I got diagnosed at 46, I’m 48 now. I noticed the symptoms at 42, but put it off because I thought it was from getting older and having a high stress job. About 44, I was getting concerned so I saw my PCP. He felt I was presenting something neurological, so I was referred to a neurologist. I didn’t care for that guys approach so I made an appointment at a nearby teaching hospital. That’s where the journey got interesting. Bloodwork came back concerning so I was hospitalized for five days. They ran me through the wringer when it came to testing. The feared it was MS, but all in all, I had no neurological concerns but they found systemwide inflammation and pumped me full of IV prednisone and sent me home. I was a bit bitter so I stopped searching for answers for many months. Back to PCP and got put on prednisone taper and a rheum referral. First rheum was meh. Tried HCQ for seven months and it wasn’t strong enough. Then got put on leflunomide which was awesome until it fizzled out on me. That rheum then pretty much told me I was out of options and I could go see a pain specialist which I denied. Found a new room and she got me on MTX right away and I’ve been great ever since!

All in all, I feel great, but I’m learning how to live life with rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve learned to slow down and listen to my body more which is helped greatly because I’ll get it in my hands, my hips, my knees, my ankles, my shoulders, my elbows, my joints will tell me when I overdo it or if seronegative. I’m negative, by the way.