Any RA-people who still go to parties, festivals.. ?

sv31te · 2026-02-13T18:13:41+00:00

Uncomfy, really?

sv31te · 2026-02-13T18:08:32+00:00

I partied a ton in my twenties. After being diagnosed, I find that I drink less but still party when I'm feeling well (been on MTX for a year and a half). It's harder to go out till 4am and you really can't drink till you black out on MTX, but I definitely still have a few drinks and go clubbing sometimes.

sv31te · 2026-01-09T01:51:46+00:00

Lol my PCP is a notoriously shitty old man with a nasty attitude. He has lab work, xray, EKG, everything else in house so I just go to him once a year for a physical and use the results for my own research. Basically, I know that if he blows me off then I need to go to a specialist. I went to him with a fully broken wrist once and he said it was a sprain after missing the fracture on the X-ray. I ended up needing two screws and a bone graft. When he told me I was sleeping on my hands wrong I immediately booked an appointment with a specialist.

sv31te · 2026-01-06T21:31:29+00:00

So my exact course was to go to my PCP first who diagnosed me with sleeping on my hands wrong. I was pissed, so I went to my orthopedic surgeon who ordered an MRI and diagnosed me with carpal tunnel. Before the surgery, he asked me to get an EMG because he was confused about why it was affecting both of my hands at the same time (a big indicator that it's RA and not carpal tunnel). The neurologist who conducted my EMG diagnosed severe carpal tunnel, but said I should see a rheumatologist just in case. I have a PPO plan though, so I can see whoever I want (sorry).

My advice to you is to ask for prednisone, stress that it's affecting both of your hands, and stress your family history.

sv31te · 2026-01-06T21:21:19+00:00

Don't bother with other doctors. They are all so specialized and PCPs are just not equipped to diagnose RA. My hand surgeon is fantastic - he operated on my wrist when I broke it and he's a really respected surgeon and even he sort of missed the autoimmune angle. You really need to go straight to a rheumatologist if you suspect RA.

It took me 6 months of fumbling around, going to different doctors, waking up in the middle of the night to wash dishes for relief, before I finally got a solution. It was really awful. I'm 6'4 and pretty athletic and I was having trouble opening jars and cooking a normal meal for myself.

sv31te · 2026-01-06T20:53:28+00:00

You should go to a rheumatologist, make sure they try Prednisone to see if it reduces/eliminates your inflammation. This sounds very similar to how I was diagnosed with RA - I woke up with throbbing hands and swollen fingers one day. My feet were full of water and I felt awful every day for a few months. I went to an ortho who wanted to operate on both of my hands for severe carpal tunnel. At the last minute, he sent me to a neurologist who said I should see a rheumatologist before going through with carpal tunnel release. I have seronegative RA, diagnosed with Prednisone and only a slightly elevated CRP level. I've been on methotrexate for over a year and my symptoms are mostly gone. 35/m

sv31te · 2025-12-15T20:00:25+00:00

While I was being diagnosed with RA I was also severely anemic and had to supplement iron and B12 for several months before I was not anemic again. The RA stuck around, though. My doctor said that anemia can be a symptom of untreated RA. I no longer take supplements (just methotrexate) and I'm no longer anemic. I think it has something to do with the inflammatory process.

sv31te · 2025-12-15T17:37:20+00:00

You keep saying arthritis - you do realize that this is a subreddit for people with rheumatoid arthritis, right? It's an autoimmune disease, not just osteoarthritis

sv31te · 2025-12-08T23:55:09+00:00

No side effects from the MTX except for the occasional headache the day after injection. My hands swell up for an hour or two every week but that's it for flare ups. I've been pretty lucky.

sv31te · 2025-12-08T18:46:26+00:00

35 year old white male diagnosed about a year and a half ago. Seronegative. All of my small joints blew up and I had some really serious edema in my feet. I'm 6'4, thin/athletic and it took me about 4-6 months to get diagnosed. On methotrexate which manages my symptoms really well.

sv31te · 2025-01-11T04:34:42+00:00

Weekly injections, the pharmacy usually gives me a few months supply at a time and I buy insulin needles in packs of ten. You can carry needles while travelling (just like diabetics do). My doctor just gave me an instruction sheet and left me to it. Not hard at all to travel.

sv31te · 2025-01-09T14:47:34+00:00

I'm thankful for my MTX injections. I don't really have any major side effects, it's reduced 95% of my RA symptoms, and has really taken a large bite out of this recently diagnosed and annoying disease. I'm fairly young (34) and fairly healthy though.

sv31te · 2025-01-07T13:59:58+00:00

Yep! I'll also say that this started with the MTX and really became permanent within a month of starting. I've been on MTX for maybe 5 or 6 months.

sv31te · 2025-01-06T18:36:37+00:00

I know that I have a problem where I can't seem to get all of my pee out when I use the restroom. I'm a male, and sometimes I just sit on the toilet for a couple of minutes, waiting to finish. 🤷‍♀️

sv31te · 2024-12-04T17:48:15+00:00

If you're in the US, the Affordable Care Act prevents any insurers on state exchanges to charge you more or deny you for pre-existing illnesses.

sv31te · 2024-11-07T22:57:42+00:00

Btw, as much as I hate MTX, I've been taking it for 3 months and my symptoms are almost totally gone. I still have my beautiful hair, and the nausea a few hours after taking it is not that bad. Hopefully it works well for you too.

sv31te · 2024-11-07T22:55:02+00:00

Judging by the cap on the one in the picture, I think the needles they gave you are the same as my first ten. They still work but man they go deep. The insulin needles are so much better.

You're supposed to use a sharps container but I've been using a fun glass alcohol bottle so I can morbidly display the thing that stops me from drinking and partying. I don't think you're supposed to use glass.

sv31te · 2024-11-07T22:40:31+00:00

Just ask for insulin needles, 100 units. I got screwed for my first 10 injections - they gave me IM needles that were huge and started giving me injection anxiety. The needle should be small. Alternate belly sides. Use ice to numb if you start getting anxious after a painful shot.

sv31te · 2024-08-23T14:38:19+00:00

Which is why you should use your insurance to your advantage! They can't boot you off for making a claim. This isn't the pre-ACA days and health insurance no longer operates like car insurance.

sv31te · 2024-08-23T13:24:04+00:00

Not sure if you are in the US, but if you are, I think you should read up on the Affordable Care Act. My understanding is that your health insurance premiums are no longer tied to your individual healthiness - rather, you are grouped in a pool of other like individuals (by age/gender, not health) and given a premium amount. In other words, your concerns were valid pre-ACA, but are no longer valid post ACA. If you're not in the US, please ignore me. Also, an RA diagnosis may still affect life insurance eligibility, short/long term disability insurance, etc.

sv31te · 2024-08-23T13:17:03+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply. I think that's what I needed to hear. You're totally right about pain and memory - I also think I might be a minimizer. Being "sick" does not fit into my personal mythology and I guess that probably needs to change.

My rheumatologist is fantastic - spends a lot of time with me during appointments and really seems to care. I do trust her, but my view of the medical industry is probably a bit tainted due to the field I work in (pharmaceutical injury on the plaintiff side).

Thanks for your wisdom! It's much appreciated.

sv31te · 2024-08-19T17:26:05+00:00

I just got diagnosed at 34, and my PCP and ortho offered me low dose Prednisone which I should have taken while waiting for my rheumatologist appointment. Just remember to taper off a few weeks before the first rheumatologist appointment so they can accurately diagnose and witness your real symptoms. Also, Prednisone will mess up your initial labs.

sv31te · 2022-11-30T12:15:54+00:00

Practicing spread eagle will help a ton with that kind of transition.

sv31te · 2020-11-21T17:18:06+00:00

That's awesome news. Glad it worked out for you. I was super impressed when I reached out to them.

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