Anyone here have RA?

[checkerkitty]

I was diagnosed with RA a few weeks ago. My rheumatologist wants me to start on methotrexate immediately. I've done some research and I think she skimmed over the side effects. That's one heavy duty pill. It scares the living daylights out of me. I'm only 35 and the idea of developing lymphoma or cirrhosis, among other things, isn't very appealing. I want to try to control this with an anti inflammatory diet first. Has anyone else done this, too? Any help is appreciated. Thanks so much.

Christy

[ri*smom]

I do and I am 35 as well. . . I tried to manage it without prescription meds (they scare the ba-jeebees out of me, too) and it (the RA and my Crohn's) got very out of control for me. It was almost impossible for me to do daily housework or take care of the kids . . . so I am now back on Imuran. I'm not thrilled about it, but it was either that or writhe in excruciating pain. My doctor seems to gloss over the unpleasant side-effects as well; he said those are very rare side effects and they have to mention them as far as legal liability. Still doesn't make me feel much better, but right now I am able to regularly get up and walk and hold my kids, etc. I wasn't able to do that three months ago; however, now I don't have any excuses about dishes and laundry.

[mrsfoamy]

I take Plaquenil when I have lupus flares. I have known a few people with RA that have also taken it. I never had any side effects.

[smythwicks]

I was dignosed with Lupus/RA about 5 years ago, and have treated with acupuncture! I quilt by hand daily and work 40 hours a week on a 'puter....I did not want to take any drugs....I will have this disease for 40 more yrs...if I start now,,,,what will I be in 10, 20 or 30 years. oh, and by the way...I still pass out when I have my blood drawn for tests, but the hour in the acupunturists office is truly the most relaxed I get!!!! My BC/BS covers like a chiropractor. I recommend it in a heart beat...just don't go to mine...she is already hard to get into...lol

[Contrary Housewife]

I've had RA over 10 years now. I got it relatively young. Methotrexate is some pretty heavy duty stuff. Some of the other side effects will bother you more than the possibility of lymphoma. My hair started coming out in handfuls and I told the doctor I would not take it any longer. I've lost 2 joints as a result of not being on enough meds.

You need to talk to your doctor and ask why you are on this med and not something less aggressive. He/she may feel your disease requires something this strong. Are you already in a lot of pain?

And not to scare you or anything, but on the scale of side effects, Methotrexate is pretty mild. There's far worse stuff you can be taking, and may end up on later in life. RA never goes away, you just keep taking drugs to suppress it.

As for the diet... there really isn't one, it's not like diabetes or food allergies where avoiding certain foods can help keep you healthy. It was one of the first things I looked into, because I detest taking pills if there is a 'natural' solution. There's a lot of folk remedies and unproven dietary advice that may or may not work for some people some of the time, but nothing really scientifically proven.

[frugalfranny]

I was diagnosed with RA a few weeks ago. I want to try to control this with an anti inflammatory diet first. Christy

As for the diet... there really isn't one, it's not like diabetes or food allergies where avoiding certain foods can help keep you healthy. There's a lot of folk remedies and unproven dietary advice that may or may not work for some people some of the time, but nothing really scientifically proven.

CH...have you tried to avoid some foods? or notice that some foods make you feel worse?

CK....I am asking CH that as my mom and sister have it and have noticed some foods make them feel worse. To keep this short I will just simply list the ones that they have noticed will REALLY bother them........AND......my sister takes a cranberry concentrate capsule all summer long so she can eat strawberries and some other produce and "not hurt so bad"....still has pain.

Some of the things that bother them:

carbonated drinks of ANY kind, strawberries, tomatoes, eating lots of beef,..........while avoiding them is no cure, they just didn't hurt quite so bad.

I suggest you 'pay attention' to how you feel after eating.......EACH DAY.......and experiment with what you can and can not eat.

[Gotonenerveleft]

I've had RA for years and years. I currently am not on any medication. The meds that I was on before meant having my blood checked every three months for liver damage. I quit taking them as a preventative and only took them when I had a flare up. Might get flamed for that but that's ok....Since the RX was just a strong anti-imflammatory I didn't see the need to hurt my liver if I could help it. Have done fine without it.

The thing that has helped me more than anything is exercise. When I first started working just being on my feet was almost more than I could bear. The first couple of months just about killed me (I thought), but I noticed that it was easier every day.....after a while I could handle anything. When I quit working and slowly became inactive again....here came the arthritis back. Starting to be the same as before. I have to start walking again because I don't want to go back how it was. Exercise is the key for me.

[Contrary Housewife]

FrugalFanny, I have experimented with some foods, but not found anything that works consistently for me. I think part of the problem for those of us with RA is that we don't have a method of self-testing, like diabetics do. If I eat something I have to guess how I "feel", and that can be affected by any number of things. I can't just pop a test strip and see if my white cell count is up. I think that eating chilis (capsaicin) has a slight euphoric effect for me, but I'm not sure it's doing anything for my joints.

This doesn't mean avoiding something won't help Checkerkitty, she just has to try for herself. Science hasn't found the silver bullet yet.

I agree with Gotonenerveleft that staying active helps a lot. I used to dance, but over the years my feet have gotten so sensitive I can't do anything with quick stepping, hopping, or similar movements. Some days just going down the stairs is a killer. I do try to keep moving and I do a lot of stretching so I don't stiffen up. I SO WISH I could go off my meds, but my disease is too active. I really start to feel it if I miss a dose. I suspect I'm going to have to start something new this fall when I go for my checkup, I hope it's not one of the pills with "death" as a side effect.

[vickilynn]

It takes time working with your doctor to work out the plan that has the least side effects, but still prevents not only painful flareups, but more damage to your joints. Remember RA is like a cancer that eats your cartilage. Untreated that can get pretty serious. For me the pain was unbearable and the fatigue was taking my life away. So, I'm now on infusion drugs (orasia can't spell it) and it has given me my life back. Frequent blood tests catch a potential problem before it is serious.

Everyone reacts differently to the drugs....the methotraxate made me sleep for 3 days. That doesn't work! Others made my hair fall out. Ugh. But right now the meds are in balance.

Good luck, continue to work with you doctor.