Rheumatoid arthritis

[Foreverfrustrated97]

Hi all,
I have just been diagnosed with RA.
Its come on super suddenly, like in the last 2 months. I've gone from having no symptoms to constantly having at least 1 joint hurting each day.
GP requested bloods and saw that my Anti CCP levels were quite high but didn't say what was classed as high.
Could anyone who has RA share if they can?
For some reason they didn't do my RF levels so have been sent to have them done soon.
Also what can I expect from having RA?
I have been prescribed steroids and maybe some more RA specific next time I see the rheumatologist

I was diagnosed in 2017. I had constant pain in my hands, shoulders and balls of my feet. It came to a head when we were in holiday and went to an indoor climbing wall and I couldn’t use my hands because of the pain. My Rheumatoid Factor was at 572.

Mine has been very aggressive. I’m on methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and do take regular painkillers (codeine). I’ve also tried 3 different biologics, adalimumab, Baricitinib and Rituximab. The first two didn’t work, but Rituximab has been life changing. I have an infusion at hospital every 6 months, which takes a day. When it’s getting to the 6 month mark I do get flare ups, but not as bad anymore.

I have gone back to doing martial arts, which I couldn’t do. I do ache, but life feels good now.

Thanks for that. At the moment my flare up has gone and I feel completely normal.
Im waiting for my RD levels but my CCP was 106

I was diagnosed in December but have been in remission mainly! Very lucky! The emotional side has been far tougher for me than the physical side. I’m on 200 mg of hydroxychloroquine but other than that my life is as it was before. That’s not to say I don’t have very dark days at the start.

I was diagnosed 15 years ago after years of going to the GP. It was well controlled at first by hydroxychloroquine. Added sulphasalazine 5 years ago but in the last 18 months I've had constant flares. I've just been prescribed methotrexate.

I also had a couple of years on steroids. Steroids are the devil's drug because you feel so well on them but you can't take them long term and they're really hard to wean off.

I have had RA for 40 years this year. The advancements in the last 20 years are incredible. Once they start you on Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs known as DMARDS I'm sure they will make a huge difference. Steroids are sometimes used in the interim. Sometimes the first DMARD may not be as affective as hoped but there are a lot of different ones now. Sometimes two are needed. The secret is to get on medication as soon as possible It sounds like you have been diagnosed quickly, that helps.

Thanks guys. I am on steroids now and have a follow up in a month. He has asked me to look at hydrochloroquine and methotrexate and see which I'd prefer. Not sure at the moment but will have a think

I hope you're doing ok. I was diagnosed in 2009, the RA came on quite suddenly after the birth of my daughter. It took approximately 18 months to get diagnosed. I had a few difficult years when the RA was fairly uncontrolled while I tried some entry level drugs, methotrexate and sulfasalazine.

However Cimzia has been absolutely life changing for me. I no longer have flare ups and live a normal life, I am so grateful. Sharing because it is so tough at first but the newer biologic medication that is available these days can really help, so push for it if you are not happy with what you are given.

Hello I was diagnosed in 2013 with a CCP of 239.9 and RF of 64.7

I started with sulfasalazine which worked well for a year or so. Then I added in Hydroxychoroquine which did little for me. Next up Methotrexate which worked well but the side effects were debilitating.
I started on Cimzia after that and it has been brilliant

I regularly have CCP over 400 but no sign of RA in my joints. My consultant is baffled 😂

My mother's RA came on about 8 months after I was born. That was a long time ago. Medication sounds to be much better now than it was in her day. I wish I could very gently hug you all. I am glad there are all these medications around and threads where we can all ask about conditions and swap advice.

Sorry to hijack. But could I ask if people had pain without swelling? I have pain in joints and and breathlessness and was wondering if it was RA.

@Myfansbroken yes this is possible. When I have pain in my wrists and ankles it is a pinching and gripping pain but they don’t swell up. This is where I first had pain.
Hands and fingers do swell up though.

Pain for me was confined to small joints in hands, feet, wrists and ankles mostly. The main exception being knees.

@upinaballoon my granny’s sister had RA presumably in 1950s and she was bedridden with it. We certainly are lucky these days by comparison

Is it symmetrical? That’s a big tell tale sign

Yes it's both sides for me. Thank you both, that helps a lot.