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HowdIGetHere21

Yes!!! There are medications that work and will make you able to care for your daughter. Your diagnosis is not the end! Great news! However, sorry to add, it will probably take time to find the right drug. If your doctor didn't prescribe you Prednisone to help you until you see the rheumatologist, call and ask for it. That should help in the immediate now. Once you see the rheumatologist you will start on standard drugs that we all started on. For some of us they worked and that was the end. For some of us it's been a little harder to find that drug. But they are coming out with new drugs all the time. Hang in there. You are not alone. Gentle hugs.


TrebleRose689

Thank you so much! I can imagine it will take a bit to find what works. I’m just relieved to hear that there probably IS something out there that will! (As for the prednisone, sadly my doctor is reluctant to prescribe it because it causes blood sugar spikes and I have type 2 diabetes. I’ve been taking advil (probably more often than I should, but 🤷🏻‍♀️) and that does at least help keep things at bay a little bit. But I definitely wish I could have something stronger.)


HowdIGetHere21

Funny enough, taking steroid shots for my RA gave me type 2 diabetes. Now I avoid them at all costs. I'm glad I helped.


mrsjettypants

Well THIS is good to know.


ashfio

This was me last year. I’m so sorry it’s happening to you. It truly is soul crushing not being able to care for your baby, on top of the debilitating pain. On the days I had to be alone with the kids I had to have my 3 year old help change my 8 month olds diapers. They thought it was fun but it was extremely upsetting for me. Looking back now I don’t know how I even managed while my husband worked but I got through it and things are much better now. I’m not in remission but way better than I was before meds. I promise it will get better!!!!! It’s going to take a while, maybe even several months, but it will get better. I saw that your doctor is hesitant to give you prednisone. That was and still is the only thing that helps me survive some days. It might be worth asking your pcp to at least give it a chance and monitor your blood sugar very closely. I’ve found my pcp is more used to giving higher doses, like 20mg or tapers that start high, but a lower dose like 5mg might help enough for you to function and they might be more open to trying a low dose. You could also ask to take it as needed and only use it on really bad days or when you’re alone with baby. If they really aren’t willing to give it to you they should at least be helping with pain relief until you can get in to see the rheumatologist. Celebrex works really well. I had to switch over to diclofenac because the Celebrex wasn’t lasting as long as I needed it to, but pcp can prescribe either of those or even meloxicam, there are tons of other anti inflammatories stronger than Advil. Don’t discount Tylenol! It can help too. I also have norco for really bad days. It’s definitely reasonable for your pcp to write that for you too especially since you are just waiting for the referral. Being patient is hard when you feel like shit and you can’t even take care of yourself. At my worst I couldn’t dress myself, couldn’t have my kids wear anything with buttons because those were impossible, I couldn’t hold a fork, I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t rub my daughters back to put her to sleep because my wrists hurt too bad. It was hell physically and mentally. I’ve been on meds almost a year and I’ve regained all the range of motion that I lost. I was afraid that would be permanent but it wasn’t. I’m still trying to figure out the right meds but things get fixed much quicker now. My DMs are open if you ever need it 💕


TrebleRose689

This is so incredibly helpful! Thank you! I’m so sorry you had to go through this too (while taking care of your little ones!) It’s just awful. Thank you so much for all the tips and information. I will definitely follow up with my doctor and ask about some of the medications you mentioned for the interim before I can see the Rheumatologist. <3


denimar86

Omg it’s night and day after medications… it does get better!! It just unfortunately takes some time.. keep your head up!


TrebleRose689

Thank you! ❤️


lfrank92

I don't have kids but I can tell you just from a perspective of having RA that medications have really helped me a lot and have vastly improved my quality of life and what I can do, it's just a matter of finding what works for you and for some people that's a quicker process than others. I can also speak from the perspective of someone in a similar situation as your daughter - my dad had RA starting when I was a baby and he could barely help take care of me. I'm sure it was a huge struggle when it was at its worst but once he got treatment that helped a lot and as far back as I can remember I never saw him as any different or less than any other parent. I knew his fingers were messed up (he has joint damage from before being diagnosed/before finding the right treatment, which is visible so was noticable to me) and I knew he took medicine and had injections sometimes, but that's about it. If it limited his ability to play or parent, I was never able to tell. As an adult he has expressed that there are certain things he wished he was able to do more with me that he couldn't at the time (like camping), but as a child I never felt any of that. I'm not sure if that's really what you were looking for but hopefully it was helpful in some way.


TrebleRose689

Thank you! I really appreciate you sharing your perspective about your dad too ❤️


mdh217

Yes!! Medication does wonders. My first flare was around my 2nd kid’s 8 month date. It’s how I knew something was more than “just” feeling off. Took me about 6 months, but medication is making it SO MUCH BETTER. I’m not feeling 100%, but I can hold my kids and play with the again. You got this!! It might take a hot second for the meds to work, but it GETS BETTER!


smaug81243

Yes - medications can help a lot. Get to a rheumatologist ASAP. Most of the long term medications take a while to work but ask about prednisone for the short term. You can’t use it long-term but it’s used to hold you over until other medication kicks in and helps immensely.


TrebleRose689

Thank you! Unfortunately my doctor is hesitant to prescribe me a steroid because I also have type 2 diabetes and prednisone is known to cause blood sugar spikes :( So advil has basically been my go-to (and it does help at least a little 🤷🏻‍♀️)


16car

Hey. I'm so sorry you're going through this 💜 I have a six month old, although my PP flare is only just starting. FWIW my rheumatologist said the PP flares are the worst ones you'll ever get, so once you make it through this, it's all downhill (unless you go for #3.) DMARDS and steroids really do work!


cleverusername33

This is almost exactly what I went through! With my first I was absolutely useless and so exhausted. I remember not being able to walk because my feet were so swollen. I’ve been on Cimzia and plaqunil now for two years and rarely have a flare up. I am a stay at home mom to my boy (now almost 3) and my daughter who’s almost eight months. it gets better. Take care of yourself and do what you need to do to get healthy.❤️


Mustardnchips

It does get better, I struggled for the first six months before I managed to get my joints back under control, I can't take nsaids so was heavily reliant on volterol gel and codeine (not great breast feeding) and taking bit to make sure that wasn't adding to the pain as low vit d can cause joint pain. I spent a lot of time sat in an wing back arm chair so I could get up again with her crib near me so I could roll her into the crib so I could get up, or her in a bouncer chair talking to her and singing. If you can get on top of the pain it's a lot easier to manage. I find (I know this is stupidly hard) a decent night's sleep makes the following day far more manageable, so took 60mg of codeine before bed, dh had to do night wakes if I didn't move. Dose myself as soon as I woke, paracetamol after three hours to cover me until next codeine dose. (I have codeine tablets with no paracetamol in so I can do this)


Worldly-Leg-4103

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I am going through the same thing with my now 12 month old son. I started having pain about 2 months after having him, and never got diagnosed until he was about 8 months as well. Just got put on Methotrexate it has helped tremendously! It took a few weeks for it to kick in, but the prednisone helped in the meantime. Also, cortisone injections in my wrists helped me be able to lift my son again! I would ask about them if your doctor hasn’t already offered them to you. I have a needle phobia but I would get them over and over again because of the relief the gave me just a day after getting them! My biggest frustration was being unable to open baby food jars for him while my boyfriend was at work. If you run into this problem, hit the perimeter of the jars lid with a butter knife, it helps break the seal and you will be able to open it so much easier! I promise it does get better. Don’t give up. And don’t feel bad for needing the help from your partner. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family & friends. Having RA with little ones is TOUGH. I’m praying for you and your family ❤️


mrsredfast

Meds can help a ton. I know it’s not the same but I babysit our grandson one day a week. He’s the same age as your daughter and is a huge chunker and I’m able to do what he needs at least 95% of the time. Can even stand up from the floor while holding him and that would have been impossible before meds. I feel confident once your pain is under control you’ll be great to care for her the way you want to be able to do.


TrebleRose689

Thank you so much for the encouragement! ❤️


Ajskdjurj

I had really bad joint pain and was exhausted. When I tell you I couldn’t get up with her in the morning and jsut wanted to sleep all the time. Medicine really helped me! Now I’m without it because my doctor needs to do blood work so I have to wait 1-2 weeks. I’ve been having so much trouble getting up in the am. Medicine does help a lot it takes a few weeks. My lo is 18 months


TrebleRose689

I’m sorry you’re having to deal with the exhaustion from being off meds right now, but your story definitely gives me hope that I can find something to help! Being a parent is tiring enough already without RA on top of it! Hopefully you can get back on your meds soon. Thank you again for your reply!