You know you have arthritis if... (from Arthritisinsight.com newsletter)

[Guest guest]

From 's list compiled from members on the Message Boards on

Arthritisinshight.com

You know you have RA if...

* You open bottles by holding the cap still and turning the bottle.

* Your dentist keeps finding new reasons to torture the inside of your

mouth.

* Your eye doctor has a special box full of blinking red dots just for

you.

* You rub lotion on moving whole hand around on the other one instead

of truly rubbing your hands together anymore.

* You instruct grocery clerks how to pack a 5 lb. or less bag of

groceries so you can get them in the house when you get home.

* You can no longer sneak up on anyone...they can hear you coming by

the crackling joints.

* You can't keep up with the postings on this board because it is so

active. I'm sure I'm not the only one around here who feels that way and

it is wonderful to know you are all here.

* When you share jokes with your Rheumy.

* When someone says " Will you be there or can I count on you " , your

reply is, When you see the whites of my eyes, then you know I'm there "

and Don't hold your breath counting on me for that project " .

* Your idea of tight fitting clothes is the ace bandage around your

knee

* Your idea of sex is either thinking about it or talking about it.

* Your idea of cuddling up with something warm refers to your rice

sock.

* You have a cold and had rather let your nose drip than get up and get

Kleenex because the box is across the room and your knees just won't let

you get up one more time.

* Guests quit coming to your house because you always ask them to

change a lightbulb etc.

* People always know when you are coming down the hall because your

purse rattles from all the pills in the pill bottles.

* Your medicine chest is cluttered with all the empty pill bottles.

* You know you have RA when a heating pad is a permanent fixture on

your sofa.

* You leave the tops off of spray cans because it's so hard to get them

on and off.

* You either sleep all the time or not at all

* You cry one minute and are angry the next from the pred.

* You drop your stick and can't pick it up again.

* You can't make plans for tomorrow let alone the next day.

* When doing anything slightly energetic takes days to get over.

* You have been known to fall asleep at 9am after drinking an entire

pot of coffee!

* Your thermostat is set to extra crispy

* Your wishful thinking clothes share closet space with your wishful

thinking shoes

* You want to smack anyone who complains about...face it, you want to

smack anyone.

* You spend all day trying to stay awake and all night trying to stay

asleep.

* And, you know you have RA if........What was I just saying?

* You buy new clothes based on what kind of fasteners they have.

* You open swinging doors by pushing with your backside.

I relate to quite a few of these. Anyone else? ;-)

Carol