My Diagnosis Story with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to LifeWithRA+! Subscribe and follow me as I share my story and journey in my life with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Today I'll be talking about when I was diagnosed and what it was like for me when I found out. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis please feel free to share with me what it was like for you when you found out. I'd love to hear your story so we can relate to one another as we are all fighting a similar battle. Stay tuned for my next video as we'll be talking about holistic health care.

xoxo,
Nicole

*DISCLAIMER*
I am not a Doctor or a Health Care Practitioner. This is my personal story and things I have done for myself and everybody is different when it comes to medications and remedies. If you have any questions in regards to your health please speak to and ask your Rheumatologist or Primary Doctor.

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[sharoncraver]

My RA attacks my whole body! There have been times that I can’t walk, even brushing my teeth hurts my hands. Good luck on your journey.

[commonsense]

My wife is 40 and recently diagnosed. Seeing most comments and this video makes me feel she is not alone, ill have her watch this and I'll translate for her

[tonygee]

Your experience at the rheumatologist was almost a carbon copy of mine. I am checking out these YouTube videos right now as I am currently suffering again. I am a few years ahead of you. Mine started about 6 years ago and it was all of my major joints. Horrible, totally debilitating. I had 3 steroid injections and then started on methotrexate. Went back to work. I was doing ok. Moved to Thailand. Continued with methotrexate
In conjunction with the doctor, decided to try and wean off the drugs. (Tried previously and failed !) This time it worked and I had three years with no drugs or pain ! Then this January it came back and I am struggling to get it under control. This is where I am now. Been back on Methotrexate for two weeks now. Thing is, it's a bit different this time. I didn't have pain in my hands first time around. This time my hands are extremely painful.
Good luck to everyone on here !

[resmisingh]

I have Rheumatoid arthritis since I was born. So far I'm ok with stiffness. Glad your sharing your story

[DannyPacheco-tofi]

39 years old and was just diagnosed. It impacts my entire body. Anyone else also of degeration of the spine /hypertrophy with no evidence of physical trauma? Whats crazy is ive alwys been healthy ..never even a broken bone..athletic...and then it just hit me.

[promisetia]

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis last month, I'm still trying to accept it and learn how to live with it.

[nancygee]

My RA is the reason I didn't have kids. I didn't do well with plaqunil so I ended up on methorexate. You are forbidden to have children on it. Now I am suicidal because I lost my job and didn't have kids. My life has no meaning, I am very lonely and I lost my job. I got depressed after I lost my job, now its been 22 years, I am 53 now on disability..It was suppose to be work comp so no one offered me another med. I gave up on kids. Now my dad is turning 87 and I will be homeless when he dies. There are other meds that allow you to get pregnant. Make sure you explore your options on having children before it's too late. For me not having children was a big deal. OH ok you have child already . Thats good.

[MJ-gjmj]

The fact that they gave the referral for a rheumatologist! That is truly the struggle. I am going through the same with my knee and it's not the first of joint pain at all. GP gave me Vitamin D supplements for my stiffness. That was after 3 visits with visible swelling, redness. I've seen orthopedic Drs. who don't seem to care unless surgery is needed. It's so hard and 6 weeks rest time repeatedly is very hard financially not being able to report to work and not declared any disability either. The extra therapies to help with pain are all costly. We have to do better for people who may have this painful disease. Years going byband nothing is geting done. 💔

[Leescraftyside]

Mine started in my right index finger and my doctor thought it was tendinitis because I couldn’t straighten my finger. Then it spread to my wrists and other fingers, then shoulders, knees and then feet. It started when I was 38, diagnosed at 40. Best of luck in your journey! Hugs!

[lovelyroserulloda]

I teared up a bit when you got to the part of getting your RA diagnosis, then your phonecall with your mom right after. I recently got diagnosed with, not just one, but 2 auto-immune diseases, RA and lupus. I was also by myself when I got the diagnoses. TBH, I still can't wrap my head around these conditions, so I've been watching videos like this the past few days.

Oh, and like you, I seem to experience pain on the right side of my body first, but then the left side follows a day or so after.

Praying for the best for all of us!

[gloriabonnifield]

I’m sorry you have this terrible illness I have been dealing with it for over 40 years. I’m glad that now they have better medicine for RA back when I was diagnosed they only had prednisone, Motrin and a lot of drugs they were testing so along with the pain I felt like a Guinea pig being used to test the drugs. Unfortunately nothing worked and my illness got worse by the time I was 29 I had it all over my body and was forced to go on disability. At this stage I take Cbd oil plus medicine to relive pain. If I told you my complete story we would be here all day so I’ll end. Good luck with your fight against this terrible illness. 😀❤️.

[aravindluka]

thanks for sharing your story.feels like I am not alone in pain.I was 20 when diagnosed with RA. Now I am 27 .every day waking up in pain and bunch of medication.may god bless us and take all of us out of this.Really thankful for sharing your story.

[amyc.peters]

Shout out to your mom, and both of you, for being persistent with the drs visits to get the diagnosis

[elisewilson]

I am so happy that you test positive for the RH Factor. I have had ALL the systems of RA since I was about twenty years old. I have never tested positive for the RA factor so they will not put me on a treatment plan. I have been in pain daily since I was about 27 years old. This is when the burning system started in my knees during a flair up. At this point both knees are bone on bone, but they will not replace my knees because I cannot straighten either of my knees. I have arthritis in every joint of my body. I have degenerative arthritis in my knees and lower back. I am just so glad you tested positive, and they listen to you. I do not want any other person to be my age(only 52) and have the body of a ninety year old. I think more channels like this need to be out there to inform the public that not on RA patients with test positive for the RA factor.

[callmedelirium]

I got my diagnosis just yesterday... It has been years of looking for medical care to deal with my pain without getting a diagnosis or getting to treat my pain... Thank you for your video, I'm trying to understand what it is really like and other people's experiences :)

[nosy]

For about 2 years, I would have cases where I'm in pain and could not walk. I will see a doctor and will be told there is nothing wrong with me. It moved from feet to the hands bathing myself was the struggle. My ring finger started swelling up. I went to Google trying to figure out what was wrong with me, when I saw RA I suspected I was suffering from it. I decided to see a specialist and they confirmed it was indeed a RA.

[mrswray]

I have stills disease which deals with rheumatoid arthritis all over the body as part of the symptoms. I was diagnosed at 17. Good luck with your journey love, it’s difficult being so young dealing with something mostly elderly people have but you can do this and there’s lots of support out there! And on a side note I could not stop staring at your hair. It looks so healthy!

[Poolverine-]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I was diagnosed recently with RA after over two years of not knowing what was going on with my left knee. After trying to seek multiple medical opinions, whilst being accused of doctor shopping, I finally found an orthopedic doctor that referred me to a rheumatologist. It has been a journey to say the least. I really appreciate the fact that you shared everything with everyone. I wouldn’t be able to to that so mad props to you. Keep sharing and helping people with your story. Maybe one day I’ll be able to do the same. ❤

[evalasting]

Mine started with a flu for five months and my doctor saw my swollen hands and diagnosed RA --pain in groin as well

[vanwyke]

Impressive and accurate account of this insidious disease. Your prognosis is very good with your positive attitude, willingness to try other types of treatments, and the future prospect of newer medicines and treatment through science. I certainly wish you well as your journey improves. Take Care.