Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I've been off meds since November/December of 2015 (doctors permission). I've been doing pretty well, with only 1 or 2 minor flareups. Last weeks labs came back with all normal indicators.
I feel as though I'm going through a flareup right now but can't really tell if it's a flareup or if the "full blown RA" is coming back.
I know flares can last a few days to weeks & even months so since mine just started on Sunday evening I guess I'm writing this a bit prematurely but just wanted to get some thoughts.
On a scale of 1 to 10 the pain is like a 1 or 2, it's just "there". Fatigue, same 1 or 2. No swelling of the joints or redness & no hot joints either. Stiffness is maybe a 2 but it comes & goes.
I'm feeling the flareup symptoms in right wrist, middle right finger, left ankle & left hip.
I notice that after having a certain beer for some unknown reason I tend to get a bad flare. I know that sounds weird or funny but for whatever reason, maybe just coincidence this beer Ballast Point I guess just pushes the hibernating RA back up to the surface.
For those who have experience going from normal to flare & back to full blown, what am I looking for?
I feel as though I'm going through a flareup right now but can't really tell if it's a flareup or if the "full blown RA" is coming back.
I know flares can last a few days to weeks & even months so since mine just started on Sunday evening I guess I'm writing this a bit prematurely but just wanted to get some thoughts.
On a scale of 1 to 10 the pain is like a 1 or 2, it's just "there". Fatigue, same 1 or 2. No swelling of the joints or redness & no hot joints either. Stiffness is maybe a 2 but it comes & goes.
I'm feeling the flareup symptoms in right wrist, middle right finger, left ankle & left hip.
I notice that after having a certain beer for some unknown reason I tend to get a bad flare. I know that sounds weird or funny but for whatever reason, maybe just coincidence this beer Ballast Point I guess just pushes the hibernating RA back up to the surface.
For those who have experience going from normal to flare & back to full blown, what am I looking for?
That's a good question.
From experiance & perspective I do not rely on blood work alone.
I'd think if these symptoms persist & progress with no signs of improvement you'd want your doctors opinion & possibly interception.
Any symptoms, even if it's just the exhaustion or a joint problem.
There's no rule book as we know for this beast.
For example I may be doing fine & able to manage a "normal" routine & out of no where get slammed head to toe a day later. No warning, doesn't always slowly build up it just hits me.
You know your body & you've done extremely well.
Just don't chance it. Can't help but worry what starts out as a flare could trigger the beast.
Just my 2 cents.
Stay well. So glad to hear you've maintained. Fingers crossed this passes.
Sammy
Hey Sammy,
Thanks for your thoughts I really appreciate it a lot! That's the most frustrating part about this disease & I guess many diseases is that it doesn't necessarily follow an "easy to follow" pattern! Uhggg!!
And you're right I don't want to sit here & worry, worry, worry about all the "what ifs". You're right I know my body & the symptoms I'm experiencing isn't right or at least hasn't been seen in well over a year! As I'm typing I noticed that the minor pain has subsided even more but still noticeable. So I'm just going to ahead & make an appointment to do more labs & see my doc Rheumy again soon.
Geez, I'd had to get back on MTX & folic again but I should be grateful I was on a low dose to begin with & just do it if it's necessary.
Thanks again!!!!
If anything you'll gain peace of mind & hopefully insight. You know get some answers to these very difficult questions. Doesn't hurt to stay a step a head. If anything you know there are triggers, such as the Beer.
Perhaps your doctor has seen this before & has some words of wisdom. We can hope. Better safe then sorry.
Good luck & let us know how your doing.
Hugs
Sammy
I know there are worse diseases & I'm grateful that "so far" this for me hasn't been that bad. I know others on this board are suffering a great deal & I feel for them & feel bad I can't really offer any solid comfort or advise.
But this disease is so frustrating because it has no method to it's madness. It just comes & goes whenever it wants!
But from what I've been reading hopefully there are much better meds on the horizon with someday hopefully a chance for a cure.
Let your rheumy know and consider re-starting meds for awhile and perhaps you can stop again later on. But 5 months off meds and you're just a 1 or 2...CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's about as close to remission as some of us ever get.
Your meds are working so let them work again and see if you can go back into remission again...that would be terrific! Gives the rest of us hope!
hugs....................Jen
Thanks so much of your feedback as well i appreciate it! I'm definitely considering going back on the meds again even if it's just for precautionary measure & beating the crap out of the RA a few more times maybe to push it into full blown remission!
Right now I feel like it's either never fully 100% in remission, which deep down I knew I wasn't, maybe 95% remission & it's just slowly but surely creeping back. Or, I'm experiencing a non-typical flare up.
Either way, I'm going to go see him asap just to at least get this flare up logged in.
I don't kid myself, yeah I'm probably more on the lucky side for now but I understand this disease can change on a dime & head for the worst depths of pain & stiffness or it could go fully remission. It kind of reminds me of the chicken pox virus? Kind of like that commercial for Shingles, that if you the chicken pox then you "could" get Shingles? Or it can just lay their dormant until you die!
I guess RA is the same way, if it goes into remission it can stay their forever or rear up again!
Thanks guys for all your input!
Saw my Rheumy on Saturday (yes Saturday!) & upon examining my joints he said, "You don't have any swollen or warm joints, no stiffness" & my pain was still low on a scale of 1 to 10 about a 1 or 2. He believes it's a very mild flareup.
He just told me to monitor it & if it get's worse OR definitely if i get swelling & hot joints then I need to get back on a Dmard stat!
Why put yourself through any pain - full flare or not?
More importantly, why risk permanent crippling damage??? Take a look at my hands!