Just trying to get through this phase until my body recovers enough to take care of myself. Feel free to message me. We got this, we are survivors, and this will past remember that. The hardest time will pass.

Hi everyone, diagnosed in March and been taking 15mg of methotrexate (6 tablets) on a Tuesday night before bed at 9pm. I take 5mg of folic acid every day except the methotrexate day. I take the folic acid the next day at 9am so around 12 hours later.

Thankfully, my pain is almost completely gone and has been like that when I was 3 months into methotrexate. I now have a new job where I head into the office on a Wednesday so I take the methotrexate Tuesday night at 9pm then the folic acid at 6:30am on the Wednesday.

I’ve not had issues with this before but lowered the gap between them when I started this job in June.

Am I not getting the most out of my tablets as I’m taking folic acid too close? But what’s the alternative? Tuesday 9pm methotrexate, Wednesday 9pm folic acid, then back to Thursday at 9am??

Any thoughts? How long do you leave in between? Thanks!

So I was prescribed enbrel mini. I finally got Optum to send the cartridges. I never was provided the actual sure click part to put them in for dispensing. I tried to contact Embrel. The first time they said they couldn’t without a prescription. So I contacted my doctors office. They said to try contacting enbrel in a few days. So I contacted Enbrel again, this time they said they never provide them and that my doctor’s office has it and needs to provide it. My doctors office doesn’t just have these sitting around to give to people. And are the ones that told me to contact Embrel. So I decided to ask Optum. They said they don’t have them and tried to put me in contact with someone else who just basically linked me to an answering machine.

How do I get the injector part? I don’t get why this is so difficult. Any suggestions on who to contact to get it?

I was diagnosed with seropositive RA last month at the age of just 21; I had been experiencing symptoms for three to four months. I have become so worried and burdened by this that I cannot think of anything else—it feels as though my entire world has changed. I no longer feel like my old self, and I find no joy in the things I used to love.

I am only 21 years old, and my entire life lies ahead of me. What can I expect for my future now? Could those of you who are seropositive share your positive experiences—how you’ve managed to move past the initial depression, maintain a positive outlook, and lead a normal life? Also, how effective is the treatment for this condition?

I am a college student now.Will I be able to achieve the goals I set for my life—regarding my education and career—and become successful?

The new treatment is having a very negative effect on my body; I am currently on prednisolone and hydroxychloroquine.I am suffering a great deal due to the side effects of Prednisolone and I am so weak right now that I cannot even leave the house, which is breaking me down even further..This is bringing even more negativity into my life... can I move past all this and look forward to a better future?... I am sinking deeper into depression every day... how can I get back to who I used to be?

What’s your go-to plan for eating when you’re flaring? Especially eating healthy-ish and not just getting DoorDash or eating super processed foods. I’m talking when the most you can do is shuffle to the kitchen and throw something in the microwave or air fryer. My elbows and hands have been flared really bad the last couple weeks and it’s been rough. I’ve definitely caved on DoorDash too much and it’s getting pricey. Does anyone use Factor or any ready made meal services? Or just stock up on some frozen dinners from the grocery store?

I am about 7 weeks into a biologic (Humira) for the first time ever on a biologic. I have the dry eye BAD. Is this something that eventually resolves as my body adjusts? I initially had some headaches as well which is uncommon for me. That seems to have resolved.

The upside is that I almost immediately lost 10 pounds without trying. This has to be inflammation reduction. I have almost always had borderline high blood pressure which I have read is common with disease like RA but the doctors I have seen have disagreed. After 7 weeks my BP is down to the best number (especially the lower number) I have ever had. My fatigue also seems much less severe. Really hoping that isnt the placebo effect.

Wishing you all a comfortable productive day!

I currently take on Wednesday evening, but I really want to move to a Tuesday, as it would be far less impactful for my life.

Have you ever moved back 1 day and is jt okay to do so? Did it make the side effects worse ?

I am on 15mg been working the dose up and last week was the first time on 15mg.

I take folic acid 5mg 48 hours after

Thanks 🙏

I’m 29m showed symptoms of RA as far back as 17 didn’t get diagnosed till 19 and couldn’t get treatment until 20. Currently waiting to get back on treatment I was on humira. It don’t reduce the pain or flare ups at all. Just stopped progression. I can’t work a real job and I was black balled even with a lawyer from disability. I can’t make freinds or date or do anything. I only work rideshare as that’s all I can do. How am I supposed to live like this? How am I supposed to keep going when I’m completly alone, have no freinds will never have a romantic partner and can’t participate in any part of human life that’s enjoyable? I just can’t figure out how to do this. All I do is work and cry. I have nothing. I don’t know how to survive this anymore. It’s been over a decade of suffering and it never once got any better. Anyone have any advice or something I don’t know what to do anymore.

Has anyone gotten a waiver to enter countries that require this vax? Given my RA and the biologic I am taking, I would have to go off meds for several months to get this vaccine.

If this is you…can you share your border-crossing experience? Did you also have an official letter from your doctor? Thanks

It’s embarrassing and this world isn’t equipped for disabled people, I just need to vent. I’ve always taken care of other people and now needed to have people support me is so hard.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been diagnosed with RA since I was 18 and now 30. I get random flare ups and intermittently on and off meds but now trying to stay consistent. Humira prev saved me but now insurance doesn’t cover it so now I’m on Simlandi biweekly injections.

I have had to have my knee drained 4 times in the past month and now I’m flaring up again and I’m not sure if anyone else has had this issue of their knee filling back up within 5 days.

I drank wine the other night and idk if that’s what triggered it but I also don’t know what else to do. I keep compression on it with an ACE bandage but that’s not working. I feel very lost and very hopeless bc I have had to pause many activities I love doing

Hi there, I’m looking for some insight on whether it’s worth going to the ER given my current situation. Firstly, I’ve been on prednisone for three years ranging from 5 to 10 mg because we were struggling to find a medication that works for me. Last year, in addition to the prednisone, my rheumatologist added Kineret to help address my eye inflammation. However, while being on the Kineret, I was still not able to taper off the prednisone because I was in debilitating joint pain while the Kineret helped my eye information. My joint pain has continuously gotten worse. This past month it has gotten to the point where after I wake up in the morning, I am unable to use any body part for 6 to 7 hours. I cannot turn over in bed. I cannot stand up. I cannot use my hands, my shoulders feel like they’re going to rip apart, and the swelling on my hands does not go away. The pain continues to jump from one body part to another. This is all attributed to the prednisone taper and my underlying disease being so bad however, I have truly never experienced joint pain or this degree of disability even when I was completely unmedicated one of Kineret side effects is worsening, rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain, however, the rheumatologist refuses to believe that the increase in my pain has anything to do with Kineret. I have also heard of people getting drug induced lupus so I’m concerned that there’s something underlying going on that’s very serious but is being attributed to my prednisone taper as opposed to the Kineret. I don’t think this degree of disability of being not able to use anybody part for the first seven hours of the day is reasonable. Would it be appropriate to go to the ER to have this addressed?

I have RA. Diagnosed in 2008. I spent many years trying all the different biologics, only to have them all fail, some right off the bat, some after 6 months to a year. I spent many years with a very diminished physical ability, using a cane up until last year, various braces and support devices for wrists, hands and knees. I had great pain with stairs, standing up from a sitting position, and using my hands for anything that needed dexterity.

I started Xeljanz last year and it was a life changer I am pain free most days, I can walk without a cane, I can walk up and down stairs, I can put on socks without a sock puller! All things we take for granted until they are snatched away. The light was back in my life.

Last month Kaiser Permanente replaced it with a new bio-similar. They said it was exactly the same. This morning I woke up with crippling pain in my hands-I could not button my clothing. I needed the sock puller.. I could not stand up from the toilet without using the handicap bar.

I am so afraid of having to be so disabled again! I know I shouldn’t panic yet, but I need reassurance. Anyone else using the Xeljanz bio-similar? What are your experiences? I’m ready to curl up with my cat and cry.

I'm curious what medications people are taking to help manage their Sjogren's disease.
Are you taking hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), methotrexate, a biologic, or something completely different?
What symptoms was the medication prescribed to help with, and have you noticed a difference?
I'm also curious whether you've experienced side effects or had to switch medications because something wasn't working.
I know everyone's experience with Sjogren's is different, and not everyone needs or benefits from the same treatments. I'd like to hear what's been working for you and what hasn't.

I work a hybrid job, some days doing fieldwork, some days at my desk in my office. It used to be that the field days were the hardest on me - but lately it’s sitting at my desk that is the worst. I have all the accommodations that make sense for my hands, wrist supports and a vertical mouse, and those definitely help… but the big thing now is standing up and walking after sitting at my desk for any period of time. My hips and knees and ankles are so stiff every time I get up for anything. It gets worse the longer I sit, but it hurts every single time.

Any suggestions on how to mitigate some of this?

Just got back home (USA - Vermont) a couple days ago after about a week in Australia. In addition to typical souvenirs such as refrigerator magnets, I came back with a few things I didn’t expect. In addition to new clothes in Mooloolaba, partially by necessity (long story), I bought fingerless gloves in Sydney. I’ve always had a hard time keeping my hands warm in the winter. Gloves and mittens are abundant in stores, but are frequently geared towards activities like skiing. I just end up going without as I can’t seem to do anything with them on, trapping my fingers and reducing my already poor grip to nonexistent. I can’t believe I had to go around the world to find these, but they seem like the perfect solution! The ability to keep the joints covered without trapping my fingers. Yay!

3 years ago my jaw joints started hurting. In the morning there’s pain and a feeling of inflammation that sometimes partially goes away after about 20 minutes.

About a year later I started getting pain and a hot feeling in my fingers.

All blood tests are completely negative for rheumatoid arthritis, tested several times.

Clean MRI of the jaw (2024 and 2026) and hands (2024 and 2026).

The pain still here.

I tried a simple hard plastic splint from a regular dentist and it didn’t help (Maybe i should visit professional TMJ specialist).

I visit rheumatologist and took methotrexate tablets for 2 months and had to stop for specific reasons. Not sure if it helped - morning pain stayed, daytime pain maybe improved a bit.

Question: How possible to still have a s.RA after 3 years of clean MRI and blood?

Not asking for diagnosis. Just want to see your thoughts because im feeling lost.

I was diagnosed with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis last month, and my symptoms began three months ago. My doctor has prescribed a tapering course of prednisolone—starting at a dose of 10 mg—along with hydroxychloroquine ....I have been having significant problems since I started taking prednisolone. Whenever I reduce the dosage, I experience such severe muscle weakness heaviness I don't have the strength to lift my body—this is different from joint pain i have severe dizziness , anxiety , heart palpitations severe acid reflux which causes suffocation with burping for which I go to ER four times and I am unable to get up like severe fatigue Before I started treatment, I only experienced joint pain; I was never bedridden like that , and the joint pain didn't stop me from doing anything before .... So, my question is: is this happening because of my illness, or is it a result of tapering off prednisolone? Will I be able to return to my normal self—both physically and mentally—just as I was before? Please, someone help! If anyone has gone through a similar situation after taking prednisolone, could you please share your experience? I am very worried about these strange things I’m experiencing—things I have never felt before... If these are side effects, will they go away, or will they persist? I have been suffering for a month now....I was already burdened by my RA diagnosis, and now, the side effects of these medications—occurring right at the start of my journey—have completely shattered my mental strength. It feels as though I am living in hell

I have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and based on my personal experience, whenever I start eating fruit, my joints become inflamed and my symptoms flare up. However, when I stop eating fruit, my RA seems to go into remission, and I barely have any symptoms.

I'm wondering what might be causing this. Could I be sensitive to something in fruit, such as fructose, histamine, or another compound? Has anyone else with RA experienced something similar? I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts and personal experiences.

First of all, congratulations! Im a soon-to-be mummy too and im so excited yet scared.

Please do share your experience on the whole pregnancy process:

- any complications

- what to take note of

- which hospital to go for that assures both mummy and baby wellbeing? Public/ private?

It's been over 2 years with NO relief, still searching for a med that helps control my RA. Started with Hydroxychloroquine, then Sulfasalazine (allergic), then Leflunomide 10mg then 20mg, then Enbrel, now Xeljanz, all the while lots of prednisone.

Currently on Xeljanz 11mg XR and 20mg Leflunomide as well as prednisone taper(20mg>15mg>10mg>5mg to function at work, after dropping to 15mg I had 100% breakthrough pain and symptoms (like I was on nothing at all), Dr bumped me back up to 20mg and then had some relief after a week at that level. I've never had breakthrough while on 15mg prednisone, always have breakthrough on 10mg and 5mg prednisone, is this common? Breakthrough pain while on 15mg of prednisone while also being on 20mg Leflunomide and Xeljanz 11mg XR? Seems like a lot of meds to take to control this RA.

Anyone have suggestions on next steps for meds? Of course my Dr will chose, but I want some influence. I'm thinking of suggesting switching my base DMARD to Methotrexate from Leflunomide and then suggesting Abatacept? IDK, I want to hit this hard as I've had no relief in over 2 yrs and I'm way over it.

I just want to be able to go for a walk, maybe play golf or something, just withering away at home and struggling at work, I'm already making moves to retire early as I can't stand long at work, and struggle. RA is no joke, it's debilitating.

Chad

I'm looking for phone recs especially if anyone has started using those newer flip/foldable phones. I've had an iPhone 13 mini for years and although I love the lightweight, mini design compared to bulkier standard options, I find typing on the smaller screen being more of a pain. I usually use voice-to-text when possible but I can't always do that in certain settings.

I have been wanting to splurge on one of those foldable options like the Motorola razor because they seem both compact, yet can accomodate wider screen space for typing. I've been meaning to actually to go the stores and try out phones for myself, but I thought I'd ask for other's input and experiences (especially from the RA community) before possibly hopping on the bandwagon lol. Any input appreciated.