Arthritis Help Center
Juvenile Arthritis to Rheumatoid Arthritis to PREMATURE DEATH???
My daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis when she was 4 yrs old. She is one of the 10% (?) of kids who don't grow out of it (so is it now RA?) and, at the age of 20, it affects virtually every joint in her body, with permanent damage to her wrists and neck. From very early on, her mantra was "I will NOT allow my arthritis to rule my life" and, although obviously some activities are closed to her, she tries very hard to remain true to this. However, the other day, she was researching Rheumatoid Arthritis in order to write a newspaper article and, amongst the information she received, was one study (conducted among those who were diagnosed with RA at the age of 50) which said that RA could lead to premature death. One of the causes of death that was sited was renal failure - my daughter is already experiencing kidney problems that, so far, have not been satisfactorily diagnosed. Obviously, she/we are VERY scared. Is there any rheumatologist out there? Why can't she speak to her consultant? She lives in Southern Ireland and is experiencing problems with her employers due to the sick leave she has taken (actually, perhaps only 10 days in the last 3 months - pretty good, given her condition?!) and has therefore delayed her next appointment. Hmmm - thanx 'smartypants' - but methotrexate did nothing for her.
Public Comments
- Hi there, I would love to help you and your daughter with this, and be more than happy to provide her with any information she is looking for on her research, I myself have had severe RA for 7 years now and it has put me in a wheel chair and cost me a great paying job, a house, my pride and my dignity just to name a few and I have a message board with Ra information as well as a chat room where we deal with diseases like Ra and many others and all sorts of problems, so if you want to email me at poohinmissouri@yahoo.com and I will provide you with the links and also be happy to help with any info that I can
- My husband was diagnosed with RA in 1994. He was able to work until 2003. He has been very successful in his treatment. He has been on methotrexate for about 7 years and it works very well for him. He sees his rheumatologist every 90 days. RA is supposed to be a crippling disease, not a terminal one, but it can effect the internal organs in its advanced stages. If you are not happy with her treatment, seek another doctor.
- hi again
sorry to hear this .......the company hired her knowing her condition and should give allowences for her absence i missed most of school primary and secondery and have never been able to keep a job due to my ra i was born with it so has always been part of my life.....crippling disease???? yes it can be this all depends on how you handle it i slept with splints on every joint every night and thanks to my parents i avoided being noticibley damaged only my feet hands and left arm look different from everyone els's
as for premature death i wouldnt rule it out to be honest no one really knows much about ra its all guess work in my opinion ........methotrexate i took this for about a year i was ment to start back on it but decided not to before i took methotraxate i was handleing my condition ok not great but ok after taking it i have been told i have cronic dry eye syndrom i now have to put artficial tears in my eyes every day i also have an absess in my ear canal and was told there is also dry skin like xzema this i have been told will come and go for the rest of my life .....no internal problems have been found "yet"
your daughter should be able to speak to her rheumatologist when ever she likes i have always found this part of having ra helpfull my rheumatologist will always talk to me on the phone any time i like...
you should advise your daughter to seek advice about work there are new laws for disabled people in work
in my opinion employerssee it like this if you look ok you must feel ok thats not the case with ra
goodluck - My good friend retired a few weeks ago from RA, she is 50 years old. I wish there was a cure for her and your daughter. Tell her to keep a positive attitude, the mind has a lot to do with how the body reacts. God Bless you and your daughter.
