In 1975 my husband and I owned a mobil tool business. With 2 baby girls 14 months apart, I picked up and delivered special orders often with one baby in a backpack carrier and the other on left hip. I was a jeans and boots girl until one day my husband had to cut my right boot off my foot. My swollen foot still did not hurt as bad as the sudden onset of RA that put me in a wheelchair within a few months. Usually full of energy, I had been tired and worn out for several weeks. I was even taking No-Doz during the day just to get thru it!

An intro to the list of NSAIDS proved ineffective, so we moved to Gold shots, water exercises, & out of that wheelchair! I thought I was cured and jumped into the physical activities I had missed for 18 months. I even tore walls out inside my house to help remodel, climbing ladders & wallpapering. Somewhere in there I found my hair was sticking straight out, unable to control it. The beautician said "what in the world are you taking!! This hairshaft feels like it was dipped in metal". It was! Gold side effects worried me so I moved on.

After a while I participated in clinical trials and went back to NSAIDS and prednisone. My hands deformed and the surgeon adjusted the while doing a synovectomy. All this time I continued working as police/911 dispatcher. Finally I had to go on disability in '92.

In '92 I found a different Rheumatologist who put me on methotrexate and Cytoxan (to get rid of the vasculitis ---my fingertips were redhot & swelled, then turned black ) as well as the prednisone and Naproxen.

I hated what the prednisone had done to me; moon face, weight gain, high BP, heart problems, horrible temper and constant hunger. I looked like the Michelin Woman on the warpath! The new Dr said I was on too high of a dose (30 mg) but wanted to tackle my RA first, then in 6 months or so we would start reducing the steroids. Not me! I was impatient and put up a huge wall organizer. I charted daily everything I ate, meds, activity, BP, weight and mg of Prednisone. My goal was .5 mg reduction per month but that did not happen as fast. After 20 months, I had lost 70 pounds and was free of my 7 year 'monster', BP & heartrate was normal. Yes, I thought I was going to really lay down & die for first 8 months but my Dad woke me, prodded me, and made me eat every day. I am now a slo-poke and hard to wake in mornings but it was worth it to me. I regret that I did not include my Dr in this dangerous project. I never told him even when I moved away. I DID inform my new Dr.

At the present I am searching for a new drug. The MTX seems to be no longer effective. I now take 6 pills every week, with Vioxx, and Minocin. Nexium is for an eroded esophogas, and a little HCTZ (water pill) just for maintenance on the blood pressure. Remicade & Enbrel looked good for a bit but am afraid of the effects on liver function and several people have died with TB while on those. In addition, they are too costly since I just have Medicare along with a drug discount where I work part time.

I have learned these things that help RA over the years: A healthy diet with plenty veggies & fruit, plenty rest on a good mattress (but not TOO much rest), exercise without stress, gallons of water, the love of family, helping others and the most important of all, a close personal relationship with God with frequent prayer. Oh no, I left out humor!

Please feel free to email me and share your wisdom, because I still have a lot to learn. Nanasu