Hello Marthar1201! Welcome to this group! So sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with RA. I was diagnosed like 2 days before my 30th birthday which was a shock. Back then I had no kids yet. It took my doctors 6 months to figure out it was RA. Agonizing pain until then...
I was prescribed a relatively high dosage of prednisone which helped alleviate the pain and stiffness. 3-4 years later, I gave birth to twins while having RA pain so I know what you are going through. Look, don't lift your child. I had twins and I knew I would not be a carry around mommy. Now these kids are 7 and we have a wonderful relationship without me having had to carry them. You would need to find another way to entertain him until you are prescribed proper medicine and have found the right combo that works for you. Merry, merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful 2019!

Hello Marthar1201

First, do not get mad at yourself! It's not your fault you have RA. But it seems as though you acted fairly quickly & jumped on it when you could. Do whatever you can to get a good Rheumatoid Arthritis doctor not just a pain & or primary care doctor. You need a specialist.

The best route is to treat this very aggressively, early now up front while the disease is still young within you! It seems that those who have faired much better than those who waited or had no other choice but to wait.

Fortunately RA Medications have come a LONG way in the past 10 years & there's tons of options. Good luck to you

I wish you could see someone much earlier. The faster you get treatment, the less severe the disease will be. Phone the rheumatologist every day, for cancellation appointments. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. As for a higher level of medicine than Plaquenil. It is for very mild RA. From what you describe, you are already past this. Plus it takes 6 months to work, and you do not want to waste precious time on a drug that has a very low rate of success.

Hoping you get into see the rhematologist sooner rather than later!

First of all Thank you for sharing! Hope you all enjoyed your Xmas.
I have a follow up with my doctor tomorrow. And i will look for a specialist ASAP or continue calling the rheumatologist until they take me in sooner. I have had a couple of days crying in pain.
My little man is very active but will get him used to be as independent as he can be while at home. Thank you!

welcome, though i wish you didn't have to be here,

i hope you get to see the rheumatologist fast and try not to rely on the pain specialist. you want to find something that stops the progression of the disease, nor just treat the pain which does not prevent gripping or deformities. GOOD LUCK,A

So I was able to see a rheumatologist yesterday and she put me on Plaquenil and prednisone. Why am so afraid to take this medicine!!!!
Are Rheumatologist so straight foward. Like this is the medicine this one will give you such and such...affect your vision....etc.... When i got into my car I cried myself out...and all could think was about my 2 year old.
I am afraid for the side effects.... I took methylprednisolone Friday December 30th given by my PCP before seen the Rheumatologist because i was so much in pain had so much swelling on my hand joints to the point of crying so much. So since than i haven't taken anything else and i have been pain free.... And sitting here doubting on taking this meds. Has anyone teied the holistic side for remedies?
I couldn't sleep last night......
The rheumatologist also told me I need to take the flu and i think she said the pneumonia shot.... Have to double check on that... How do you guys donwhen gou get the shot???? I had never in my life had the flu shot

I'll address a few things that may help you, I'm not a doctor so keep that in mind as I ramble. If you've not already do a little research about RA and that it "uses" the synovial lining in your body. Your joints, muscles, tendons and organs. RA is different in everyone from not too bad to extremely severe. It's most likely not going away on its own and if you don't take the meds the damage can be quick and permanent.

Sounds like the Doc is following the insurance ladder of meds....insurance wants the cheapest tried first and if that doesn't work you go to the next level guessing that Methotrexate (MTX) will be added to the plaquenil. Plaq will build in your body over a period of years and at a certain point is when it can become toxic to your eyes. Soon as you can make an appointment with an Ophthalmologist, not an Optometrist, tell the Ophth you're taking Plaquenil and need to establish a base line. They'll do all these tests and you'll go every 6 months to be checked and if things begin changing for the worst you'll know before vision is severely affected and can get off the Plaq. Don't freak out about the meds, They are better than not having them by a long shot. you want to be on the biologics but insurance dictates the procedure to get there. Also, a little help for the obvious anxiety that you're experiencing, get some Frankincense oil, rub it at the base of your skull, use it in one of those mister things in the house, rub it on swelling, throbbing, stiff joints. It helps.

It takes time and patients. You must be your own best advocate at all times. You must learn to recognize the anxiousness that builds in you so that you can control the most important real estate in the world, the space between your ears.

Oh, get the flu shot.