@Caren28: Thank you for your response!

@Livloveslife: Did the RA doc put you on prednisone, methotrexate, or discuss a biologic?

Hope you are feeling better today after your reaction to the Cymbalta. Hang in there! -daizy8

I'm new to this group-just was diagnosed with RA on 12/30/10. Supposedly I have a "mild" form -- given how much I hurt and how fatigued I am, I would hate to experience a severe version like many of you are describing. Have any of you read this wonderful article written by a young lady with lupus? If not, you should share with family, friends, co-workers who don't understand what you're going through. http://butyoudontlooksick.com/navigation/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf

Dear Livlo, I read your input and nearly cried. People can be so cruel. While I was working I had to have an ankle replacement because the metal and screws that had been put in when I shattered it caused me to develop cysts and other irritations. Six months after having it put in, the bone on the in-step of my foot deteriorated which caused me to need a bone transplant and then have the ankle replacement reset. Didn't mean to make such a long story, but the point is I had to work out of a wheelchair for 1 year. I, too, was made fun of. Then to make matters worse, a new boss came in and he re-arranged everything to make sure I could not reach anything AND he told everyone not to help me. I got fired but I did get disability and have qualified for it ever since. I probably had RA then and didn't realize it because that would explain the bone deterioration.
I think Caren28 has it right on the spot! The big guns need to come out. The Methotrexate and Arava combo along with a biologic will really help. I was doing great on Enbrel until I became allergic to it but now I am going to try Humira and see how that does. Unfortunately, I have had to be off of all my meds since the end of August because of the various surgeries I have had. Hopefully I will get the clear go ahead to go back on my regulars and start Humira.
I will keep you in my prayers, Livlo. You have a lot on your plate but you are handling it with great dignity.

Calcium and Vitamin D are important for muscle and bone health. I think a lot of these meds affect the body's ability to utilize calcium, and then we become at risk for osteoporosis because we can't physically be as active. If we're low on calcium, Vit D, potassium and some of the other key minerals it causes all kinds of muscle pain.
Here's an article that talks about some other supplements that can help with RA -- http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/rheumatoid-arthritis-000142.htm

There has to be something that puts RA and Vitamin D together that they dont know about yet. Because it makes total since what your saying Mvalere. Mine was critically low two times before I found out I had RA and before my meds. I'm so glad that I found this site. I dont have much support at home because everyones tired of me "being sick all the time". I go to work daily and I come home and still cook and clean but I'm sure I complain about how bad I feel to much! LOL! I have to learn to stop whinning so much. Thank you all so much for all the support and knowledge.
I beleive God lead me her for a reason.

Be hyper aware when you take a new drug. I've taken drugs that made my RA worse! And pay attention to strange new symptoms that might appear after trying a med. And if all else fails and the meds don't work. Try alternatives. I'm not on meds- I go to a homeopath. I've had the most success by staying away from the drugs completely. Its just a matter of getting it out of my wrists... but i don't get it anywhere else anymore. Everyone's body is different. Some might respond well by going to a nutritionist or something. But medications are not the only options out there. Best wishes.

I just wanted to give an update. I just want to first off thank you all for being the only people that understood me as I felt totally alone going through this. Its been since Novemeber since I started getting real treatment for my RA even though I've had it since about 16 or earlier and never went to the doctor for it so I never really knew what it was. I am still suffering and scared but not really sure what to do. I guess Plaquinil can only be given for a short time so I'm out of that and now only have my celebrex which is like nothing. I guess the plaquinil helped some because now that I dont have them, I'm going right back to square one. I'm really scared as of what to do next. I'm 33 and normal life duties are getting so hard to do. I cried yesterday because I could hardly drive home. Right now my neck, back, shoulders, hips, feet, and hands are the major flares. I have five sores in my mouth. I live in a fairly big city but we only have 3 groups of Rheumatologist in the area. The one I see now is super conservative and just says" come back in again" it's of course $50 everytime. They dont understand that normal people cant afford 50 every 3 weeks. I guess I will and pray about it and just scrounge up the money to go again...Just for him to tell me nothing like he did the last visit but that to just basically deal with it. The first group I went to (they were looking at Lupus first because of my ANA)The doctor was so rude and didnt care a bit. This doctor, atleast believes me, but he just doesn't do much but I saw him at my worst the first visit. I'm guessing I just have to suffer again like last time until I end up in the hospital again. Thats the only time I got any real treatment. They always wait until you cant stand before they do anything. All I have left is prayers and my friends on here to help me continue on. Is this really never going to stop? Not even a little break?

Wow Livloveslife, it sounds like you are unfortunate in the doctor department! Are you in the US?! No matter where you are, the treatment you are receiving is unacceptable. Everyone on here has given you good advice. You should absolutely be on Methotrexate if you can tolerate it (I couldn't do pills, but do fine with injections), and definitely some prednisone until things get under control! How you're being treated is absolutely unacceptable. ANA's can be elevated for many reasons, and sometimes the RA test is negative even if you have it.

That being said, I know what you're saying about the $50. Mine used to be $30 per time, and now it's $40...plus the cost of labs, x-rays, etc. They don't understand the toll that can take on a family! I just turned 30 and have two little kids....and work part-time as a nurse. There are many things I'd rather be spending my money on! And sometimes they just want "repeat labs", but they insist on seeing me TOO, even though they have nothing to tell me and don't want to change things...but just so they can charge me for that $40 co-pay! Frustrating!

I also understand what you're saying about people, co-workers, friends, family, etc not understanding. People see you and you don't LOOK sick. Sure, you're slow to get up, maybe even walk with a limp...but you still look/act healthy to them. I'm sure they don't understand, so we have to respect that, but it's frustrating...and very hard to suffer alone!!!

Good luck, and keep us updated! :)
Jen

I am so very sorry that you are suffering and battling this beast of a disease.
You sound so much like me before I finaly found a good rheumy.
I still have some bad flares, but way way less often.
Everytime I see my rheumy, I want to hug her neck for changing my life and giving me back a somewhat normal existance.
Please, Please listen to the other posters and find a new doc or insist that your doc try you on either the methotrexate or go directly to the biologics. With as severe as your symtoms are, more than likely you will need them anyways. The longer you stay flared the more damage is being done to your whole body...not just your joints..bear that in mind.
Don't want to scare you, just want you to realize as my new rheumy assured me..if you don't keep the flares under control, you could end up in a wheelchair in a few short years...Needless to say, I immediatly started the remicade infusions..I am so very thankful that I did.
I pray that you find some speedy relief.
Missy

Thanks guys! @ scaredgirl according to my doctor, it's common with, Lupus, RA and auto immune dx's. I don't get them everytime I have a flare but i get them ALOT. I've been in the hospital 2 times in the last few months with this and they've checked everything. I do however have mono and CMV as well. According to the doctor, when RA attacks with a flare, your bodys immune system basically attacks it's self. Making it easier to get things normal people don't. I've had mono 5 times. Thats a little crazy to me.He said that it stays in your body once you've had it but most people dont get it again. Some people have symptoms that others don't. I got them before I started meds so I know thats not why. They checked my liver and it was fine. I do have really bad swelling in my hands and feet as well. I'm in the medical field so we've tested for that anyway. Back before I was dignosed, I saw a doctor in passing that works here with me and I asked him to look at one because it was the biggest one I've ever had. Their always inside my mouth(canker sores) not blisters. He's ENT specialist. He took one look and asked me" Do you have an auto-Immune DX"? That was back even before I was dignosed. It gets really frustrating. I just want to feel normal. :(

I forgot to post...I had my vocal cords scoped because I lose my voice often and I get really hoarse wit ha sore throat at times. They found 2 masses on my vocal cords and said they were from the RA. Does anyone else experiance hoarsness or sore throat?

Liv,

you NEED a new doctor!!! If it is RA that you have (and you can have nodules on your vocal cords i believe), you need more than celebrex.

A prednisone taper would help immensely. And Methotrexate, that is the gold standard of treatment. And you can have all negative labs and still have RA. Lots of people are seronegative!

I realize there are only 3 groups of docs where you live, but is there a teaching hospital around? I live near Boston and have the co-director of the rheum clinic as my rheumy - he's great!

Please get another opinion. Damage keeps occurring if you don't get the right treatment and celebrex will NOT stop damage!!!

Good luck!

Started on prednisone Friday. Feeling better. My pcp put me on it. Guess I'm trying a new doc! they just tested my daughter for RA and mono today. I'll keep ya posted. Praying hard for her