Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - Introduce yourself and meet others

Very nicely said @peach414144 !

@peach414144 I know what it is to give up. I have been diagnosed genetically with a number of issues, including Gelsolin, RYR2 and LGMD2m, Stage 3 myelofibrosis, with about 30 known cancer locations and systems now in my body. So I thought I might start by tracking down a comprehensive list of symptoms/signs for these first 3 things. So I found just one list which says it includes just the Gelsolin and LGMD2m. Then I compared that to my list of items my doctors have found in these last 81 years. There are three hundred forty on the list, and I have been diagnosed with three hundred 332 of them. Then when you add on some other stuff like my hypoparathyroidism and hyperparathyroidism, the list really grows. oldkarl

Hi Old Karl, this is peach: I do thank you for your thinking of me. Yes, we both have many, many health issues. As you know it takes a hardened person with a huge heart to deal with it. This site is healthy to vent or to encourage others with their health issues. At this point in time it seems to be serious with our health care. This pandemic is affecting all peoples in many, many areas. Some life threatening. To continue on with this would take up many, many hours of legal and true issues of the dangerous of health care that is happening now. So where do we go now? Patience can put a life in danger as we know that to address the health issue sooner than later is to save the life of the patient. Any which way, here we are and we know that to address all the issues involved sooner than later can be life saving. Enough, time to take a swim, eat and watch TV. With Love, Peach

I am a newbie. Diagnosed with RA and Sjögrens December of 2020. Bottom line, I have isolated during Covid since then. I have not left home except for doctors visits, pharmacy and have met outdoors, masked and distanced with 2 friends once each. The bottom line question is: how to decide when and where it is safe to go out in public? My rheumatologist says "go, enjoy life." I replied that I have to decide what my comfort level is. She said "yes, definitely". I am fearful of contracting anything when immunosuppressed. How do others determine their comfort level and how do they manage it? A P.S. : I am totally vaccinated and received my booster (3rd shot) of Moderna in August this year.

Hello @jba Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We’re all volunteers who try to help each other by sharing our health experiences and resources. Congratulations on being so careful of your health at this time. I also have an autoimmune disease and i just don’t want to get sick!
As for “go, enjoy life” that’s great as long as you take precautions. I always wear a mask when indoors, even if my local government doesn’t require it. I meet friends in the park out in the open air. I don’t go into a home unless i know the person is vaccinated. If we go out to eat, we try to sit outside even though it’s getting cool out. I’m not crazy about going to grocery stores, especially when people don’t have to wear a mask. But, I don’t have a choice so i go quickly. Just be cautious and you should be OK.

Thank you for your reply! I am also concerned about traveling while Covid is still an issue. I, too, just don't want to get sick!

I was diagnosed several years ago with having what the doctor said was arthritis in my knees and my feet and my fingers and an MRI shows degenerative arthritis in my neck. What is the difference between regular arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

What other symptoms can rheumatoid arthritis bring on? I've had some crazy symptoms over the last 2 years and I mean it's a multitude of wide range of symptoms that are debilitating but the doctors have done every test known to mankind and everything comes back normal so I was wondering if maybe my arthritis which they classify as an auto immune system disease could actually be giving me some of these other symptoms I have

I was Diagnosed with DJD, DDD, Fibromyalgia and SJOGRENS syndrome Which I was informed is a form of RA , hopefully I was Informed correctly. I have a Support group for Chronic Pain and would love anything I can recieve do you do this? My name is Loke and I live in Muskegon, Michigan

Hi Loke @loke, Welcome to Connect. Connect is a great safe place to meet other members and learn what experiences they have shared with similar symptoms or conditions that you may also have. There are many health groups and discussions within each health group. You can easily search for a discussion from the Connect home screen, just click Connect next to the Mayo Clinic logo at the top left corner of the page. Then just above the discussions on the right side you will see a search box so that you can type in a phrase or word describing the condition/symptom you are looking for.

Here are a few discussions you mentioned that you might want to read through to learn what others have shared.

-- Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)...17 total and counting: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ddd-17-and-counting/
-- Fibromyalgia: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/fibromyalgia-20d1d0/
-- Sjogren’s Syndrome – Introduce yourself and meet others: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sjogrens/

You might find the following discussion helpful to get you started:
-- [TIP] How to Use Connect: Step-by-step Instructions: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tip-how-to-use-connect-step-by-step-instructions/

You mentioned belonging to a support group for Chronic Pain. Have you found any suggestions that help you cope with or relieve your pain?

My support group is terriffic We all agree mild Heat to Pain area I use my TEN unit some recommend SOFT massage Here we try to stay away from Meds as much as possible.
Thanks for the Pointers on info I greatly Appreciate it