My story started back in October of 06 when I thought that I had sprained my wrist.
I kept working (Internal fixout in the housing industry) until the job was complete (two days),
but the wrist by now was quite swollen and the fingers very stiff and sore.
The following day my left hand started to suffer the same fate and the right, well I could not open a
vegimite jar nor hold a knife. Things only got worse from here with the same fate hitting my feet, knees,
and right shoulder, but I'm a bloke and things will right them selves, no need for a Doc.

At this stage I can hardly get out of bed let alone stand to have a pee, better to sit like the girls do,
Ahh, much more comfortable. After a week of this my groins started to act up and quickly spreading to
my lower adomin with a lot of pain and extreme discomfort, but still I'm a bloke, we'll get over this.

Three weeks down the track I had no more fight left in me, in tears and barely able to crawl, I succumbed
to the fact something was wrong (DOH). The only thing I could do without causing any pain was blink.
It's amazing how many muscle movements are thru the abdomen. Just moving a finger was felt down there.

The Doc took one look at me and said, well, whats the problem?.
Geezus, havent you been taking any notice of me over the past 3 and half weeks, then I remembered,
I'm a bloke.

The Doc prescribed prednsolone 3 x 25mg for three days tapering down after that, and off for blood tests.
Magic stuff that prednsolone, back to work at three days feeling as if nothing had happened.
I lasted 5 hours before having to pack it in, dizzy spells, cold sweats, shakes all over, and a brain that felt
like I had left half of it in bed that morning.

Back at the docs and he informs me that I have an RA Factor of 750 and ships me off to a specialist,
also stay on 3 x 5mg of prednsolone until you get into to see him.
Now I'm starting to hit the panic button, what the hell is this Rheumatoid Arthritis stuff.
A bit of reading on the internet that night and more panic, my bloody life is finished I thought.

Twelve months down the track and I'm still here and wont bore you with the journey in between.
Current status, unemployed, depression, Vertigo, Tachycardia, and last, Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Meds- Methotrexate 20 mg once a week, Leflunomide 20 mg daily, Folic acid twice weekly.

Medications are just holding, but over the past week have developed a deep throbbing type pain in
my right upper arm and shoulder blade, feels more muscular than RA.

Heart Attack Christmas 08
Fast forward to now (28/09/09) and I am still here and doing Ok.

Meds are: Humira fortnight, MTX 25mg weekly, Pred 3mg daily, Folic Acid 5mg Daily