My experience with rheumatoid arthritis (RA): from before diagnosis to living with it

Ms. Carrie Barnes shares her experience with rheumatoid #arthritis (RA): from before her diagnosis to today (2019) and living with RA. She describes her symptoms, how she coped before her diagnosis, how she advocated for a diagnosis, and once she was diagnosed, how she and her healthcare team got her symptoms under control and have actively tried different approaches with her medication. She also talks about how she's learned to live with her RA.

[@jenniferjohnston8390]

Hello, I watched your video and was encouraged by your story. Could you tell me what medication you took to get back your life and be active? Thank you so much for your help in advance, Jennifer

[@canadianearlyarthritiscoho928]

It's really a tailored approach to treatments and we still don't know what medications work best for one person versus another. I'd recommend speaking with your rheumatologist to figure out an approach that works best for you.

[@fairenough7984]

I just came upon your video. Your life parallels mine, except that I went through a devastating illness at age 14 that resulted in the autoimmune and RA diagnoses. I am now 63. I stay physically active on days when I can. I had to kind of demand that others try to understand that I have a very set schedule of tasks and must do's of a day,because I have to sleep in the afternoon. There is so much more to my story, but suffice to say, I literally feel.your pain💗 The meds were awful, so I have managed with diet, supplements, activity and my 'sacred' schedule. I have flare.ups, and they are more manageable, but I think I actually can recognize the sensation of when .y index fingers are actually turning. It is a lot to cope with, mostly I wish for others to understand what someone with RA goes through. Thank.you for your story and I wish you good health and success!

[@rickfearn3663]

Hi Fair Enough, see my comments above. I would check out Dr. Thomas Levy's work with respect to dental disease and RA.

[@ankooverma946]

Please tell me which supplement diet you are taking. Because RA medicine is very hard and i feel like always sick

[@canadianearlyarthritiscoho928]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. We know it can be difficult to be diagnosed with and live with RA and the impact it has on your life.

[@maritzaboyd1851]

What do you mean by the wif? Thank you for sharing.

[@ricardo.80s]

why did i watch & listen d all story d all vid from tis girl, why? bcuz i can. ❤

[@bonitazepeda6729]

Thank you.

[@ricardo.80s]

thank u.❤

[@juliedevaul6556]

me too

[@robmoorept]

9 months to see a specialist is clear evidence that socialized medicine is a catastrophe. Thank God and capitalism that the US has not followed such stupid policies.

[@CharleysMom2]

I got RA this video was absolutely useless to me.

[@canadianearlyarthritiscoho928]

I'm sorry to hear this. I hope some of the other videos resonated more with you.

[@shirleyschroetlin7013]

Stop bragging

[@Stormy-14-]

This video is useless to me

[@beataannanowak659]

My experience: My ex husband told me he doesn't want to be with someone that will end up with deformed fingers and he took my son away from me. I was and I am in a lot of pain. Is urinary incontinence (horrible one) one of the symptoms and sight loss and eye pain and vertical white lines on finger nails and toe nails and bilateral joint pain hands, feet, knees, horrible pelvic pain, bilateral hip pain tmj pain and rib cage pain ? no one knows what is going on with me

[@canadianearlyarthritiscoho928]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Have you connected with some of the arthritis organizations noted on our website? Perhaps this might help...

[@beataannanowak659]

@@canadianearlyarthritiscoho928 Methotrexate is one of a group of medications called disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and it is the most common treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate helps prevent further permanent damage that can happen if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated.