To consider trying to find an alternative to medication for rheumatoid arthritis?

[dottytablecloth]

As I'm shit scared of the side effects?

I haven't been 100% confirmed with the diagnosis but it's looking v likely.

I'm reading all I can on the internet about this illness and how it's treated and I'm so terrified of the drugs for life I'll have to go on for life.

I've read about people (and doctors) who claim it can be cured through a particular diet but then other sources say it's incurable.

I try to be positive and think it could be worse but I'm feeling v v down that at a time in my life when I should be fit and healthy I've possibly got this disease.

Has anyone been successful in curing ra with their diet?

I recently started a similar thread . I have RA and I was just about to start methotrexate . Like you I was terrified of the side effects .

I'm now on week four and no side effects except for slight nausea the day after taking it. I'm still working up to a higher dose though.

For me it's a relief to know I'm trying to slow down the disease in it's tracks . Please consider medication , they'll hopefully find something that works for you.

Lots of lovely people on here helped me feel a lot better about taking it myself .

Good luck op , it's shit but there are things to help .

I have heard changing your diet may help too . Maybe worth doing that in conjunction with medication?

I have taken hydroxychloroquine in the past with the Sulphasalazine, it was recommended to help with fatigue. I can't say that I had any side effects from it at all. I have also had IV steroid injections when my RA returned after I had my daughter, these did nothing for me and it wasn't until I took regular prednisone tablets at a reducing dose and got back on my Sulphasalazine that my RA subsided again. I didn't go back on the hydroxy as I think the evidence around taking it whilst breastfeeding was unclear.

I would go so far to say that I haven't had any side effects from the medications (apart from moon-face whilst on high dose steroids at the beginning). The only set backs I had where when I didn't take the RA seriously and over did things.

Hi op, I've got psoriatic arthritis and believe me I've tried different diets etc but what I've found to work is meds, a good healthy diet and exercise when you're feeling well. My ds was only a baby when I started getting symptoms and it gradually got worse. What I'd also say is remember it can take a while to get the right medication. It's took me about 2 years to get to the point I feel normal again.
Try the drugs, don't just put up with side effects as there is loads they can do these days. They're constantly finding new treatments for arthritis so were very lucky. I'm on humira now (biological drugs) and I was scared but I'm more scared that in a few months my body managed to damage my thumb joint. I have no side effects whatsoever. Hope you get sorted, I understand how hard it is with little ones. Mine are 4 & 6 now and I can run around with them again which makes me (and them) so happy!

Hi I have this. I was given 2 medications to try so far and couldnt take either one. I was told next thing was imunosupressants . I refused to take them so stopped going to the doctor ( my mum has bad lupus and Ive seen what they did to her). Ive been treating the symptoms not the disease. ill take the medication when the symptoms are bad enough to justify the side effects of the drugs.

Ive been using CBD oil in a vape,it works for me. I tried pot and even though it did work beautifully I didnt like being high,cant understand the attraction it has for people. I did get some pot with very low THC and very high CBDs and that worked great and I didnt get high but I cant get any more so tried the CBD oil and it does work,at least for me

My mum has this. Whilst she still takes the medications she follows a very very strict diet, and it makes a big difference to her as she is now pretty much pain free.

I think it was called something like Clint's cure? Started with just a couple of foods and gradually introduce foods, as it will be different for everyone. Broadly she has no gluten, legumes, dairy or nightshades (these are certain types of veg). Also look at paleo as that's essentially what it is. She can tolerate small amounts of dairy & nightshades but any gluten or legumes and the pain immediately comes back. She also eats very little now (lost a lot of weight), as her experience was also that fasting = less pain.

If you are open to Paleo, listen to Robb Woolfs podcast, he mentions autoimmune conditions at lot, as RA is an autoimmune condition.

You might think such a hardship (the diet), but she was in constant pain, even with the medication & steroids, so she doesn't mind the diet at all, because she is pain free. But she still takes the medication as well.... But doesn't need steroids (she has tried to cut down on the medication, but she can't stop it, even with the diet). That all being said my Dad is a GP, and he initially agreed with the doctors that diet doesn't make a difference, but seeing the impact that the diet has on my mum (and also the effects if she has gluten by mistake) he agrees that diet can play a big part.

Anyway if you want to PM me I can put you in touch with my Mum.

You'll definitely find diet changes that help you (for me cream/ice cream and chocolate are bad). However, you may make yourself a bit crazy in the process and you'll probably still have symptoms and it's depressing to think you are doing the right thing diet wise and still have issues. I'd try the meds in conjunction with diet or give myself a 6-12 month deadline for going on the meds after trying dietary changes. I didn't take the meds for years because I worried so much about the side effects and when I did start, I didn't get any side effects (touch wood etc).

I've been taking hydroxychloroquine for about 4 years for Sjogrens, yet another of these horrible Autoimmune diseases.
It worked brilliantly for me and gave me my life back. No more constant pain and crippling fatigue.
The only side effect I had was weight loss for the first few months of taking it, which in my case was a very welcome side effect.
Try to find a good Rheumatologist who you trust and follow their advice along with living as healthily as you can. Do some research on RA forums etc and see if there are any supplements recommended. Arming yourself with good quality information will help you feel more in control and hopefully less scared. Good luck.