Hello Everyone

[Guest guest]

Hello, my name is Letisha and I'm 31. I live in Connecticut with my

parents and younger brother. I also have two older sisters. I was

diagnosed with JRA when I was 18 months old. My mother thinks I was

born with it because I was always sick and had fevers. She knew

something was wrong more so when I started walking and would tell

her I was hurting. It took her a while to find someone to be able to

give her a diagnosis. Once I was diagnosed, I had the same doctor

until I was 20.

It has been very hard growing up with arthritis but I've learned to

deal. It always helped that I have a very supportive family. If my

mother couldn't take me to an appointment, another family member

would make sure I got there. My Dad tends to shy away from

appointments, he always has. As they got older, my sisters would

take me. They're 9 and 10 years older than me. Even though I have

arthritis I think my life has been pretty good. My parents were good

about letting me try everything. My mother let me try tap dancing,

she let me jump rope. She said she knew I would probably get sore

but she didn't want to say no. She also made sure we always had

stairs because she thought that was good exercise for me. My doctor

says that may be why I didn't end up in a wheelchair when I was 11

like they thought.

I think I have been on every medication there is. Right now I'm on

Humira, Prednisone, Methotrexate and Folic Acid for my arthritis. I

also take Allegra and Nasonex for allergies and Prevacid for stomach

problems. Right now I'm in the middle of a big flare up which makes

it hard to do anything. I am hurting most of the time but I try to

keep going with my daily activities.

I've had my right shoulder replaced, my right hip replaced, both

wrists had to be straigntened out with surgery. I've also had

surgery on my feet. I have several pinched nerves in my neck due to

me now also having osteoarthritis and I have no feeling in my righ

arm and hand. I'm trying to avoid surgery but it's not looking too

well.

Hopefully this is a good introduction and I look forward to getting

to know everyone :-)

Letisha