I am 27 years old and it was discovered that I have Juvenile (then Rheumatoid) now Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) when I was 10 years old. It was realized due to the fact there was significant inflammation in my right eye. They did all sorts of tests on me and decided there was no cause for my disorder (funny the disorder came to be re-named idiopathic, which means “cause unknown”). I had some joint problems and a limited range of movement in my knees and hips, and the biggie was my eye. I had cataract surgery when I was 12 years old. I had had injections in my eye prior to that as well as oral steroids to try to combat the inflammations in my eye and other body parts. I struggled with my eye for a long time afterwards, and my bad joints have now just become a fact of life for me. But I have recently started having headaches behind and above my right eye, the same one that I had problems with. My left eye is unaffected, by the way. I decided to go to the ophthalmologist who had tracked my progress previously (it had been 5 years since I had seen an eye doctor due to the fact that I had no insurance). I figured that my headaches and further blurred vision was due to the proteins that stuck to my lens (called senechae..sp?) that was due to the inflammation. Unfortunately, the doc looked at my eye and said there is very little coverage of my lens with the senechae and that I had a “cupped optical nerve”. GLAUCOMA! It was caused by the “pressure” in my eye being continuously too high. Now I am really worried that I won’t ever be able to see again! I have seen a retinal specialist who has referred me to a glaucoma specialist, and also a rheumatologist to be placed on medication for my jointal arthritis. I am so terrified that they will find something wrong with me that no medicine can really help. Each visit with a specialist is going to cost me from $200 to $800, along with travel expenses because one one of the specialists is in my state. I have medicaid, but it does not cover my out of state expenses since the specialists don’t accept out of state medicaid. This is getting ridiculously expensive and scary. I just wish I had some support in all of this. So, has anyone else out there been through this? None of my friends understand it and my mom is the only one who comprehends what is going on because she has been there with me every step of the way. My husband is supportive in it, but he barely understands the common cold, much less a complex rare arthritic disorder… He is there with me, but I have no idea how to explain it all to him. One must understand the workings and parts of the eye before they can comprehend this disorder and what it is doing to me, and he did not excel in his health courses in school. I just want a friend who understands for support, who I can discuss this with. I need the hope and strength of a companion with a similar disorder or even the same one. Please contact me at therin_acean@yahoo.com if you would like to talk. This was written on 10-21-09 but I would respond years from now if I got a letter. Thank you for reading this. God Bless You!

I am 13 weeks pregnant and was just diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I was hoping to hear of someone else who has gone through this, or just anyone who has RA, and what treatment options have worked and what haven’t? Please help!

Sorry if this gets lengthy. Feel free to scroll to the end — the real questions are there. Thank you.

Those of you who know me from R&S are aware that I have rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve been in a blue funk, assumed it was my disease, and sought the help of a therapist. She recommended I speak with the clinic’s psychiatrist, and the diagnosis, when it came back, completely floored me. Me, diagnosed with a mental illness? Impossible. Or so it seemed.

I’ve spent several days learning about this disease, and in doing so, saw my life with a new clarity. The violent outbursts as a youth, running away, quitting school, going through jobs, getting fired repeatedly, alcohol and drug abuse, a suicide attempt … it all fit.

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Only when I take the meds. When they wear off the intense pain returns. I dont want to be on medication for the rest of my life. Any suggestions on how to do with the pain with out meds?

He is 46 and it came on suddenly. He really suffers with it. The doc put him on Enbrol?? It’s a weekly injection. We are waiting for it to be shipped to us so he can begin. I can’t help but wonder if there are other options? There is another med he can’t take because he has FLD.Anyone have alternative remedies that may help?

I’m 22 years old and was recently diagnosed with secondary Sjogren’s syndrome with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Is anyone else out there like this? I’ve had symptoms for nearly a decade, and have not started official medication yet. I’m finding it so hard to exercise as fatigue drains every bit of energy I have. Is it normal to have excessive fatigue with RA? It’s been really hard for me to cope with this, seeing as how its so rare for someone my age, and I’m just looking for some support.

Any words of advice are greatly appreciated!

She is thinking of switching from methatrexate to Embrel which is about $140 more a month. Is the difference in the money for Embrel worth the added expense?

She is 32 and has 3 children under the age of 4.

• ISBN13: 9781569243640
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Two days after that my blood test result for parvovirus came positive. I am above range. I have 4.24 and the normal is 1.11. I also have cartilage damage under my kneecap in my right knee which i have been getting treated for the last four months. Could parvovirus cause cartilage damage under my knee cap ( patellofemoral chondromalacia syndrome).

two days after that my blood test result for parvovirus came positive. I am above range. I have 4.24 and the normal is 1.11. I also have cartilage damage under my kneecap in my right knee which i have been getting treated for the last four months. Could parvovirus cause cartilage damage under my knee cap ( patellofemoral chondromalacia syndrome).