Just spoke to my practice nurse and

[Iklboo]

Just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Done the mad thing of Googling it and now I am (a) scared sh!tless and (b) feeling rather rubbish.
Anyone got positive advice/stories? I've got an appointment with my GP tomorrow morning but I was hoping wise MNers could help first

So sorry to hear
No experience though
xx

Ahhh... sorry Iklboo, no experience and advice, but I remember you from the thread the other day. I know this is what you'd been worried about, so all I can say is that now at least you know something for definite and have some real facts to deal with.

I suppose the only thing I can say with any certainty is that the internet is full of extreme cases, and it's important that you find out the information which is relevant to you personally.

Thinking of you. xxx

Hi Ladies - thanks for your thoughts.
Orlando, you're right. Now I know what the problem is I can start dealing with it, getting treatment & advice etc, avoiding telling my mother & FIL's wife .
Nurse has said it's early stage so I reckon the earlier the diagnosis the better (thanks to DH for making me go to docs in first place).

I'll be fine. I've got a great DH & DS. And all you mumsnetters!

(still going to take the opportunity of swooning on the couch tonight and let DH do the tea though) [wicked emoticon]

RA is an auto-immune disease .. there are many many drug protocols that can be trialled to see what helps you

Unfortunately you'll find that other people's experiences have little bearing on your own .. you could well spend the rest of your life with a few finger joints that ache when the weather turn or you could be worse

it comes and goes in flares ... the right drug protocol will impact hugely on the nature of length of these flares

do not despair .. it is scary to begin with but it becomes just life

DH was dx with another form of arthritis at 27 (9 years ago) .. I know lots and lots about it ... and am here to talk if you want

Hi,Sorry about your fate.

My mother was diagnosed at age 45, she is now 70 and is still mobile, walks daily and has no problems with disfigurements at all. She followed a strict diet that eliminates foods that can make the pain worse, i.e. anything acidic. She continued to play tennis up until she was 55, the doctors believe the fact that she kept active helped keeping her joints mobile. She has been feeling it very badly in her one hip and back over the last year, and it is sad to say, they do not think it will improve much, regardless of the detox diet every now and then. She used some painkillers when she couldn't sleep from pain, and daily doses of evening primrose oil and cod liver oil (1000mg per day).

HTH
best of luck.

I also remember my mum was given bloodtests to confirm.

blood tests determine level of inflammation in the body (SED or ESR) .. can be ongoing

Thanks twig & mum2funkydude. I am going to wait and see what GP says. Like I said, now I know, that's most of the battle over with. From now on it's "right, I've got RA. They can do this to help me, I can do this to help myself"
I'm not one for locking myself away in a darkened room feeling sorry for myself (well, not often!). Best approach is to stay positive and get on with it.

Iklboo ,sorry to hear that,do you mind me asking what made you suspect you had it?Only I'm a bit worried about my ankle as it's been bugging me for weeks.

I'd been having pains in my joints (fingers, hands, wrists, elbows & shoulders worse - a bit less in hips, knees, ankles, feet & toes). DH got sick of me whining and told me to make an appointment with GP.
GP sent me for X-rays 2 weeks ago which showed "marked thinning of the bones at the joints of the fingers, hands, feet & toes". So he did a blood test and I got the results back today.

I thought GP was just going to tell me I was a bit run down and buck my ideas up a bit!

Gosh quite a shock then! Sounds painful...poor you,definately milk it on the homefront.

Quite a shock, quite painful but like I said, now we know, I can get on with it