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@mia447

Hi all -- I'm new here so thought I would introduce myself. I live in Australia and was diagnosed with RA (and fibro) in 2016. It took a long time for me to get a diagnosis as I am sero-negative, and I apparently didn't 'fit' the classic picture. I do have joint pain in my hands and feet but have always more battled awful fatigue and muscle pain as my main symptoms. I was eventually referred to a sympathetic rheumatologist who shook her head a bit and said she thought it was 'obvious' I have RA (by then I was pretty fed up with being told "there's nothing wrong with you" so I wanted to hug her! :). Most of all I was happy to finally get a diagnosis and some treatment. I'm currently taking Methotrexate, Plaquenil, Mobic, Prednisolone and Simponi for the RA and Clonazepam and Zaldiar for the fibro-related pain. For now the drugs seem to be working and I still manage to work 4 days a week although at times I'd like nothing more than to spend the day in bed! I've found keeping moving, doing yoga, and learning mindfulness-based meditation has helped me keep active. I'd love to hear what everyone else is doing to try and stay active.

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Replies to "Hi all -- I'm new here so thought I would introduce myself. I live in Australia..."

@mia447 I too have sero-negative RA...became active in 2008...IMHO you are being quite over-medicated...

I have both of these as well. I don't complain, and often get a response like - you look fine. I'm only taking
hydroxaqualine for inflammation. My pain is debilitating, and wakes me up while I'm sleeping. I am scared to get on any RA meds due to side effects, and the pain meds are so stigmatized--I don't want to sound like I'm seeking them out.
Stretching and inversion help to a point, but I am in between insurances coverage. So I have to be strong for 40 days before I can see a physician and ask what alternatives I can start implementing to ease the fibromyalgia pain.