hello we are here the others well be here soon , this is new format so everyone is learning how to navigate, anyhow when you feel like let us know your story if you'd like im newly dx with ra miserable thing to have like many i have oa as well , im so sorry, you have this burden welcome pull up a chair and jump in i think you well like it here hugs minnie

Ty you so much for your kindness. I have OA as well and possibly fibromyalgia but I am on the fence about that one bc my pain seems to respond to prednisone and DMARDS specifically methotrexate but I still have lots of pain it's only been 7 wks on methotrexate and from the way I feel and what I have read I believe they need to add on another DMARD. I have been feeling bad since 2010 but if course my doctor wouldn't listen to me then in 2013 it got much worse. The fatigue was terrible, it was all I could do to go to work and I was a single mom with a 4yr old and 7yr old without any support, then St.Patricks day of 2015 was the last day I worked, I could no longer function. I couldn't even take care of myself. And now April of this year I finally have a diagnosis other than " crazy". And now the fun has begun to see what works for now. That's it in a nutshell.

"....don't know how this site works..." Well, guess what? Neither do we.

Seriously, the old website was annihilated and this new website, filled with lots of problems, took its place.

Happychat, are you seeing a rheumatologist? Some people find it takes 2-3 months for MTX to kick in. For me it was about a month. If you haven't seen any improvement at all by now, I certainly would see the rheumatologist and start talking about an MTX dose adjustment or adding a biologic.

However, depending on your insurance, you may be required to spend some time on a drug before you graduate to another. It's a question to be asked in your next office visit.

We all know about the fatigue end. I was diagnosed when I was in my early 40's......I cannot begin to imagine how hard it is for someone with kids.

Yes I see a rheumatologist monthly for now until I get more relief. I know the methotrexate is working some which is good but the pain I still continue to have. I have been on steroids for 7+wks on and off. When the side effects become to much I wean myself down then off for a few days then I have to start taking them again. It's a viscious cycle I have read and am experiencing.

Welcome Happy cat, yes the site is a little rough , but hopefully they will work it out. Glad you came aboard and their are great people here and other great people that were on the old sight that will show up. As far as methotrexate goes it does take some time for it to start working. One other note on methotrexate, I was feeling nauseous every time I took it for the first few times and also very fatigue but that went away as my body got used to it. I hope you start feeling better and please stick with the site, I'm sure it will get better. Lynn, you said you have had RA since your early 40's that must mean you got RA last year... :) wink wink