STRESS question for group.

January 16, 2005

FAith,

I firmly believe that stress is a major factor. I started a new high stress

job in a production computer manufacturing facility. I was working 10-12 hrs

a day sometimes as many at 28 days straight without a day off. Also had a two

hour commute one way to work. On top of all of that I was working second

shift, getting home around 4 am....then fall into bed get back up at 6am get

kids

ready to school and take them too school. Come back home fall back in bed to

sleep until noon and get ready to go to work. Eat while driving to work.

My job was also pretty labor intensive with lifting, turning, bending,

reaching and standing the entire shift. I did this for two years solid until I

got

sick..then I was in and out on medical leave until my job finally fired me.

After I was fired and on long term diability my stress levels when to nearly

zero. My pain and swelling decreased and later I cam off all meds. So yes

major stressful life events combined with being over weight and constant sleep

deprivation was what pushed me over the edge. I was the type of person that

NEVER got sick. I am hoping that as I change my life my RA wil go back into

hiding and stay there forever.

Toni

In a message dated 1/16/2005 9:28:03 PM Central Standard Time,

writes:

Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 23:35:46 +0000

From: fmt2002@...

Subject: STRESS question for group.

In hearing everyone talk about stress... I 'd like to ask this question

Did you have any severe stress prior to coming down with RA or other AI

disease?

January 16, 2005

FAith,

I firmly believe that stress is a major factor. I started a new high stress

job in a production computer manufacturing facility. I was working 10-12 hrs

a day sometimes as many at 28 days straight without a day off. Also had a two

hour commute one way to work. On top of all of that I was working second

shift, getting home around 4 am....then fall into bed get back up at 6am get

kids

ready to school and take them too school. Come back home fall back in bed to

sleep until noon and get ready to go to work. Eat while driving to work.

My job was also pretty labor intensive with lifting, turning, bending,

reaching and standing the entire shift. I did this for two years solid until I

got

sick..then I was in and out on medical leave until my job finally fired me.

After I was fired and on long term diability my stress levels when to nearly

zero. My pain and swelling decreased and later I cam off all meds. So yes

major stressful life events combined with being over weight and constant sleep

deprivation was what pushed me over the edge. I was the type of person that

NEVER got sick. I am hoping that as I change my life my RA wil go back into

hiding and stay there forever.

Toni

In a message dated 1/16/2005 9:28:03 PM Central Standard Time,

writes:

Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 23:35:46 +0000

From: fmt2002@...

Subject: STRESS question for group.

In hearing everyone talk about stress... I 'd like to ask this question

Did you have any severe stress prior to coming down with RA or other AI

disease?

January 16, 2005

In hearing everyone talk about stress... I 'd like to ask this question

Did you have any severe stress prior to coming down with RA or other AI disease?

It sounds like our group has had more than it's share of stress, this has

probably been one of my most stressful 5 mos of my life cummunating in this

explosive flair of RA.

I lost my job of 20 years, My mother passed away in August, I had two major

surgeries ( aug-sept , my son is now in Iraq ( since August), and all the

financial difficulties that come with losing your income...

Faith

January 16, 2005

I was typing my post while you were posting yours.

Not only can stress bring an illness to light and make it flare up, but stress

can also cause more stress. after an illness hits there is grief to deal with,

whether you are the sick person or a loved one, there is grief to cope with.

Most illnesses do affect financial situations, for us, when my husband first

became ill, we lost over 75% of our income, even with his social security

kicking in and even with me going back to work. it took us to bankruptcy and

our car was repossessed. Our home was in foreclosure. I had to figure out how

to go baack to work making minimum wage and pay for chilcare for 3 kids, 2 of

whom are disabled. Talk about stress! DId that contribute to my RA, I am

certain it did.

- In , fmt2002@c... wrote:

> In hearing everyone talk about stress... I 'd like to ask this question

>

> Did you have any severe stress prior to coming down with RA or other AI

disease?

>

> It sounds like our group has had more than it's share of stress, this has

probably been one of my most stressful 5 mos of my life cummunating in this

explosive flair of RA.

>

> I lost my job of 20 years, My mother passed away in August, I had two major

surgeries ( aug-sept , my son is now in Iraq ( since August), and all the

financial difficulties that come with losing your income...

>

> Faith

>

January 16, 2005