(taken from my blogs)

So.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. As well as Degenerative Discs Disease.

This morning I woke up and my hands were so swollen I couldn't make a fist. So, I had to be taken to the hospital yet again.

I'm now on Celebrex and Percocet pretty much permanently, and will likely have to go on prednisone.

The GOOD news, is that we caught it EARLY. Which means better control and hopefully slowing down the destructive processes on the joints.

The bad news is.. well, alot.

Prognosis

The course of the disease varies greatly. Some people have mild short-term symptoms, but in most the disease is progressive for life. Around 20%-30% will have subcutaneous nodules (known as rheumatoid nodules); this is associated with a poor prognosis.

[edit] Disability

* Daily living activities are impaired in most individuals.
* After 5 years of disease, approximately 33% of sufferers will not be working
* After 10 years, approximately half will have substantial functional disability.

[edit] Prognostic factors

Poor prognostic factors include persistent synovitis, early erosive disease, extra-articular findings (including subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules), positive serum RF findings, positive serum anti-CCP autoantibodies, carriership of HLA-DR4 "Shared Epitope" alleles, family history of RA, poor functional status, socioeconomic factors, elevated acute phase response (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP]), and increased clinical severity.

[edit] Mortality

Estimates of the life-shortening effect of RA vary; most sources cite a lifespan reduction of 5 to 10 years. According to the UK's National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, "Young age at onset, long disease duration, the concurrent presence of other health problems (called co-morbidity), and characteristics of severe RA – such as poor functional ability or overall health status, a lot of joint damage on x-rays, the need for hospitalisation or involvement of organs other than the joints – have been shown to associate with higher mortality".[26] Positive responses to treatment may indicate a better prognosis. A 2005 study by the Mayo Clinic noted that RA sufferers suffer a doubled risk of heart disease,[27] independent of other risk factors such as diabetes, alcohol abuse, and elevated cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index. The mechanism by which RA causes this increased risk remains unknown; the presence of chronic inflammation has been proposed as a contributing factor.[28]

and heres what Im currently experiencing:

* Morning stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes.
* Pain in three or more joints at the same time.
* Pain in a joint all night long.
* Pain in the same joints on both sides of your body. This is called a symmetrical pattern.

and heres some info:

What is rheumatoid (room-a-toid) arthritis?

* RA is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks other parts of your body.
* Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes redness, pain, swelling or a hot (or warm) feeling in the lining of a joint, the place where 2 or more bones come together.
* This redness, pain, swelling and heat around the joint is called inflammation.
* The inflammation may also affect other internal organs, such as the eyes, lungs, or heart.
* RA can affect any joint, but the most common places are the hands or feet.


I am managing well however and I refuse to let this break me. I WILL maintain my life as long as I possibly can, but inevitably at some point I WILL be physically disabled. This has given me a real zest for life - I am going to enjoy every little bit I can now.

Thanks to my friends for showing your support. It is muchly appreciated

oh and

RA, liver functioning at approx 25%

kidneys not functioning normally.

blood count WAY low.

No idea what this all means yet.... but if things dont get better after the med changes abd coninue to get worse....

I'm on the transplant list....

also might need a biopsy and or dialysis....

I am terrified right now.