Officially dx'd at 37. 6yrs ago last month. Joint pain, swelling, and fatigue since 1996. I was referred to an infectious disease dr that ran tests and just called it an unidentified virus. My white cell count was extremely high & BP was very low. Fatigue had me sleeping 20yrs a day. I had just returned from a trip to Mexico so they chalked it up to something I picked up there. I was bedridden for 5 mo. Dx'd with alopecia in 1998, which is apparently a precursor to RA.

Finally in 2008, the swelling in my lower extremities became so severe I couldnt walk. It took another 8months for someone to finally give a damn and test me. I knew it was RA and asked for the tests. My numbers were the highest 3 drs had ever seen. The rest is history.

Take care,
Emerald

Hi! I started having medical problems, mostly seizures and rashes around 22. Towards my late 20's I began going into svt and began with severe pain. Finally was diagnosed by my cardiologist in 2010 at 33 with lupus after my hands and feet began to swell to the point I could let close my hands. She sent me to a rheumatologist who then also diagnosed me with my ra.

Hi. I am new to the group. I have had RA 2.5 years. I am almost 35 yrs old with three young boys. It is as been very difficult managing three active young boys and living with chronic pain. My boys are 8, 6, and 2. I am very lucky to have a very supportive hubby who has helped pick up the slack. Although I hate asking... I have had to learn to ask for help or acknowledge when I just can't do something. Glad to be here!!

I am 65, diagnosed ten years ago, but struggled with the pain and stiffness for five years before anyone took me seriously.

Hi bigiblue,

I was diagnosed when I was 44. I'm 46 now. Started very unknowlingly on a trip to Vegas. I thought I got one of those "kinks" in the neck from too long of a drive. Nope....The next week, major shoulder pain, was misdiagnosed with bursitis....nope! Then both heels started to hurt as if I spent the day previous jumping off brick wall like when I was a kid but thought it was my shoes....nope! Then my wedding ring was a "pain" to remove. Anyway you guys get the picture. It was RA!!

Saw my PC & requested blood test. He even stated, "Your demographic isn't very likely to be RA. I love my PC but even after the labwork he didn't recognize it & I STILL requested to see a Rheumy because I've my own self diagnosis from researching on the internet.

Ta daaaaa! The Rheumy saw it right away. Well, after 2yrs of some aggressive MTX treatment, eating better, working out. I saw my Rheumy 6 months ago & reduced my MTX to only 1 pill 2.5mg per week. Then saw him ago 4mos ago & we stopped all RA med's.

So far, so good. He feels I'm in remission!

It will be 2 years this fall that I was diagnosed with RD; currently on Plaquenil and mtx injections (do seem to be working better than pills, less side effect too seems). I am 51 (will be 52 by end of year).

Iam 41 years old and was diagnosed with RA 9 yrs ago,. At the time I had an infant and a 2 year old. I worked 40 plus hrs a week and my husband worked 3rd shift 40 plus hrs a week. In a way work was what kept me going but i did have my crying times after babies were put to bed. My RA is controlled pretty well but i still have hard times. I think my kids and job in healthcare is what keeps me going. Before I was diagnosed did feel very old beyond my years some days. Hang in there.

Hi. I am new to the group. I have had RA 2.5 years. I am almost 35 yrs old with three young boys. It is as been very difficult managing three active young boys and living with chronic pain. My boys are 8, 6, and 2. I am very lucky to have a very supportive hubby who has helped pick up the slack. Although I hate asking... I have had to learn to ask for help or acknowledge when I just can't do something. Glad to be here!!

I'm 64 and got Ra at age 25.

Jen

i was diagnosed about a year ago and I am 59 (will be 60 in July) I have been seeing a rheumy since 2004 when I had an ANA test come back at 640. Was having pain in hips and hands and the rheumy just kept telling me it was OA.
After several bouts with iritis and at the suggestion of my eye doctor the rheumy ordered another round of tests and ANA was 1280. At that time they suspected Lupus since my mother died of RA and Lupus.
I wasn't diagnosed with RA until my primary care physician ordered the CCP (?) and it came back 199. So it has been a frustrating and painful merry go round.
I am still in the process of finding something that helps stop/slow down the flares and fatigue. Have been on Humira for 5 months now without any noticeable difference.

My 40s, approx 4-5 yrs can't remember the exact & to lazy to look.
Although tracked symptoms at least 2 years prior.
My sister was 19.
My heart goes out to everyone but especially the younger & those with children. God bless you all.
Sammy

Sure :)

I'm 52 and started meds 6yrs ago. 2yrs before that is when I first saw my Rhemi to complain. She put in my chart, if this is RA, then patient will be back. I'm sero neg.
Sorry, got carried away. You only asked for ages haha

I am 62 and I think I have had RA for around 18 years. I started with brain fog, when I couldn't memorize for a French exam, had an asthma attack and was put on 40 mg of prednisone and it took 2 days work to ace the test. (It was 15 years and more school before I put that together!!)

It was another year before I started getting random 24 hour flares, diagnosed with Palindromic Arthritis. It was supposed to get better, instead it got much worse. It took 4 doctors to finally get a firm RA diagnosis which is why I am confused about how long I have had this disease.

I was under treated for 7 years, got bad feet deformities. Then finally on a good biologic/DMARD combo, which lasted 5 wonderful years. I've had some good and bad experiments with drugs, right now, pretty bad to hopeless.

I was 44 when I got really sick. My daughter was 10, but my boys were grown and moved out of the house, more or less - playing Junior hockey for two of them. My daughter has always been a great help and supporter, but it was really hard on her having to be my caregiver. Although she did go into social work - she learned to be caring and compassionate during those years. Hubby has that job now, and he is doing a good job, these days. I don't know what I would do without him.

I'll be 36 next week and was diagnosed with seronegative RA at 28. My rheumatologist, who is wonderful, sometimes refers to it at MCTD as she thinks I have some features of lupus mixed in. To make it more complicated, I have had four lumbar spine surgeries and have serious nerve damage from that, which led to paralysis of one foot and neuropathy in both. I've broken both feet multiple times. My RA has been pretty aggressive, despite trying pretty much every drug out there.
Caren

I was diagnosed in Aug/Sept 2013 at the age of 49. I felt like I was 90...