Reddit mentions of The First Year: Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

Hello devousivac and welcome to this forum.

(1) I had the classical presentation: pain and stiffness on waking in the morning, bilaterally, in multiple joints.

(2) How disabling is RA? It varies but most people respond well to treatment. My pain is intermittent with flare ups or overexertion; physical fatigue and "mental fog" are the worst constant symptoms.

(3) What else should you know?

• It frequently takes several doctor visits before you get an RA diagnosis.
  
  
• It takes a while for medication to reach full effectiveness, be patient.
  
  
• Medical treatment has greatly improved in the last 20 years and is getting better all the time. There is reason for optimism.
  
  
• There are books that give you a good overview of RA, for example:
  
  The First Year: Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569243646?keywords=rheumatoid%20arthritis&qid=1450423464&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1
  
  Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1421414279?keywords=rheumatoid%20arthritis&qid=1450423464&ref_=sr_1_3&s=books&sr=1-3
  
  
• Here is a good web site: http://rawarrior.com/
  
  Best of luck to you!