What a great idea for this group.

I am Pam and I am recovering from surgery in late May to remove a rare lung cancer (mucinous Adenocarcinoma) that we have watched grow slowly for 4 years, assuming it was an RA module. I had the lower lobe of my left lung removed. Fortunately the tumor was stage 1 and modes & margins were clear.

I also have RA, diagnosed almost 12 years ago. I had an unusual onset - woke up one morning with numb left hand that resolved in about an hour. Woke up next morning with both hands numb, and it progressed within 3-5 days to not being able to open a bottle of water or turn a door knob. Other joints began screaming. I went through a version of the step up drug delivery that was time wasted until I finally got to an ace Rheumatologist in NYC who immediately told insurance companies to pound sand. Well she actually told them that moderately severe acute onset promised bad outcomes down the road, which would cost them more. So I was put on Humira and Methotrexate. In a couple of yrs I developed antibodies to Humira as we decreased Methotrexate to protect my liver. So I went on a Enbrel. That lasted a few years and suddenly quit working. In 2019 I moved to NC, found another ace Rheumatologist (after an initial disastrous one), and started Remicade. It’s been a miracle
Drug for me. I pray every day it continues to be effective. I am now RA factor positive, but interestingly I didn’t start that way.

As I’m sure all of you do, I manage pain and sequale daily. I’ve had 4 trigger finger surgical releases and one dupuytren’s release.

Right now I’m having pain due to left side rib cage and diaphragm restriction when I take deep breaths and am questioning whether RA could be contributing to that stiffness. I am having a diagnostic CT in a week to see if there is anything obvious that could be causing it. But I’m not optimistic. Bones and joints just tend to hurt with RA.

Geez. That was wildly longer than I intended. Apologies for the Tome.