely to crash n burn, more likely to be able to keep going next day.
Adequate rest is also important. By doing this you minimise risk of joint damage too.

Hopefully now that treatment has begun you will find the right meds quickly, start to feel an improvement soon, and be able to maintain the fitness level you're used to.

You've been given wonderful advice by the others.

I'm a 25 year veteran of this disease. My starter drug was MTX and within weeks I started to see an appreciable difference. I've been on MTX and Humira for the last 6 years and it's been a gamechanger for me. I feel better now than I ever have since being diagnosed. And that's saying a lot. So there's hope!

Things ARE going to get better. The first year is the hardest.

Is it possible to cut your hours where you work? That might help. Just know that if/when you feel fatigued, it's important to rest.

You'll have questions as you move forward and I hope you'll bring them to the group. Collectively we have some awesome experience and knowledge about RA.

Like any typical Type A person, it sounds like you have been burning the candle at both ends. Work, school, and a vibrant exercise life. Well, sadly, your body doesn't agree. (I only say this, because I am Type A and thought I could do it all!)

After reading your schedule, I really think you need to cut something out. I would do range of motion exercises and some kind of easy aerobics like swimming or cycling, if you are able. Weight lifting is great for once the meds start working, but don't push those joints if they hurt, or you will get deformities.

RA is not fun, but if you get on the right meds or med combo, you can live a full and active life. I got into road biking and even with my deformities and limitations, I was doing 30-35 km. Not much for a real road biker, but for someone with RA, a life saver!

As for teaching, if you get the disease under control, it is a good profession, but it is demanding! I had to go on disability after trying to tough it out after several years with not properly diagnosed or treated RA. When I tried to go back, the health officials would not let me, because they said the meds could fail, meaning the children would have an absentee teacher. I had been 100% for 4 years, and insisted I was fine. Sadly, a month later my meds failed completely, and 2 weeks after that, I had my foot reconstructed and after 7 years I am finally beginning to be able to use it with less pain.

So, just to think about other careers that are less demanding than teaching, and perhaps where absenteeism isn't as important?

Welcome to the group, but always sorry to see newbies, and that they have RA.

Hi. Sorry you are dealing with this at your age but glad you found us here. Once you are on Humira you may -hopefully - experience another 180! Not immediately. It takes about 6 weeks to fully kick in. But I can tell you that remission is possible! I have been in 100% remission for more than 6 years on Orencia. I will be 72 in January.I was never athletic. I can now do an hour's aerobic class 3 X a week and can walk miles! There are good and aggressive treatments that can give you back your life!!