Let me clarify

[Guest guest]

I am under no misunderstanding about this disease. I have been

reading about it for about 3 yrs. I realize that pain meds DO NOT

stop the disease. I realize that the damage goes on, regardless of

having pain controlled or not. I contacted the Arthritis Foundation

a long time ago and got a huge stack of info from them on RA, and a

few other things.

Let me assure you that I am not uneducated about RA. I know all

about the synovial capsule, and why the fluid gets attack, and the

WBC's, etc. The fact that the synovial capsule can be removed to

alleviate pain, but grows back eventually for the pain to return. I

know that removing the capsule does not get rid of the RA. I know

that certain drugs which control pain do not compensate for the

destruction of bodies. I know all this.

What I was looking for was real life experiences on the drugs

available, which are RA specific, such as the Remicade, Enbrel,

Humira, et al. I am as educated about this crippling monster as

anyone can be. I have read and re-read pamphlets, books, websites,

medical journals, studies, you name it. I am not claiming to be the

Tom Cruise of psychiatry (HAHAHAHA); what I am doing is letting you

all know that I KNOW the damage and pain are two separate things.

I have never been in denial of anything about this disease. I do not

live my life in denial, in fact, quite the opposite. I am a hard-

core realist. My philosophy is that there is no sense in fooling

yourself into believing lies and living in a fantasy where is there

no escape to a better world. I'll wait for heaven for that better

life. Here, on Earth, life is as it is and there's no justification

for living in denial of anything.

I am fully aware that I will one die from this disease or from the

side effects of treating it. It's a fact. There's no escaping

that. I just want real life. That's all.

Thank you.

Sara