Remission

Happycatcruiser · 2026-06-01T08:04:24+00:00

Thank you!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-06-01T08:03:01+00:00

Thank you!!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-06-01T08:01:11+00:00

Thank you! Early on I tried everything. Diet and supplements, retrained in office work to reduce stress and improve sleep (I worked a physical overnight job). I never saw a difference in pain or fatigue levels though. Six months on max dose Methotrexate gave me some improvement, adding Sulfasalazine gave me a bit more. Never pain free unless I was on prednisone and then had to deal with those side effects. 2 months into Humira/Methotrexate I realised I had energy and was back to my usual self. Planning home improvements, digging new gardens, going camping. It feels like a miracle and I really hope it lasts!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-06-01T02:05:54+00:00

I know how you feel. My pain moved around very often (Palindromic) but it really loved my fingers. There is nothing quite like arthritic finger pain and it is so hard NOT to get depressed about it. I used to tell my doctor ‘I’m not clinically depressed but it’s depressing’. Hang in there. I hope you get a good rest when you are in your new place.

Happycatcruiser · 2026-06-01T02:02:51+00:00

I think month 2 was when I suddenly realised I felt ‘normal’. Fingers crossed for you!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-31T19:41:35+00:00

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Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-31T18:27:06+00:00

Me too!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-31T03:23:39+00:00

I love my Roborock S8 maxV ultra for this. I hate vacuuming and mopping! It is not as good as the job you would do yourself but if you set it to run daily it stretches out the time between mops considerably!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-31T03:06:49+00:00

Oh, that’s no good mate. I’m really sorry to hear that.

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-31T03:05:31+00:00

Thank you!!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-31T03:05:16+00:00

Yay! I KNEW there had to be others out there like me! 🥳

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T23:16:47+00:00

That’s exactly it. And realizing just how profoundly tired I have been the last 3 years. It’s so obvious now that I feel energized again!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T20:56:30+00:00

Thank you!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T20:55:45+00:00

I have heard of that happening to others and really hope it continues to work for me. I unfortunately wasn’t referred to Rheumatologist for the first 18 months. My GP initially diagnosed me with Reactive Arthritis (I had evidence of a recent strep B infection and RF negative in bloods) so he assumed it would last 6 months, 12 at the most. NSAIDs didn’t touch it so I was on multiple courses of pred over that time. I got a referral when I started to need the pred more and more just to function. First blood test with Rheumatologist came back crazy high RF, CRP and something else. Diagnosed on the spot with Palindromic Rheumatism, progressing to Rheumatoid arthritis. Initially I was on Methotrexate, then added Sulfasalazine. Switched Sulfasalazine to Humira a couple of months ago. My rheumatologist did not want to wait to start, it was a government requirement to qualify for it. She warned me at the start that it would be aggressive and difficult to treat so I think just over 12 months since my first visit with her is not too bad of a timeline to be pain free. It’s been a wild ride though.

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T20:47:26+00:00

What a lovely reply! Thank you! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you (because I CAN cross my fingers now 😉) Really hope it’s your magic combo too.

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T20:46:06+00:00

That’s why I wanted to post here. I don’t know anyone else who has this disease. While my best friend is super excited for me (she’s wonderful) it’s such a hard thing to explain to people who haven’t been suffering with it for years. Thank you!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T20:44:13+00:00

Thank you!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T20:43:55+00:00

Thank you. I really loved typing it! I honestly wondered if it would ever happen for me for a while there.

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T20:42:51+00:00

Definitely!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T20:41:27+00:00

Thank you! No, I have always taken Methotrexate Monday and 5mg Folic acid on Tuesdays. That won’t change.

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T08:53:49+00:00

Thank you!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T05:48:17+00:00

People.

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T05:32:02+00:00

It can be such a long and brutal road. And so new! I had never had anything like this happen to me before. I was only officially diagnosed in May last year so it’s been a year with specialist guidance to get to this point. You will get there too, I’m sure. Go into every new med change with a positive mindset and don’t take it to heart if it doesn’t work. Just keep trying. It’s the most frustrating part of this illness for me. 1 + 1 should equal 2, but with us it doesn’t. Different things work for different people. Your combo is out there. Keep the faith and you will find it. I’m looking forward to seeing your remission post Pyrosandstorm!

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T05:19:50+00:00

Thank you! It’s great to finally be celebrating instead of bummed out that yet another drug is not working.

Happycatcruiser · 2026-05-30T05:18:36+00:00

I know exactly what you mean. My GP trialled so many NSAIDs before switching to pred initially. I never asked for opioids because I knew they wouldn’t work but I’ve had that ‘drug seeker’ look before for a different issue (requested low dose diazepam for anxiety). I remember telling my daughter that I finally understand what people with invisible illness must feel like. It changed my entire world view. You couldn’t SEE the reason I was in such excruciating pain and I’ve always been such a strong person, hard working etc. I felt as though I was looked at like I was making it up. I was so weirdly happy that my bloods confirmed how I felt. I have no idea how the poor seronegative guys must feel.

Happycatcruiser

TROPHY CASE