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My Journey with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Thursday, November 9, 2017 @ 9:40 PM |
Looks like I have to postpone my post on the couple photoshoot to share something life changing which has happened to me recently.
Early last month, I went to see the doctor because my left hand+wrist was in so much pain. The doctor prescribed some anti-inflammation drug and I become better when I took it.
However, once I finished the medicine the pain came back, and spread to my other hand and even to the other joints of my body.
I was in constant pain during that 1 week after I finished the medicine. Every day, I will discover a new part of my body was in pain and then the next day the pain goes away and another part is in pain.
After 1 week of being in pain, since I had the flu I decided to visit the doctor again and see what is wrong with me. At first, the doctor didn't really want to listen to me talk about my body pain (Sucks when you are in pain and no one wants to listen to you/give a logical explanation on why you were like this). Then after some more probing, she told me to do a blood test. I sought help from TCM immediately after visiting the doctor and the TCM also recommended me to take a blood test to find out the cause of the problem.
I went back to the clinic and took a blood test and 2 days later the clinic called me back. They had to refer me to a specialist as they found infection levels in my blood, they recommended me to go polyclinic and refer to a government hospital, which is cheaper. I visited the polyclinic on Sat, did 1 more blood test and checked my kidney + liver since my feet was swollen and got a referral appointment. Visited NUH (Rheumatology) on Tuesday (Not bad, quite efficient, I was expecting 2-3 weeks wait and thought I would die in pain before that lol).
I am officially diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses – mistakenly attacks the joints. This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around the joints.
(via http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.php)
TL;DR: Immune system is confused and attack itself out of confusion!
The cause of this disease is unknown and there is no cure currently. This gives an answer to the cause of my pains for the past 1 month (I thought I had bone cancer at one point lol). Luckily, I am categorised in the early stage (Less than 3 months since symptoms started). I read that some people took years before they went for a proper diagnosis. The specialist ordered another blood test (3 times in 1 week, achievement unlocked!) to be done for me, to check whether I am suitable to start taking this particular medicine, and immunizations as my immune system will be weaker once I start taking the medicine.
I was given a medicine to control my immune system from being too hyperactive, it's called MTX which is medicine normally prescribed for RA and also given to cancer patients in higher dosage. Other medicines given were: Folic acid to help cope with MTX side effect, anti-inflammatory drug and also another drug to take if I feel pain. Once I was given the pass, I started my weekly dosage of MTX. I was told by the doctor there might be side effects (nausea, diarrhea etc). I will have to keep going back for frequent follow ups + blood tests to see if this treatment is suitable for me, for life. One of the nurses gave me a small talk on what medicines that I will be taking and what side effects may be present, which is very helpful.
My life is going to be changed forever. I am probably going to get chronic pain and will not have a day where I don't feel any pain at all. My dream of having 2 children is definitely affected as I cannot get pregnant while I am taking the medicine and have to switch to another medicine. Not to mention there might be further complications if I get pregnant. As if my heart murmur condition is not being a headache enough, the doctor previously told me they have to re-access my condition if I want to get pregnant as the blood circulation might affect my body.
I might have to even postpone finding a new job since I doubt new employers will be happy if I keep taking leave. But this all depends on how I react to the treatment. Not too sure whether it will affect my future job opportunities or not.
Did lots of reading for the past 2 days and came to find it affects 1% of Singapore population, with the majority being women in 20s to 40s. RA patients have a higher chance develop depression due to the chronic pain/disability etc, sigh. Even saw somewhere that RA patients do not live as long as other normal people. By reading up, it helps to cope and accept what happened.
Some updates and thought of this whole thing:
- RA is NOT an old people's disease, it can happen at any age even in children. I hope to educate people on this, as I myself thought arthritis is an old people's disease.
- Please take care of your body, if you feel something is wrong do not be afraid to visit the doctor. Only you know your own body the best. To be honest, my parents thought I was exaggerating my pain when I went to the doctor for my wrist. So far, they haven't come to terms with this, I feel like they think my condition is not very serious and they cannot comprehend how come someone young like me get such a disease. I really wish I had the answer to this too.
- I have just completed my 2nd dosage of MTX, so far side effects are still manageable but I get really drowsy the morning after taking for the past 2 weeks. Slight nausea today morning but still manageable. Keeping my fingers crossed!
- There are be days when I wake up I will feel ok, and days when I wake up I will feel like dying.
- Joint stiffness in the morning is really painful. Luckily 90% of the pain goes away by lunchtime. Main areas of stiffness are my fingers.
- I am slowly beginning to feel better as the days goes by, hopefully this medicine works for me as I might have to resort to injections if the side effects are getting worse/medicine not working for me T_____T
- Really thankful for the support and concern from the people around me (My sister, BF and friends). At one point I was so touched from one of my friend's concern that I teared up lolol. Thank you for the advises given and helping me to carry my stuffs sometimes.
- I hope a cure can be found soon. I've also joined a study group where they will study on my progress to find out better about RA patients in Singapore.
- Changes to my current diets. I am so much more health conscious and control what I eat
Why me? I've always thought to myself. It has been 2 weeks and I am now slowly coming to terms with this. This journey is definitely not easy but I am ready to start this long battle against this pain in the joints.
© 2017 - the-honeybunny - All rights reserved
My Journey with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Thursday, November 9, 2017 @ 9:40 PM |
Looks like I have to postpone my post on the couple photoshoot to share something life changing which has happened to me recently.
Early last month, I went to see the doctor because my left hand+wrist was in so much pain. The doctor prescribed some anti-inflammation drug and I become better when I took it.
However, once I finished the medicine the pain came back, and spread to my other hand and even to the other joints of my body.
I was in constant pain during that 1 week after I finished the medicine. Every day, I will discover a new part of my body was in pain and then the next day the pain goes away and another part is in pain.
After 1 week of being in pain, since I had the flu I decided to visit the doctor again and see what is wrong with me. At first, the doctor didn't really want to listen to me talk about my body pain (Sucks when you are in pain and no one wants to listen to you/give a logical explanation on why you were like this). Then after some more probing, she told me to do a blood test. I sought help from TCM immediately after visiting the doctor and the TCM also recommended me to take a blood test to find out the cause of the problem.
I went back to the clinic and took a blood test and 2 days later the clinic called me back. They had to refer me to a specialist as they found infection levels in my blood, they recommended me to go polyclinic and refer to a government hospital, which is cheaper. I visited the polyclinic on Sat, did 1 more blood test and checked my kidney + liver since my feet was swollen and got a referral appointment. Visited NUH (Rheumatology) on Tuesday (Not bad, quite efficient, I was expecting 2-3 weeks wait and thought I would die in pain before that lol).
I am officially diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system – which normally protects its health by attacking foreign substances like bacteria and viruses – mistakenly attacks the joints. This creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (the synovium) to thicken, resulting in swelling and pain in and around the joints.
(via http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.php)
TL;DR: Immune system is confused and attack itself out of confusion!
The cause of this disease is unknown and there is no cure currently. This gives an answer to the cause of my pains for the past 1 month (I thought I had bone cancer at one point lol). Luckily, I am categorised in the early stage (Less than 3 months since symptoms started). I read that some people took years before they went for a proper diagnosis. The specialist ordered another blood test (3 times in 1 week, achievement unlocked!) to be done for me, to check whether I am suitable to start taking this particular medicine, and immunizations as my immune system will be weaker once I start taking the medicine.
I was given a medicine to control my immune system from being too hyperactive, it's called MTX which is medicine normally prescribed for RA and also given to cancer patients in higher dosage. Other medicines given were: Folic acid to help cope with MTX side effect, anti-inflammatory drug and also another drug to take if I feel pain. Once I was given the pass, I started my weekly dosage of MTX. I was told by the doctor there might be side effects (nausea, diarrhea etc). I will have to keep going back for frequent follow ups + blood tests to see if this treatment is suitable for me, for life. One of the nurses gave me a small talk on what medicines that I will be taking and what side effects may be present, which is very helpful.
My life is going to be changed forever. I am probably going to get chronic pain and will not have a day where I don't feel any pain at all. My dream of having 2 children is definitely affected as I cannot get pregnant while I am taking the medicine and have to switch to another medicine. Not to mention there might be further complications if I get pregnant. As if my heart murmur condition is not being a headache enough, the doctor previously told me they have to re-access my condition if I want to get pregnant as the blood circulation might affect my body.
I might have to even postpone finding a new job since I doubt new employers will be happy if I keep taking leave. But this all depends on how I react to the treatment. Not too sure whether it will affect my future job opportunities or not.
Did lots of reading for the past 2 days and came to find it affects 1% of Singapore population, with the majority being women in 20s to 40s. RA patients have a higher chance develop depression due to the chronic pain/disability etc, sigh. Even saw somewhere that RA patients do not live as long as other normal people. By reading up, it helps to cope and accept what happened.
Some updates and thought of this whole thing:
- RA is NOT an old people's disease, it can happen at any age even in children. I hope to educate people on this, as I myself thought arthritis is an old people's disease.
- Please take care of your body, if you feel something is wrong do not be afraid to visit the doctor. Only you know your own body the best. To be honest, my parents thought I was exaggerating my pain when I went to the doctor for my wrist. So far, they haven't come to terms with this, I feel like they think my condition is not very serious and they cannot comprehend how come someone young like me get such a disease. I really wish I had the answer to this too.
- I have just completed my 2nd dosage of MTX, so far side effects are still manageable but I get really drowsy the morning after taking for the past 2 weeks. Slight nausea today morning but still manageable. Keeping my fingers crossed!
- There are be days when I wake up I will feel ok, and days when I wake up I will feel like dying.
- Joint stiffness in the morning is really painful. Luckily 90% of the pain goes away by lunchtime. Main areas of stiffness are my fingers.
- I am slowly beginning to feel better as the days goes by, hopefully this medicine works for me as I might have to resort to injections if the side effects are getting worse/medicine not working for me T_____T
- Really thankful for the support and concern from the people around me (My sister, BF and friends). At one point I was so touched from one of my friend's concern that I teared up lolol. Thank you for the advises given and helping me to carry my stuffs sometimes.
- I hope a cure can be found soon. I've also joined a study group where they will study on my progress to find out better about RA patients in Singapore.
- Changes to my current diets. I am so much more health conscious and control what I eat
Why me? I've always thought to myself. It has been 2 weeks and I am now slowly coming to terms with this. This journey is definitely not easy but I am ready to start this long battle against this pain in the joints.
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