Like Frannie, I'm somewhat confused, too. My definition of a "flare" is what your definition of a "bad flare" is. I don't register "discomfort/mild pain" as a flare any more. If you were after comparison information for yourself, that is also difficult because everyone's RA is so individual.

I am happy for you that you feel so well with your diet. However, I am fed up with being told by posters that this diet or that diet will work for many if you can stick to it. so clean up your diet and the pain will vanish. I have no problem at all if one wants to share this type of information but it is the continual reference to it in posts on any thread that annoy me.

Sorry to sound like a grouch. I am sure I am not the only person who feels this way.

1 year
Plaquinel, MTX, starting Humira
Constant
2 severe

6 yrs
MTX & ACTEMRA
5
3

Great questions to get us thinking!

this is not clinical research. this is personal research. yes, there are many variations of the possible variables when considering an individuals ability to manage/cope with pain which therefore will give (quite likely) differing numbers to each individual and their answers. my personal ability to tolerate pain is quite high. if someone would like to participate then please do. if one does not care to do so then please do not. this was a thread where i requested that folks answer if they cared to do so. since i started the thread i have had a small flare which almost went into a bad one but when i felt it beginning to build up in my shoulder to the point of almost locking accompanied by pretty severe pain in lifting my elbow then i started taking the anti-inflams. this is day 3 and i'm almost completely back to normal with just a wee bit of calcium to break-up in the joint....so that number for me goes from 4 to 5. over the three days had 4 anti-inflams and 6 aleeve. flare came from forgetting just how painful they can be so i started cheating on my diet and eating too many Bojangles Country Ham buscuits (had 5 over a two day period) plus, also ate 2 of those big ole Hershey's candy bars (the BIG ones). Did it to myself, paid for it myself. fortunately, i have found something that works for me. it does work, might for you but it might not.

if what i post "annoys" you, that seems a personal problem you posses that you must deal with yourself. if my wanting to help others to not have pain bothers you, same thing. if i handle the pain when it comes differently than do you, ditto.

I'm out. maybe not to be back. trolls obviously live in the RA Forum as well as everywhere else. good luck to all.

Just want to let you know how much I have appreciated your comments. I had no clue what a nightshade was until I started this group. I am slowly changing my diet and I am finding a difference. My husband is an avid gardener and has had flares in July and August. Just thought it was from too much bending and stooping but now we can link it to his delicious tomatoes that hew eat so much of at that time. You are a life saver to us. Please join me on the other board. Alternative to RA

Here is the link.
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/alternative-help-for-ra

Well I hope this is worked out. Such in life there will always be disagreements & misunderstandings.
Hate to see anyone leave.
For what ever reason I find the answers interesting & informative.
So I'll do my best to answer hopefully it's helpful. Can't be positive with numbers.

RA at least 3-4 yrs
Officially DXed little over 2 yrs
Enbrel (with occasional prednisone)
Flares approx: 3-4 times per yr (most related to stopping treatment for infections)
Severe : approx 2 per yr

**longest & most severe flare head to toe recently lasting over a month thus far, after stopping & restarting Enbrel only to discover no longer working to provide the same relief

I'd like to see what others experience
Hope there are more replies
Sammy

Well said Sammy and I totally agree with you. We are all suffering from RA, we shouldn't add stress to our lives because we disagree on what is being said on a group site.
I will be the first to admit, I am sensitive and sometimes I just have to remove myself from the situation until I get it together.

6 months
Plaquenil
constant
constant :(
Rheumy offered to add Sulfasalzine recently but I opted to wait until the plaquenil has had the full time to take effect. I'm getting worse so I may call and say scratch that, give me more meds!!

I am very far from following the kind of diet I need to but I am slowly learning what others experiences are and it is starting to change my thinking about all of this. I'm very interested in learning more since my pain levels are so high.

Questions are:
How long diagnosed RA? Going on 8 years
Inhibitor taking? Only Orencia
How many flares per MONTH do you experience? One or none
How many bad flares per MONTH. ..sometimes one sometimes none.
I notice flares come right before rhuemy appts. So weird.

Questions are:
How long diagnosed RA?: 9 weeks
Inhibitor taking? plaquenil
How many flares per year do you experience? so far 2 but I have only been diagnosed 9 weeks
How many bad flares per year do you experience? too new to RA to answer

Diagnosed: 8 years ago
Inhibitor: Enbrel for 3 years
Flares per year: 2
Bad Flares per year: 2
Only if I stay on my meds

6 years
Embrel & plaquenil
Constant
Often

Thanks for this thread.

3 years
Humira
0-1
0

Hope everyone has a great night!
Debbie