Introduce Yourself!

chauncyrenayCHANGED

Hi! I'm Chauncy. I'm 28 y/o. I was FINALLY diagnosed with RA about 2 years ago, but I've always had the symptoms. I've been on MFP for 1yr and 1 week now and am only 9lbs away from my goal weight. I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of you.

Feel free to start a topic or join a discussion. This is our place to share ideas, confide with one another and to vent!

minxonastick

After a year of excruciating pain and immobility off and on, I finally am closer to a diagnosis. My bloodwork indicates R.A., but my rheumatologist isn't quite sure, since my symptoms also indicate a very rare form of rheumatism called Palindromic Rheumatism. I'm 42 and this problem seemed to spring out of no where. I felt like a hypochondriac becuase it was so hard to get to the doctor in time to get the flares. After many tests and MRIs and bone scans, at least I'm nearing an answer.

I took the possibility of RA very hard, and got very scared. I want to exercise without aggravating anything, and I don't want to feel sorry for myself. So I'm glad this group exists!

jrgold

Hi! Nice to meet you. My name is Jamie, and I have had R.A. since I was 11, and I am 23 now. It certainly hasnt been easy.

And go you, that is a lot of weight you lost! I am/was also your starting weight, doing this for about 4-5 weeks now.


Love the group name btw!

Ebbykins

Hi all, nice to meet you guys! I'm 28, had RA symptoms since 15, my mom was diagnosed with it at 32, was put on permanent disability at 36 and was constantly battling her pain/joint issues. I get yearly blood work for it with my physical and until I get the "you have it" I just keep trying to ignore it and forget about the joint issues. Stress and weather, are always triggers for me.

Mommawarrior

Hi, I am Cindy, everyone calls me Mommawarrior.
I have dealt with RA for quite some time now, but I have learned to control it all with my diet. I am blessed to be able to do that. My issues were very bad, but I refused to go on meds and instead did a a lot of researching on my own and am so thankful I did. There are no side affects from a healthy diet and the expense is much less. My doctor is not thrilled with me but I don't care. I control everything with diet and am very picky about what I eat and I have never felt better in my life.

photo_kyla

Hi Everyone!

I'm Kyla. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 10. You're supposed to "grow out of it" by the time you're 15, but I didn't. :ohwell: About half of my years in junior high and high school, I was exempted from PE; but I didn't really start to gain weight until my Sophomore year of college. Now, *several* years later, I'm almost back down to my college weight and heading to "healthy".

I'm glad this group is here and look forward to the discussions :happy:

monicainacoma

This is awesome. I'm looking forward to talking to other people who deal with the same crap that I deal with..

amaryllis88

Hi everybody!!

I was diagnosed with R.A. back in 2001, when I was in college, I ended up dropping all my classes one semester because it hurt so bad to even get in the car to go to school, let alone walking to classes. In 2008 it put me in the hospital for a few weeks because of the uncontrollable swelling I had, I'm much better now, it's controlled with medication; however I'm hoping that with continued healthy eating and exercising I can get off the medication which would save me financially, as well as overall well-being.

I've been exercising since early August, and I haven't really had flare-ups, and I've been feeling a lot better. My current job has me standing for long periods of time (retail...ugh), but it's not as bad as it used to be, and I'm hoping that with what I'm doing, I can make the pain go away.

I'm so glad to meet other people who are going through the same thing I'm going through, and understand how painful it is to do physical activitiy sometimes.

Lorijo50

Hi Everyone,

I have had RA for 19 years now, I need to exercise more, lose weight of course. I am hoping to get some more energy, I have very little. I am on prednisone every other day, it makes it very hard to lose. The RA has scarred my lungs and I get out of breath easy.

meanbmc

hi, y"all! i'm Betsy. i was diagnosed about 5 years ago now, not only with RA but OA and fibro. needless to say, exercising is a major production. but, today, i was thinking, i feel pretty good these day. think tomorrow i'll start walking the dog again! i have 2 rotties, and the older one and i used to walk a lot. so we're gonna try again. i was doing really good losing the lard, but got really depressed and stopped trying. and have only gained about 3 lbs-go figure! so, now i'm going to get back on track and lose some more of this. i want to be back in my skinnier jeans, and be able to get on my horse more easily.

nybor101

Hi I'm Robyn.:bigsmile:
I haven't been formerly diagnosed yet. I joined MFP as well as a gym membership in Jan 2011. 35lbs and 5 mos in to it my knees were swollen and I couldn't kneel or stand from siting on the floor without help up. I know I don't have to even mention the pain. Went to the Doctor and after x-rays he said there was bone spurring. Gave me an anti inflammatory. No more stair master or tread mill (which I physically couldn't do anyway. :sad: ). I am now riding the stationary bike and weights. I have stayed pretty much 150. I am back on a strict diet of 1200 calories and the gym 5 or 6 days a week. Well just started this week.

Thanks for the invite!!!! Nice to meet y'all!!!!:flowerforyou:

maremare312

HI all! I was finally diagnosed with RA about 4-5 years ago after struggling without a diagnosis for several years. It was really hard to control at first and I was on prednisone for 2 years, during which time I put on a lot of weight. I finally got off the prednisone and now have a pretty good medicine regimen and don't have too many flare-ups, which is good because since my initial diagnosis and treatment I have lost my insurance. So, no more rheumatologists for me, but luckily the free Native American clinic I go to has kept me on the same medication and so far it hasn't needed to be changed.

I'm having a mini flare-up in my thumb for the last couple days (from weather change and stress I believe) which is bumming me out, but I always have to think back to the days when I couldn't get out of bed or walk because my hip was so bad, and the time I almost wet my pants because I couldn't turn a doorknob because my hands were so swollen.

I know if I can lose some more weight the pressure will be off my joints and I'll feel even better, but I haven't been very motivated lately. I am seeing a nutritionist tomorrow so I will get back in the weight loss game!

hm_day

Hey all, my name is Heather and I've had symptoms of RA ever since I was very young (can't remember a time where I didn't). It hasn't been officially diagnosed yet, however, because I'm never having a flare-up when they do blood work. However, they have it down as "atypical RA"

dittiepe

Hi everyone. I'm Pam. I've been diagnosed with RA and OA since 2001, but have a collection of knee braces from what they kept calling 'runner's knee' for about a year prior. I'm a nurse, and have recently gone on disability due to the RA worsening. I've been through a host of medications and am currently on old faithful - methotrexate, and arava. I was (un)lucky enough to contract MRSA in a hospital visit a couple of years ago, and can no longer take the IV medications that seemed to work so well because it keeps bringing the infection back.

I do my best to get in exercise daily, usually in the form of one of my exercise bikes(upright and recumbent), but this colder weather is making that pretty difficult to do regularly. I find it so frustrating because just 5 months ago, I did the 30 Day Shred in 35 days!

To all of you that haven't been diagnosed yet - Get after those doctors!

So glad that this group is here!

sadenniston

Hello Everyone! I'm Susan, I was diagnosed with RA just a little over a year ago. It took me 6 months to get diagnosed, by my OB doctor since none of my other doctors would listen to me. I'm very thankful to her and she diagnosed me during our first meeting! I've been on Enbrel and haven't looked back! Although I'm not a big fan of sticking needles into me, I haven't had any pain or flare ups! I've comepleted P90X and will be starting Turbo Fire soon. I've taken a bit of a break from working out, but I'm ready to get back at it. I have about another 25lbs to lose to meet me goal weight!

I have two boys that keep me on my toes along with my husband who is in the Marine Corps and is going through pilot training. We just moved to Florida, so I'm looking forward to getting out and enjoying the sunshine! It's great to meet all of you and hope I'll be able to encourage and support all of you! Good luck! Thanks for starting the group too!

bllowry

I'm Barbara; I was misdiagnosed with JRA when I was 9 and slapped in to full length leg braces until I was 16, which made school fun. I still played hockey and ran tack and field whilst wearing the braces. We're talking 1960s so the tests are now much better and I actually didn't have JRA. I'm actually symptomatic for Lupus, but the tests are not definitive. I do have OA in both knees and RA in my knees, hips, hands and shoulders. Movement is the key to keep going!

rachel41

Hello,My name is Rachel.I was diagnosed with RA a year ago,I take humira shots ,every other week I exercise ,I try to eat healthy.It gets very draining at times but I cope with it as best as i can. I am looking forward to getting to know you all.

simplysan67

Hello everyone. I'm 43...almost 44 and I've had JRA for almost 40 years now. I think I'm doing pretty good but will be doing better as I loose more weight. Joint pain, easily strained ankles and many other issues have made exercise a challenge on a good day. I do medicate for my RA, just changed shoes per a recommendation from the podiatrist. Doesn't help that I also fight migraines and bipolar...but I'm going to get there.

Good luck everyone... let's all get there together.

christmre

Hi everyone, my name is Christina, and I am 34, I was diagnosed with RA about four years ago, but have had symptoms since I was about 23. I am taking Humira now, and it seems to be helping, but I have a lot of weight to lose. I had been working out regularly all summer, but I'm having a bad flare and only working out twice a week, so I am going to try to go back to every day exercise now that my meds have been adjusted. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone!

newmommynewfitme

Hi ! I am Holly, I am 28 years old . I have R.A. , Lupus, Asthma and Hypothyroidism. I was first diagnosed with adult still's disease at about 22 , I was so sick for a 6 months and no one would figure out what was wrong. They finally put me on prednisone said if I was better, they knew what was wrong and sure enough I got better. That is when they said if was adult still's disease which is juvenile ra. I've been on prednisone ever since , trying multiple times to get off with no success and lots of depressing weight gain /moon face. My dh and I began trying to have a family , we lost several pregnancies which we now know was due to the lupus and then in 2010 our daughter was still born again due to the lupus which at the time they didn't feel the need to treat with anything. It was at the begining of that pregnancy they found that I had lupus, which they had believed I had all along but was never positive on blood testing and all of a sudden ever lupus test was glaringly positive. We started me on higher doses of prednisone, hydroxchloroquine, and baby aspirin . I had a sucessful pregnancy that led to the delivery of a beautiful baby boy in May . I am wanting to lose a bit more weight before I feel comfortable getting pregnant with our second and last child before going on lupus/ ra medications in which I cannot breast feed or become pregnant on but will be able to come off the dreaded prednisone and hopefully get down to low 200's which is my biggest goal. The joints the bother me are my hands, fingers, arms, and my toe joints. I look forward to getting to know you all.

cedelaney

Hi, my name is Christie. I was diagnosed with RA in the fall of 2009 and in June of 2010 my rheumatologist confirmed that I have lupus.

I have had strange symptoms since 2003 and I always felt like a hypochondriac because the many, many doctors I saw couldn't find anything definitively wrong with me. I had asthma, fluid on my heart, endometriosus, migraines, and bouts of nausea when I would lose lots of weight because I couldn't eat. In desperation they said it was Crohn's in 2007, but then the "Crohn's" went away and I had period of decent health.

During this time I got married and then pregnant. Sadly my son was stillborn during labour at full term. (Holly my heart goes out to you; I know what it feels like.) At the time the doctors thought that I had autoimmune hepatitis, but they did not think that it had caused the death of my son.

Not long after, my husband and I separated and soon after, the stress made the lupus flare, causing RA. One day I was jogging and lifting weights in the gym and the next my feet were swollen about 3 times their normal size. In the ER they gave me a shot of torodol, which felt great for about 6 hours, then wow, I was back to being crippled again. Too bad we can't take that stuff all the time!

I went on Celebrex eventually, but it didn't help enough so I'm also on Plaquenil now for the lupus. I seem to do okay on this regimen, but sometimes I take the maximum dose of Tylenol Arthritis to get me through. Like someone else said, you have to remember the really bad days to be able to accept the not-so-great days. It's tough though.

After 2 years since that first blow-up of my joints, I am finally back to jogging again and lifting weights; but somedays I have to take it easy. I've lost 32 lbs of the weight gained partially during pregnancy and partially during my health struggles. My doctors think it's amazing that I can jog and that I shouldn't complain at all, but some days I wish for 100% health. Is that too much to ask for? Or do we need to be happy with what we have?

I'm hoping that losing weight and working my way out of the depression of losing a child, my husband and my health will help me find a new and better life where lupus and RA are not determining what I can do.

iShannon2

Hey everyone I'm Shannon. I'm 20 years old with RA...This really messed things up because I was working in a salon. Now I'm back in college and hoping to get into medical school eventually (RA was finally good for something!). I'm on methotrexate (25 mg injectable), Enbrel, Plaquenil, and some other stuff. My RA came on severe (out of nowhere...) and has just been getting worse since then. I really came here to meet other people who are trying to lose weight and have RA.

rigdonia

I just want to say something about "complaining". I do feel guilty sometimes that I complain about my fingers hurting or my hips or shoulders but I can walk when I get up in the morning where there are many with RA who can not. BUT. Just because other people have worse pain and symptoms doesn't negate the effect of Your pain on Your life! Don't sublimate your own sorrow and struggles. You deserve to be comforted too, even if you are able to run or walk or live a "normal" life. HUGS!

ANYWAY I am Dianne and have had lupus for14 years, RA for almost 4. I has just lost 60 pounds when I was dx'd with RA. Within six months I couldn't walk or drive from the pain and finally caved and went on the horrible meds. I can mostly function now although obviously my normal is not everyone's normal. Meanwhile I have gained all the weight back. I need to find a way to exercise without using up all my spoons by 9am because I have kids to homeschool and two home jobs to manage. I have three kids - one in college and the other two at home. I also do graphic design and sell Mary Kay, which I signed up for after I started taking the Humira lol. Me=glutton for punishment. Really I am a project girl and I love the products, so it was a no brainer. Nice to be here - I hope it's okay that I am outspoken, but there you have it.

letsgetit

Im 30 y/o and my only official diagnosis is Lupus. Im off prednisone for now but i take Plaquenil every day and have been for almost two years. My joints waking me out of my sleep in pain was my first symptoms actually. Ive actually had an increase in flares recently to point where i cant walk or hold a fork so im probably gonna be back on steroids soon . I picked up quite a few pounds the last time i was on steriods so im not excited, but i did feel better and have more energy to exercise...the gift and the curse i suppose lol. Im more committed to eating healthy so that should help with the weight gain though, but im still not to my orig weight

KarenK37

Hi I too have had RA about 7 years now and find that I get in these rutts where I am so fatigued that i stop exercising then stop dieting and i spiral back down again. I have to say it is really hard getting motivation to exercise when you feel so tired. I too was losing weight on the program and have since gained back 4lbs. I really need to just push myself to exercise and diet so maybe we could be friends and do this together!

maddie002

Hi everyone! I'm Maddie and I'm so happy to see this group!!
I was diagnosed with Juvenile RA when I was 18 months old. My symptoms were pretty horrible as a kid, but around 15-ish, things started to get better. Or maybe I just got used to it...?
I still have bad days about once a week, more so lately. No major flare ups in a few years, knock on wood! Seems that I've gone through most of the drugs available to treat RA. Maxed out on methotrexate, maxed out on Enbrel, maxed out on steriods and most recently it seems I've become immune to Humira. I just switched to Simiponi, so hopefully that will give good results!
I find that my most problematic aspect of excercising with RA is the pain from so many years of damage. I have limited mobility in my left knee - doesn't quite bend to a 90 degree angle, and a completely frozen left wrist - which doesn't sound too bad, except I'm a lefty and I would love to do pushups!! I really try to avoid taking my mobic, so if anyone has any suggestions for "after workout" stiffness/swelling they would be most helpful!
Sorry for all the exclamation points (!!!), but I've always kind of felt alone in this disease, and it's very refreshing to find a group like this

phil312

My name is Arlene and I was finally diagnosed about six years ago with RA. I know that I battled the disease for years but like many of you, RA never showed up in my blood work. Finally, I found a rheumy who diagnosed me from my symptoms. I am currently taking Humera, metho and I am getting relief but I am not sure I will ever return to my former self. Hate not having the energy I used to have and equally frustrated with the 15 pound weight gain that just won't budge since taking meds. What a tremendous encouragement to see a group who "get it" and are perservering in spite of it all and especially who have lost weight! Woo Hoo!

Amayrial

Hi! My name is Tina :happy: I was diagnosed with "serum-negative" in 2005 and Fibromyalgia in 2006. In 2010 I was also diagnosed with Celiac Disease. On a positive note, not eating gluten completely removed my fibromyalgia pain. Happy dance!

I describe myself as a walking pharmacy but hey, I"m walking!

I am very happy to find a group of people also who understand why I like HOT showers in the early am, and why I sleep extra hours on the weekend to make up for the lack of sleep during the week.

I have quite a chunk of weight to loose, and I look forward to making friends here. Please add me to your friends lists :flowerforyou:

sherrillg

Hi everyone! I'm 46 and was diagnosed at 26 after the birth of my third child. (like most of you, after a few years of undiagnosed symptoms). My disease hit hard and fast, prednisone was my last resort because my husband was active duty navy and gone for months at a time and I had 3 little ones. That of course led to weight gain. I luckily responded extremely well to Remicade (along with Methotrexate, Plaquinil, and Celebrex) back in 2004 and really feel as if my life has been given back to me. Cliche, I know. Remicade infusions started to wear off before the 8wks, so we switched to Actemra this past June and all is going well. Since fall of 2006, I have lost a total of 77lbs and really feel remarkably GOOD. (did a 5K this morning) i'm still on Methotrexate, Plaquinil, and Celebrex but I have had no issues with them and am enjoying the GOOD feeling enough that I'm not willing to try to cut them out quite yet. Exercise and weight loss have definitely enhanced the GOOD feeling.

I'm glad to see that we've banded together here. Like what was said before, many times we are thought to be complaining when really we'd just love to have someone (ANYONE) understand what we're going thru. We can help each other with that support. hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!

stephevers1227

Hi, I'm Stephanie. I was diagnosed with RA about 18 months ago and diagnosed with hypothyroid about 5 years ago. I actually figured out it was RA by watching House...I'm such a nerd. I had so many crazy illnesses leading up to the diagnosis that I knew it had to be autoimmune and lupus and RA are in my family. I was sick with something at least every 3 weeks for an entire school year (I'm a teacher)...Strep B, sinus infections, and then pityriasis rosea (rash over my trunk for 4 months). I went to the doctor and said I thought it was my immune system and she tested me. I didn't think I had any symptoms until I went to the rheumatologist and he started asking me questions. I have stiffness in my feet every morning for about 15 minutes and a lot of pain in my hips. Took prednisone for a while and now I'm on plaquenil and meloxicam. I also have hypothyroid so I had gained about 30 lbs in 3 years and the added weight was rough on my joints. I finally decided to get on the stick when the endocrinologist told me I needed more medicine because I had gotten heavier. My doctor put me on phentermine to spike my metabolism and get the weight loss started. I've lost 17 pounds and can already feel a difference in my joints and my energy level. Oh...and you should all get your vitamin D level checked. Mine is horribly low and i was told it is very common with RA. I'm on a Rx level vitamin D and that increased my energy also.

cakeums

Hi, I'm Megan! I'm 28 years old and I was diagnosed with RA in July 2010. I have had symptoms for many years and first tested positive for elevated ANA when I was 20. My anti-CCP is over 250, so my rheumatologist expects that I will not achieve remission, but I am going to at least try to work on symptom management through diet. I am on 15mg MTX and 50mg Enbrel once a week and take Vimovo, but not religiously.

My goals for 2012 are to follow an anti-inflammatory diet, take my multivitamin and omega-3's every day, and limit alcohol consumption to 2 glasses of red wine a week. (My rheumy does allow me to drink on MTX since my liver enzymes are at normal levels.)