RA Positive

By namabavi

1 min read

I was diagnosed in April 2019. It’s been a difficult journey. I’m 45 years old, but I been in pain since 2016 and had a lot of Dr. visits - X-ray, MRI. No one knew what was wrong with me, until I change Dr. and she made a RA test and it came back positive!!! Since then I been taking meds and I feel better with no pain but the side effects of the meds are bad too!!

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Mary Sophia Hawks Moderator & Contributor
Dear Namabavi, You bring out an excellent point. I'm glad you have no pain. Side effects are a fact of life in RA. Due to the extreme damage RA can cause to our joints and our whole bodies, I choose to live with certain side effects. Stopping long-term damage is worth it to me. However, please talk with your rheumatologist about the side effects you are experiencing. Always remember that your doctor cannot read minds. You must be honest. You can call the office and ask to leave a message on the nurse line. They will discuss with the doctor and get back to you. I glad you reached out. You are now part of community that understands. Mary Sophia, <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net' target='_blank'>Rheumatoidarthritis.net</a> moderator/author
Richard Faust Community Admin
Hi namabavi. So glad you finally got a diagnosis and are getting treatment that is helping bring your RA under control. Side effects certainly are an issue. In fact, it can be a fine line on what side effects are acceptable for a given level of disease control. Of course, only the patient can determine where that line is. Our contributor Michael wrote about this balance in what he refers to as the risk to risk ratio: <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/the-risk-to-risk-ratio' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/the-risk-to-risk-ratio/</a>. Remember, there are now quite a few RA treatments available and, working with your medical team, you may be able to find a treatment regimen that maximizes the ratio for you. Know that people here understand and that this community is here for you. Best, Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)
Tamara Haag Moderator & Contributor
Hi <inline-mention user-id="3214982" username="namabavi"/> , I'm sorry to hear about your difficult journey, the pain you've had, and your current side effects. For those of us who also have RA, we understand! The first year or two after diagnosis can be really hard. There is the process of coming to terms with the new reality of having RA. There is the trial-and-error process of finding a treatment plan that works. And there is the ongoing adjusting to the new reality and the treatment plan. Do talk with your doctor about the side effects. While no one wants to get diagnosed with RA, the one silver lining of having it in 2020 is that there are many treatment options. I was diagnosed in 2000, and at that time the treatment options were very limited. As there are many medications for rheumatologists to choose from, it may be that you and your doctor can find something that is effective at reducing pain that doesn't have such a problematic level of side effects. When I took methotrexate, it made me violently ill. I tried it for a couple of months and shared with my doctor how severe the vomiting and nausea were. He said, "The point of treatment is to get you as healthy as possible with the best possible quality of life. If the meds for RA are making you feel terrible, we haven't yet hit our goal." So we stopped the methotrexate and found a treatment plan that keeps my RA symptoms in check but doesn't give me miserable side effects. I hope that you and your doctor can also find a treatment plan like that. Being very honest about your experience and advocating for yourself are important. Unfortunately, sometimes doctors downplay a symptom or side effect that is very problematic for the patient, and then we have to advocate for ourselves even though we aren't feeling well. Also, the process of finding a treatment plan that works and doesn't cause miserable side effects can take a long time. People respond very differently to RA drugs even though we have the same disease. My sister was diagnosed with RA a few years after I was, and even though we share genetic material and the same disease, drugs that worked well for her did little for me and vice versa. It's so strange! Please know that we are here, so please continue to share any time you have a question or experience you want to share or even just need to vent. Because we truly do get it. Wishing you comfort and relief, Tamara (site moderator)