I am sorry you have to deal with RA. For me, I was told that methotrexate was enough for over 50% of the Rheumatologists's patients. I was not one of the 50%. After a few months, a biologic (Humera, Enbrel, etc) was added. When this was added, that is when I started feeling so much better. Not that you like to hear this, but it takes time to find the right drugs, so please do not get discouraged. I feel so much better than I did when I was diagnosed!!! You might hear from some people that you should eat this/that or not eat this/that. For some, that might help, for me, it did not. I do try to eat healthy, I try to eat organic when I can - not because it will help me feel better, but because it is always good to eat as healthy as you can.

This is a great place to ask questions, find out information, and vent. I am glad you found us.

Thank you for the reply. I have been trying to do research, to help prepare, but its never as good as talking to real people, who deal with it. Its good to know that it may take a while to get the right medicine dosage. I will try not to get discouraged. It does help that i work from home. It is much more comfortable than at an office. Thanks for the information!

Welcome to the group! I hope you are successful quickly with meds, but as you've heard, it's important to have patience. That is my greatest lesson with this disease- be patient with myself as well as with others. They are learning about the new me as well!

Happy holidays,
Juls

Thank you Juls.

Question, does anyone get episodic itching? I have been lately, with no visible rash. Just comes on all of a sudden.

I don't get the itching, but I've read that others have. Hopefully they will chime in.

Happy holidays

Welcome to the forum! This is a great resource & there's many good people here who can share their experience.

The one bit of advise I can share because I kind of went through it the past months is:

Once you get settled on your meds & once they kick in, hopefully you'll get to a comfortable place with your inflammation & pain where you can finally manage & feel somewhat "normal" again.

But just be aware that RA suffers tend to go through what is called a "Flareup". Don't freak out when you get a flareup. Yes it's scary because you think, "Oh no the med's aren't working anymore". Although this "could" be the case, speak with your Rheumy first, get the blood work done & let him/her advise you.

I've freaked out twice now & upon blood work was advised my levels were all normal. For some reason just hearing my doctor reassure me that I'm just going thru a flareup, next thing I know, it goes away a week later & I"m back to being "normal" again! The mind can play "tricks" on you if you let it.

I'm not a doctor so I'd hate to say, "Just wait it out", that's probably the wrong thing to do but just be aware that flareups will most likely happen.

Thanks for the advice. I am not sure what the itching is about. I will be sure to not freak out when i get a flare up. I am gettinf blood work every month for 6 months since i am starting the new meds. Will keep an eye on the levels. I am not a big fan of my rheumatologist but will see if he improves

Oh yeah I experienced itching on my knuckles & forearms something fierce!

That was before the medication & then when I was put on Plaquenil the facial hives & itching were just too much & Plaquenil didn't do anything for me anyway so we stuck with the MTX.

Not sure why itching is a side affect, maybe it's the inflammation? Maybe if you've experienced swelling it's your skin reacting to being "pushed" away from your joints? I don't know.

My lower arms itch like they have been rubbed with fiberglass insulation! Really fierce and no rash or redness.

Hopefully you can get to a manageable place. I think most do. He

Keep on keeping on.

Something to remember is that not everything that happens to us after an RA diagnosis has to do with RA. You should talk to your family doctor because there are many reasons for itching.

I have itchy ankles, which I got while on Xeljanz. Except I've been off of Xeljanz for 4 months, and I am still itchy. I use Bendryl cream or sometimes cortisone cream. And sometimes these rashes are hard to see. Get a really bright light and put it directly over the itchy spots. I had itchy foot insteps on and off from the time I was 7. It was always about some kind of allergy, but other than certain drugs, I have never figured out what I am allergic to!

I hope you find some answers and that mthx works for you. It was a great drug for me with a DMARD, but my liver enzymes went too high.