Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - Introduce yourself and meet others

My name is Robbin Savala and I live in Oklahoma, USA.
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and Anklelosing spondylitis in 2011. But it was not through the normal blood test. It did not show up in my blood work. It showed up on x-rays, and CAT scans,, and MRIs.
My (Rheumatologist) said that about 15% of the people who were diagnosed, had it found with x-rays instead of the bloodwork.
So I guess that makes me special lol... It was a real shock to find out. I had osteoarthritis as well. I was in the hospital for almost 2 weeks going through every test,imaginable, and I’m glad they finally discovered what was wrong.
I am married and have 10 children who I am very proud of ! 1 of them works for a Senator from Oklahoma!!I have 20 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren !!!
I love to watch mystery shows on TV, I like to crochet, and cook. And I like to play some video games. Yes I said video games. Skyrim is my favorite. I started playing it about six years ago as my doctor prescribed it to keep my arthritic hands moving, and less painful. He also said it would help the stiffness that I have in my fingers. I’m glad he did !
It really helps. And I love my fur babies. I have two dachshunds, and one Yorkie they bring me Joy. Besideshaving rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, I have three discs in my back that are pressing against my nerves. They tried radio, frequency, ablation,a epidural, and It did not help. So they prescribed an implant put into my lower back and the lead wires go up my spine. It’s supposed to stop pain signals from reaching my brain. Lol, as it hasn’t helped me at all I think surgery will probably be the next step but I’m 70 years old and I still smoke. If anyone can suggest something that can really help me stop smoking I would appreciate it as nothing. I’ve tried so far works and I have to stop before I can have surgery so. I am in a lot of pain. I take about 14 different medicines daily, and that’s too much! Well no more talking about myself. It’s just depresses me.

I hope to meet a lot of people who have the same auto immune disease diseases that I have maybe Together we can beat the odds? Would like to hear your stories and what worked for you. what your hobbies are and how your families are doing? What helps your pain? And I’d like to make some wonderful friends. Thank you for listening to my story, lol.
Robbin Savala

Hi! Just joined. I am 70 y/o and was diagnosed with RA at age 8. I also have osteoarthritis. I hope to hear from others in the same boat who might share some of the odd symptoms I have. Such as: does anyone else get an odd feeling in their throat, almost like a sore throat, right before a flare starts? I call it my early warning system to take a rest, or start a prednisone taper. Doctors through the years only mention some bone(?) in or near the larynx (cricoid?) that can have RA in it, but apparently I don't have that. BUT, I DO get that sore feeling in my throat. Anyone else?
Also, I was hospitalized with both covid AND RSV early this year in April, and that has completely wrecked me. Exacerbated everything.
Please comment if you have that "throat thing." I know I'm not crazy (yet) but the doctor's says that there's "nothing there," but I've experienced it for multiple decades!

Hi! Just joined. I am 70 y/o and was diagnosed with RA at age 8. I also have osteoarthritis. I hope to hear from others in the same boat who might share some of the odd symptoms I have. Such as: does anyone else get an odd feeling in their throat, almost like a sore throat, right before a flare starts? I call it my early warning system to take a rest, or start a prednisone taper. Doctors through the years only mention some bone(?) in or near the larynx (cricoid?) that can have RA in it, but apparently I don't have that. BUT, I DO get that sore feeling in my throat. Anyone else?
Also, I was hospitalized with both covid AND RSV early this year in April, and that has completely wrecked me. Exacerbated everything.
Please comment if you have that "throat thing." I know I'm not crazy (yet) but the doctor's says that there's "nothing there," but I've experienced it for multiple decades!

@racors nothing there as is not from an infection in your throat? Or nothing in the possibility that whatever feeling you get in your throat before a flare? I guess what you feel before a flare could be like an aura before a migraine…

@racors I too have RA & OA, but haven't experienced what you describe. However, I also have periodic vertigo, and have noticed if my tinnitus begins to sound like bells instead of buzzing in different tones, I am about tom get hit with a bout of vertigo. Most docs I told that to just look at me like I'm crazy, but my current ENT nodded and smiled when I described it. She said "more people should listen to their bodies."