NO. with RA there are associated conditions. Dry eyes (and any other
typically moist area) is one of those. In its full blown form it is
Sjogren'sSyndrome, when it is somewhat milder, it is referred to as
Sicca syndrome.

15
painful swollen joints
stiffness upon arising
a general feeling of malaise, what is described as vague flu-like
symptoms
fatigue
weakness

What were the symptoms that led to the diagnosis? How long

I was seriously ill for several months because I refused to go to the
doctor. When I did go finally, the diagnosis was made very quickly and
with little doubt.

When I was really young, I had what the family doc then thought was
rheumatic fever. As an infant, my mother said that I cried a lot as if
I were in pain. Mt Rd thinks that I had early onset JRA, that remitted
and reappeared several times before it reappeared in its full blown
form when I was 15.

Questioning is good. It is how you find out about things.

Rose
@}>-->>>
Please remove "Ima" to reply privately!

Lisa, I was diagnosed with RA only 3 weeks ago.  I have OA and FM as well.
A few of the symptoms I had before the blood test finally indicated a
positive factor for RA:  Swelling and tenderness in my wrist and ankle
joints, usually accommanied by lots of pain in those areas.  Then, my SED
rate started getting high, and my doctor would bring it down with
Prednisone, but after being off Pred for awhile up it would go again.  Then,
finally, 5 years ago when I had my total knee replacement, the orthopedic
surgeon suspected RA instead of OA, because of the amount of inflammation
when he got inside the knee.  But, when I came back to my home town, that
rheumy said I had OA with inflammation.  I guess I'm an official "gimp" now.
Rosie may tell you what that means.  Nanny

Rose and Nanny,
Thank you for taking the time to answer. I do appreciate it.
Lisa :0)

(((Lisa)))
I don't have answers just hugs right now...glad you are de-lurking!
donnah

Dry eyes are common, as Rose has said. I had plugs put in my tear ducts
several years ago and they work wonders. I only occasionally need eye drops
now.

I was diagnosed right before my 31st birthday. I gave birth to my second
child and withing 6 weeks the pain and swelling in my feet, ankles,
shoulders, hands, wrists, and hips were so bad I couldn't get around without
help, couldn't drive , couldn't change a diaper and basically couldn;t
function. All this with a 3 yr old and a newborn while supposedly packing to
move into a new house. I was fortunate that I had rapid onset because I was
diagnosed only three months after my duaghter's birth. I was in such bad
shape that there was no doubt as to my diagnosis.

On the positive side of things, I had 5 mostly good years damn close to a
medicated remmission on just Enbrel. I've since added mtx and after five
weeks the flares are settling down, as well as the duration of the side
effects.

Glad you delurked and feel free to ask any questions.

Welcome Willow. Too tired to answer you now but just wanted to say hello.
Duckie