Comments on: Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Kill You?

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:39:21 +0000

Recently I was diagnosed with RA. I am 27 years old, and they caught my RA rather early. It is affecting my kidneys, but we’re hoping that we caught it early enough.

I read this article because though I am scared to DEATH, I refuse to take it lying down. It’s good to know what can happen. But…It won’t get me without a fight. Thanks for posting the information.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:57:04 +0000

Oh there is nothing I can say, Robin to respond to this. I’m sitting here working on how to explain in 5 minutes why this is a serious disease that needs more treatments. I wish I could just read your comment. But I know they would dismiss it as “atypical.” Not atypical enough, in my mind. Bless you.

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:00:13 +0000

Oh my gosh, Kelly, RAD IS a KILLER for sure. My mother, who died at age 62 had RAD since her 30′s and suffered so much. She took every available drug and treatment and was and still is one of the worse RAD cases I have ever seen. I helped her as long as I can remember, but never really knew what she was dealing with. She would lock herself in her room and not allow me to come help at times. I could hear her screaming in agony. My dad would go in with a shot of some sort or a big red pill that would knock her out. After I was married and out of the house, she had to call me once to help her get out of a chair she had been sitting in all day. It is sad that her life ended when her kidney’s started to fail and while in the hospital for that, she suffered a massive heart attack and died within a week. Her death was labeled as a “heat attack”. I knew it was RAD. I am grateful for the fact that she did not have to suffer any longer and she did not have to see ME get RAD and watch what I am going through. She always said to me…”Oh, they will have a cure if you should ever get this.” My big sister died at age 55 of pulmonary fibrosis. (a different autoimmune disease). I have already gone through many of the problems associated with RAD, like pleurisy, a serious and potentially fatal lung abscess that ruptured, and a massive heat attack that was moments away from taking my life among countless infections, rashes and drug side effects. It is always the PAIN that is in the forefront for me. The depression and guilt all gets to me, also. I do not want to get old. I told my new Rhumy, I am more afraid of staying alive than I am of death. I could go on and on…but most of all, I want to answer the question of “Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Kill you?” YES, it can.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 01:32:31 +0000

RA Joint problems…yes
RA Eye problems….Cataracts at age 50
RA Lung problems….pluerisy and nodule
RA Heart problems….arrythmia due to nodule
RA infections….frequent and long lasting.

By: Lisa Calhoun

Lisa Calhoun — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:38:51 +0000

One question, isn’t Orencia and Methotrexate a chemotherapy drug?

By: Lisa Calhoun

Lisa Calhoun — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:36:34 +0000

Living with RA is frustrating to say the least. Like many of you the fact that when you say Rheumatoid Arthritis usually the first thing out of someone’s mouth is “Oh I have arthritis in my knees, etc.,etc. It really hurts the soul to think that so many do NOT understand this disease simply because of it’s name! I am 48 and am currently taking Orencia IV once a month, methotrexate, plaquenil and arava – plus Naproxen. My markers usually still run from 48 to up in the 80′s! Everyday hurts, everyday I am TIRED!

I have had synvectomy on my right elbow, left elbow, right hip, knee surgery, rotator cuff surgery, ulnar nerve surgery in right elbow and have now been told I have neuropothy in both legs and arms! Go to the Orthopedic Surgeon on Thursday, probably going to have a second surgery at least on my right shoulder and elbow (again)! I have RA nodules in my lungs and chronic Bronchitis!

I say this out of frustration that as many drugs as I take this horrible disease is still ravaging my entire body. It does my heart good to see other posts and to not feel all alone in this fight and that their are others who do understand your pain and fight! I am on disability and I too get mean looks parking in a handicapped spot. I know that feeling all too well.

I want to thank you for this site it has helped me tremendously and let me know what all we need to do to get the name changed! God Bless you!

By: Robin Trafton

Robin Trafton — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:33:33 +0000

I was on Enbril, methotrexate, & plaquenil etc when I was rushed to the ICU and evenutally treated for disseminated histoplasmosis 2009. I would not be alive today had the doctors not tried the antifungal therapy. The source of my fungal infection is still unknown – and my medical therapy today is severly hampered by the possibility that the infection will return.
I am so thankful to find your website – but wish you included more information warning others of this very serious issue. I would be happy to share my personal story if you believe it would help. thanks, Robin, Kansas City, MO
http://arthritis.about.com/od/brms/f/infections.htm

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:27:21 +0000

Welcome Michelle. Sounds like a lot of things have happened to you that are familiar to many of us. Congratulations on still working full time.

I believe the ignorance will end as we begin to help people realize the disease is more than a form of arthritis, but a disease. Arthritis is actually only one of the symptoms.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:52:05 +0000

Interesting article. I’ve had RA since I was 20, I am now 35. My type of RA is extremely aggressive, I have been on Methotrexate, Remicade and now finally Orencia (which god bless has prevented me from having flare-ups). Unfortunately blood work still shows my inflammatory markers are still really high; nearly triple. It’s unfortunate that so many people are ignorant when it comes to this form of arthritis. I’ve actually had people tell me “it’s not that bad”, give me dirty looks when I’ve had to use my permit to park in a handicap spot or even worse call me lazy when I required an electric wheelchair on 2 occasions. I was told I’d be in a wheelchair by the time I was 30 (luckily I’m not), have had 3 surgeries, and yet am still working full time as
an activities director. Thank you for writing this article and informing people of what RA is and what it can do.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:35:17 +0000

I’m very sad for you Amanda. I’m sorry for your loss.

I heard a doctor give a speech last week saying that a person is 6 times more likely to die of infection in the US if he has RA disease, even without any risks of medications – jsut from a broken immune system. But most don’t realize RA is even a disease at all – confusing it as a type of arthritis.