My journey with RA began in March 2007.  I feel very fortunate because I was able to get in with a rheumatologist and had my symptoms under control by October of that same year.  My rheumatoid arthritis is seronegative, which means that I do not test positive to the traditional diagnostic tests that are used to diagnose the disease.  Seronegative makes the job of diagnosing a patient with rheumatoid arthritis even more difficult.  After conducting numerous tests to rule out other explanations for my joint tenderness and swelling, my rheumatologist decided to prescribe methotrexate.  She started me on six 2.5 mg tablets to be taken one day each week.  In addition, she prescribed 1 mg. of folic acid to be taken daily.  

I began keeping a journal in April 2007 to help me keep up with my symptoms, appointments, and the various medications that I was prescribed.  As I prepared for this article, it was interesting to look back at my journal entries during that time of uncertainty.   I definitely had good days and bad days with life interspersed between the two.  I documented the day that I started on methotrexate.  I easily determined that my symptoms began to lessen in four weeks and were almost totally under control in eight.  I remember worrying about hair loss and the other side effects from methotrexate.  However, thanks to the folic acid I have not experienced any of the side effects other than mild fatigue the day after I take the methotrexate.   I visit my rheumatologist’s office every three months for bloodwork and every six months for a follow up.   I have found that my “maintenance” dose of methotrexate is five 2.5 mg tablets per week. 

I have read posts on various sites about people newly diagnosed that are fearful of taking methotrexate because of its side effects and the fact that it is chemotherapy.  I had the same fears in the beginning, but for me…it’s been a miracle drug that has given me my life back.  I hope that this is encouraging to those of you that are newly diagnosed.  

Here is an excellent video that explains the proper use of methtrexate for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis:

 http://www.rheuminfo.com/content/view/113/385/

December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season!  The wife and I took our coffee cups and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like something from a Norman Rockwell painting. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love the snow!

December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of pristine, crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a beautiful sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I’ve ever had! Shoveled snow for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!

December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we’ll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we’ll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I’ll never want to see snow again. l don’t think that’s possible. Bob is such a nice man I’m glad he’s our neighbor.

December 14: Snow lovely snow! 8″ last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle like shimmering diamonds. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. l didn’t realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I’ll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish l wouldn’t huff and puff so.

December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4×4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife’s car and two extra snow shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that’s silly. We aren’t in Alaska, after all.

December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should’ve bought a wood stove, but won’t admit it to her. God, I hate it when she’s right. I can’t believe I’m freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20: Electricity’s back on, but had another 14″ of damn snow last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Idiotic snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they’re too busy playing hockey. I think they’re lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they’re out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they’re lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he’s lying.

December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white crap fell today, and it’s so cold it probably won’t melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he’s too busy. I think the ass is lying.

December 23: Only 2″ of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she nuts!!! Why didn’t she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she’s lying.

December 24: 6″. Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the idiot who drives that snowplow, I’ll drag him through the snow by his balls. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I’ve just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for that flipping snowplow.

December 25: Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the #!#%!# white stuff tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she’s an idiot. If I have to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” one more time, I’m going to kill her.

December 26: Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.

December 27: Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze.

December 28: Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. The woman is driving me crazy!!!!!

December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That’s the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am? Idiot.

December 30: Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a million dollars. The wife went home to her mother. 9″ predicted.

December 31: Set fire to what’s left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8: I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

-Author Unknown