New To Group

[Guest guest]

Hi.. I wanted to introduce myself as I am brand new to the group. My name is

Maureen, I am 36 years old and married with two kids.

I can't exactly pinpoint when I was " officially " diagnosed with RA as like many

people I have been to several rheumys. I just keep going to find some relief.

I tried so many different medications, psychotherapy, PT, chiropractor,

massage...ect.. I did vitamins... you name it and it seems like I took it..I

also have fibromyalgia along with Type II Bipolar... what a mouthful. I do get

very discouraged as I " don't look sick " . People are so ignorant including

family. The most understanding person is my husband of 12 1/2 years.

My reason of joining this group is to meet others who have gone through or are

going through the same things as me. I don't want to moan and groan... just

find support. My oldest child (on top of everthing else) has Rett Syndrome.

www.rettsyndrome.org She is almost 7 and requires round the clock care. We do

have private duty nurses but sometimes they don't show up...ugh...

Pain: I feel like I have tried them all and with so many reactions. Currently

I take a combo of psych drugs that seem to help. I take: Neurontin, Visteral,

Trileptal, Provigil, Cymbalta, Dyazide (for high BP) and Risperal (PRN). For

now this combo is helping. We recently added Provigil for energy. I can't take

more pain meds as they make me too tired to care for kids and self.

My RA has a " low factore " but I still suffer from the symptoms that come from

" out of the blue " . I have been to the ER too many times feeling like I had

broken bones. Anyone else have that problem???

I have had pain for many years but the worst was right after my daughter's

birth. Then when I got pregnant with son (had to stop taking meds), I felt so

much better. After his birth my pain came back with a vengence. It's hard to

function with some many unknowns in my life. I do try and sometimes succeed.

Currently I am on SSDI and am grateful for the assistance. It was a fight as

one diagnosis doesn't qualify me but the combo does. Grateful for a great

lawyer.

I know that many of you can relate to my story and I look forward to hearing

from you... thank you for welcoming me into your group..

maureen mom to sarah and patrick and wife to brien

nj