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Rheumatoid Arthritis Community

Newly Diagnosed with RA

I have had RA for almost 10 years. I was diagnosed in 2007. If you can do your...

Posted by HealthCoachwithRA

I have had RA for almost 10 years. I was diagnosed in 2007. If you can do your job without accommodation do not tell your boss. If you think you will need accommodation check out the Job Accommodation Network (goggle it). This is a web site supplied by the EEOC which show the types of accommodation you can ask for. It will depend on the size of the company you work for if they are required by law to provide the accommodation. If they can show it is a financial hardship they do not have to and if they have less than 15 employees(I think) they do not have to.
With the first Hospital I tried to do accommodation I was retaliated against and eventually fired. This is illegal but you have to be proactive and take them to court if you want anything done about it. This hospital bet that I would not go to the trouble. They were wrong.
There are a lot of medications out there that will help. Prednisone helps but is dangerous long term even in small amounts. If you take it in small amounts you still get the side effects it just takes longer.
Most other medications for RA take 2-3 months before you see the change.
Your Rheumatologist is very important. If they do not listen to you find a new doctor. It is too important that they address your concerns.
One of the first things my new doctor check with me was my vitamin D level. If you have not had this check do it. Low vitamin D causes an increase in the symptoms of RA and fibromyalgia. I took a RX strength vitamin D and when I got up the next day I no long had fibromyalgia.
Studies have shown that up to 80-90% of the population has low vitamin D and the medications we take for RA makes us at a higher risk.
Most the the infusions are obtainable without insurance through the medication company programs. Your doctor will have to check into it for you or you can check on line.
Try to be very clear with your family that you live with that your restrictions change from day to day. If you can do a thing you will and if you are not doing it you cannot that day.
I have learned that I pay for what I do. I do not always feel the pain when I do something but I do feel it the next day. It help you to identify what you can and can not do. Some times it is just a matter of not doing it for so long a time.
May the Lord Bless you with the knowledge you need to make it through.View Thread

Posted byHealthCoachwithRA

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5 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Newly Diagnosed with RA I have had RA for almost 10 years. I was diagnosed in 2007. If you can do your...

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