I know several people who have RA and they all see a rheumatologist regularly. I would get into the specialist and see what he/she has to say. I found the below rheumatology professional association website to be very helpful for a different condition.

American College of Rheumatology

Hi Gigi,

I've had RA for 20 years. I remember what it was like when I was first diagnosed.

Pretty scary, isn't it? And then there is the pain. Hard to describe to someone who doesn't have RA.

When do you see the Rheumatologist?

What to expect. Do you mean at the Rheumatologist or the disease itself?

First thing to understand about RA is that it is not just a joint disease like osteoarthritis.

It is a systemic disease and can cause systemic symptoms like severe fatigue, loss of appetite, anemia, greatly diminished tear production in the eye etc.

So it is important to have a good Rheumatologist to monitor your disease.

Everyone is very different in how the disease affects them and how much they want to take charge of their disease.

Your Rheumatologist will l likely prescribe a DMARD (Disease modifying drug)

But I believe there are lifestyle changes and things you can do as well.

Keep your weight within a normal range.

Make junk food, processed food and pop a rare indulgence and not a routine one.

If you smoke, stop.

Some people have good results from eliminating wheat. I have never managed to

totally eliminate it, however I try to eat as little as I can . It seems to make

a difference in how I feel if I eat very much of it.

Keep sugar indulgence to a minimum.

Take fish oil from a very reliable source such as Nordic Natural or Carlson's.

I can explain to you how to dose it if you are so inclined. I'd wait to start it

until after you see the Rheumatologist and he/she puts you on a DMARD.

It could skew inflammatory markers ( improve them) and you don't want

to do that until your Rheumatologist gets a totally accurate picture of your disease with

accurate blood work.

I started it 6 months after I was diagnosed and have not had one abnormal inflammatory marker in my blood work since. I know of only one Rheumatologist in my city who

actually recommends it. I do not hide the fact that I take fish oil and my rheumatologist

acknowledges that it is a really good anti-inflammatory.

It is a great frustration of mine that Docs will not recommend it.

Are you going to run out of Meloxicam before you see the rheumatologist?

Advil or aleve might work as well however you need to take those on a very regular schedule . There are dosage changes you could make for short term use

if you're seeing the Rheumatologist fairly quickly.

I can tell you what they are if you are interested.

Feel free to private message me.

Hi Gigi, sorry to hear about your RA. I was diagnosed about 40 years ago and later with Lupus and Sjogrens. The doctor actually feels I had juvenile RA. I have been taking Plaquenil for years. I must have a mild form as I can go about my life pretty much as anyone else. I do know a healthy life style and not a lot of stress is a big help. I always have an ache or pain and can tell you its going to rain! Hoping you all the best. Grapeleaves you seem very knowledge. What fish oil do you take and dosage ? I know its important to take a good one because they can vary greatly. I take it mainly for dry eye, but not sure about the brand I use.

My grandmother had the first wrist replacement and is in the medical books for her journey. They wanted to do a lot more joint work on her but she had had enough. Back then cortisone was the standard for the pain and it wrecked havoc with what the disease did not. From what I hear much progress has been made for its management. Every case is different. God Bless.

Cran,

I hope you are getting your eye exams every 6 month with a good doc, one who

has an up to date machine. I was on Plaquenil for 12 years, eye exams were okay. Only one problem, his machine was not up to date and didn't pick up the damage. I have eye damage from the plaquenil that was picked up when I changed doctors. And when I changed Docs., I saw how out of date my old Docs machine was . It was the very old style of looking into a monitor of an old style TV and using a clicker to click each time I saw a flashing dot, 5 minutes per eye. It was gruesome.
I also have sjogrens , but just in my eyes.

On Fish oil, ignore what it says on the front of the label.That is not the real dosage. Go to the back label and look at the amount of EPA and DHA. Add them up and that is your dosage.

I take about 3000 EPA/DHA . But not everyone needs to take that much. I'd start with 1000 or 2000 and see how you do.

I take Carlson's " The very finest fish oil lemon flavored" . It is a liquid . The reason I switched to it from the capsules is that I was having to take too
many capsules to get the dosage I wanted to take. There is absolutely no fish oil taste, no burping up a fishy taste. I use a little jigger with measurement that you can pick up at WM for $1 . BB&B has them too, only more money. It was too easy to spill when I was using a spoon.

But I think any of the capsules from either Carlsons or Nordic Naturals would be okay. When you look at the back label to get your dosage, a lot
of the dosages of EPA+DHA will be for 2 capsules. So always check how many caps they say are one serving.

I look at IFOS certification on Fish oil to make sure they are pure . Consumer lab also tests them, but you have to belong to see results of the testing.

one pleasant advantage for me of taking fish oil is that it lowered my tryglycerides and total cholesterol, something I've been fighting for years.

Thanks grapeleaves for the info. I have been taking Nordic Naturals...off and on, I'll check into Carlsons. I go to the Ophthalmologist every 6 months. It is a big Boston practice, I have 3 different exams each time, one of which is the visual field which is gruesome, it is exactly as you described. I will check into that. Thanks !

Gigi - It's so scary to get a new diagnosis...I'm sorry you're having to deal with that. But, chin up! RA is not the terribly crippling disease it once was! There are so many options for treatment now. Diet, lifestyle, and drugs! A good rheumatologist will help you find what works for you...so if you don't click with the first specialist you see, shop around. I was diagnosed about 15 years ago, and with proper treatment, have suffered no discernible joint damage. You will not have to live with the pain you are currently enduring. You will feel so much better!

Thank you everyone for responding to my post. You give me such hope. The horror stories on the internet were so scary. Finding the right doctor and establishing a good rapport seems to be my first challenge. Thanks again for all of your help.

Another point is to not be afraid to see a different rheumatologist if you don't think you're getting answers or your concerns are not being addressed. I was fortunate, my former rheumatologist was my GP's spouse, but they have now both retired. He was patient, thorough, and very understanding. Take care of yourself!

A little late here, but does krill oil have any benefit for RA or just fish oil?