Introduce Yourself!

donnalarkinsmith

Hi there! my name is Donna and I am 51 years old. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 43, although had symptoms since the age of 40. I "retired" from work on March 1, 2012, and applied for social security disability. I was denied twice and now have an attorney and am waiting for a hearing. I have high cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar and really need to lose weight. I was told recently by my foot surgeon that walking for exercise was not an option for me. I have been riding the recumbent bike at the gym when my tailbone pain allows and am able to use the elliptical machine for a short time. I am on Simponi currently but have been through almost all of the biologics. I cannot take methotrexate or sulfasalizine. I am hoping to get tips from you all on how you are losing weight and exercising. I am also looking forward to the support you offer and hope I can offer support to you as well.

shawnachaffins

Hi everyone, my name is Shawna I am 28 years old I have two little boys me oldest is 6 and my youngest 2. I was almost crippled form RA three months after having my youngest son before they found what was wrong with me. Once diagnosed I was put on Methotrexate and Predisone for over a year. I am happy to say I am in a medicated remission now and only having to take Methotrexate. But I have gained weight while battling with RA and I want to be around to watch my babies grow up. So I have been watching my calories and exercising. Anyone that has advice on losing weight please let me know, I have not see very good results yet but trying to stay motivated. Anyone Feel free to add me as a fitnesspal and maybe we can help keep one another motivated!!!!!!

letsgetit

I would say try to reduce your carbs as much as you can. I found that Prednisone pounds are more stubborn than the regular ones. Also try to watch your sodium as well.

Kep1130

Hi everyone!

I'm Keating, I'm 24. I've had RA like symptoms for as long as I can remember, but still no definitive diagnosis (rheum thinks that's what it is, but nothing comes up in tests, save for some crazy lit up bone scan results and general symptoms. No RA factor though) to date. I've been on a couple of different things (and seen several GP's and Rheums) but for now I'm on plaquenil and on day 2 of NO prednisone after a year of a lowish dose(woo hoo!!--But pardon me if I'm snappy or none of this makes sense!)

I've been a bellydancer for 10 years, and find it to be my best gauge of how I'm doing-- it's light enough exercise that I can accomplish something, but during a flare I'm well aware of my limitations.

I'm hoping to find others who are younger and in the same boat-- it's frustrating on the best days, and difficult to explain to people as to why you can't go on the insane 6 day camping/hiking/ snowboarding trip with your new husband, because "you're 24, what's your problem??" Ugh. At any rate-- love the group, happy to be here!

Solidkrieger

How are ya doing. I have been diagnosed with RA since Nov of last year. I seemed to have had it for a while but always seemed shrug it off as me lifting weights wrong, till it hit my whole body out of no where and lasted for the next two month. Hopefully I can get back to what I use to be and I hope the same for everybody.

Solidkrieger

How is everyone doing today?

shellybsn

Hi! I'm Shelly and I was diagnosed with RA this week. I will be starting meds soon, but I have to wean my 9mo dtr first who I'm still breastfeeding. I think I am more upset about that than I am about my diagnosis. Looking for some support as I start down this long road. I need to feel better to keep up with 3 kids 4 and under!

skamnorth

Hello everyone!

I am a 26 yr old female with ~40 lbs to lose!
I've been living with Juvenile RA for 10 years and AS for 3 years. It is my AS-diagnosis that really got me to kick myself in the *kitten* and make me decide to live healthier. I am trying to strengthen myself after 13 years of sedetary state (started off in a wheelchair) and hopefully I won't be ending up with a bamboo back...

Feel free to add me

Sixtyby60

Hello folks - I haven't posted in over a year. I've had RA for four years and while it is pretty well controlled w/ Cimzia, I have had the hardest time with exercise/fatigue. It seems sometimes for no bloody reason at all, I'm just exhausted for a few months and my hips are killing me and it hurts to exercise and then, it just disappears. I have sero-negative RA, which means all the blood tests are negative, but my rheumatologist made the diagnosis by my symptoms and an MRI of my wrist. After four years in treatment, first Enbrel and MTX and now just Cimzia, my MRI is basically normal and all the changes in my wrists are gone. What I keep forgetting is that moving makes such a difference. When I stiffen up and do less exercise, it makes things worse. I recently went to Colorado to go skiing and my doc gave me decadron, a steroid, to prevent altitude sickness and keep me from hurting so I could enjoy the skiing. It's been three weeks since the decadron and my hip pain is gone and my hip is so much better it's ridiculous. I've had a few massages and I've been exercising like crazy and it just keeps getting better. My trainer and I can't believe the difference. The steroids don't last forever and generally, I don't want to take them because of all the side effects, but I swear it just got rid of what ever kept me from moving my hip. I have more flexibility than I have had in two years, even after injections for bursitis. The hardest damn thing about this disease is not being able to understand it or predict it.. Anyway, after huffin' and puffin' at 9100-13000 feet I had an epiphany. I decided that if I have to get old, I am NOT going to get old AND FAT. I'm super motivated to get back on target and having been doing really well with exercise and limiting my calorie intake. Hardest thing to give up is wine and an occasional Manhattan because I just want to relax sometimes. But....I think sometimes the alcohol contrikbutes to my fatigue the next day. So folks, I am hoping to stay totally on task and get myself down to 160. My original plan last year was to get to 160 by the time I turned 60. Well....I will be 61 in a week so I have to reset my goal. I am determined to get to 160 by the end of the summer, if not sooner. I am rowing and using an eliptical. I do pilates and work out with a trainer once a week. I get massage as often as I can afford it because it makes such a difference in my soft tissue complaints. SO there you have it. Sorry if I am long winded. Good luck to everyone. It is a ***** of a disease.

monicaowen555

Hi, I'm Monica I was diagnosed with RA a year ago. Within that year I gained 50lbs with being placed on prednisone and not exercising. I've been doing mfp for about a month and a half. I've lost 24lbs so far. woot woot

goelainego

Hello Everyone,

My name is Elaine and I've had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 29 years, I was diagnosed a month away from my 17th birthday. I've had my ups and downs, but I have been able to maintain a semi-normal life. I've been on Enbrel for 10 years and I see a Homeopathic doctor, who has helped me through diet and supplements. I am married to a very supportive husband who supports me 100%. I have always been able to maintain my weight, but the older I get it gets more difficult. I hope to encourage and get encouraged in this group. We all have bad days and know how difficult some days are to exercise, I hope we can encourage each other not to feel guilty on those days, we do the best that we can

maggiemcd713

Hello everyone! I'm Maggie and i am 25 years old. I was diagnosed with RA a few months ago (finally) and I have been symptomatic for 5 years. It's been difficult making adjustments and coping, not to mention trying to lose weight. So glad there is a support group on here!

cece62002

Hello my name is Ciara and I was diagnosed with RA in February 2013. It took 1 year and several hospitalizations before being diagnosed. I am now on the right track, but unfortunately the medications have contributed to my weight gain. I am looking to gain support from this group while on this journey. I have tried to workout and often it results in a flare up. I am choosing now to eat better and try to do some form of activity for at least 30 minutes per day. Hopefully this will help. I wish you all well on your journey! Please feel free to add me as a friend if you would like support. By the way I lost 30 pounds in about 3 months my last time on MFP and before medications...Hopefully I can get the same results this time too :-). Good luck guys!

GinaAtterson

Hello,

My name is Gina and I was diagnosed with RA almost 3 years ago. I've done well so far with losing weight, with most of what I have lost was gained during the time I was on 65mg of steroids a day and completely unable to engage in meaningful activity to aid in weight loss. But I am doing it now. I was overdoing it, swimming way too many laps and pushing myself too hard. I'm now backing down to more reasonable levels and not pushing myself so hard. It does get very frustrating to have the desire and motivation to get the weight off but your activities are limited or you pay the price with pain.

Life could be so much worse though I'd rather have RA than many many other things that life could have thrown at me. I'm so glad I found this group. Please feel free to add me as a friend and I hope to offer as much support to all of you as you do for me

GinaAtterson

Keep at it! Those meds can be such little boogers! That is a great weight loss for your first month!

snwprncss21

Hello all, I am 27 years old from VA. I was diagnosed with RA in January of this year and have been having some problems. I was on this site for a little bit and then got discouraged because of the pain I was experiencing after exercising and have gained just about all my weight back I want to stop now and continue to try to lose weight before I exceed my weight before. Please I would love some people to encourage and back to me! Thanks.!

maemalcy

Hi All, I am 33 yrs old and I was never diagnosed with RA. My blood tests were never pointing to the exact diagnosis but I think RA is the closest. This is the second time it flares right after I was ill due to ectopic pregnancy in April this year. The first one was when I was 20 yrs old and lasted for a year or so. Now I'm on 5mg once daily prednisolone and i dread the thought of the possibility of retaining water... I'm trying to lose as much as I can before the side effect from the med starts to appear. Good to know that such group exists in MFP.. Hope you all can guide and support me through this journey. Thanks.

megsetser

Hello everyone! I am 28 years old I was diagnosed with JRA at the age of 2. I have RA in all my joints but my hips and knees are by far the worst! I am trying to lose the weight I gained from having children (and just plain eating unhealthy) but struggling because exercising caused a major flare up in my hip. Started on prednisone and simponi hoping to get back to exercising soon but until then just trying to watch what I eat. Feel free to add me

rdsges

Trying to lose 35 lbs with new RA diagnosis and over 50.... Here I go! Seems hard to burn enough calories when having pain in nearly every joint. I'm hoping for the best but will take any exercise ideas anyone has.

jen076

Hey everyone! My name is Jennifer and I have had the symptoms of RA since I was 19 and was finally diagnosed when I was 22. Exercising has always been rough since I have had RA but I have pulled through. I started walking on a regular basis last year and that helped alot. I recently joined a gym. I joined MFP about a year or so ago but didn't do anything with it. I have been logging in more recently and the support here is great. I still have 62 pounds to lose but I believe I can do it. Glad there is a group on here that understands the challenges we sometimes face.

jrmcmanus

Hi! I'm starting a new goal of clean eating and regular exercise. I have had RA for about 7 years now. I have a 2.5 yo toddler and work full time. I'm using Fit Girls Guide as my inspiration to start with losing 10 lbs, but more importantly than the number on the scale is that I want to FEEL BETTER! Hope to connect with a good support network here. Feel free to add me!