Guest guest Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 , I know exactly what you mean. If I tell them I have RA then they might say, 'oh, yeah, my grandmother has that in her right knee. what joint do you have it in?' They don't realize that we have it in virtually all joints and parts of our bodies. It effects so many of our functions and changes our way of life. And, it's about that time when I show them my fingers. (my fingers are a bit messed up) I still don't think they get it though. I think I always knew the subtle differences between RA and regular arthritis because my grandfather had RA. I was always scared and worried that my mom would get it because that was her dad. I never dreamed I would be the one to get it, though. Anyway, I'm right there with you. I wish I could explain it better, but I can't. Oh well. Luckily my family knows what it really means and that's all that really matters to me. diana --- ltlmisscrankypants <ltlmisscrankypants@...> wrote: > Hello. > > How do you all explain your RA in a short and simple > way to people in ask > what's wrong? Most don't understand RA or know what > it is. Many who > hear " arthritis " ...think it's a disease you get when > you're a senior citizen. > Many just think it's " sore joints " . > > Do you say you have an auto-immune disorder that > affects your joints? I > don't freely tell people what's up, but there have > been times where people > have asked. If I say RA, then they dismiss it like > it's nothing. I am > embarassed to admit that I was of the same mindset > prior to being > diagnosed. I was really misinformed about the > disease. > > Thanks for reading... > > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 , I know exactly what you mean. If I tell them I have RA then they might say, 'oh, yeah, my grandmother has that in her right knee. what joint do you have it in?' They don't realize that we have it in virtually all joints and parts of our bodies. It effects so many of our functions and changes our way of life. And, it's about that time when I show them my fingers. (my fingers are a bit messed up) I still don't think they get it though. I think I always knew the subtle differences between RA and regular arthritis because my grandfather had RA. I was always scared and worried that my mom would get it because that was her dad. I never dreamed I would be the one to get it, though. Anyway, I'm right there with you. I wish I could explain it better, but I can't. Oh well. Luckily my family knows what it really means and that's all that really matters to me. diana --- ltlmisscrankypants <ltlmisscrankypants@...> wrote: > Hello. > > How do you all explain your RA in a short and simple > way to people in ask > what's wrong? Most don't understand RA or know what > it is. Many who > hear " arthritis " ...think it's a disease you get when > you're a senior citizen. > Many just think it's " sore joints " . > > Do you say you have an auto-immune disorder that > affects your joints? I > don't freely tell people what's up, but there have > been times where people > have asked. If I say RA, then they dismiss it like > it's nothing. I am > embarassed to admit that I was of the same mindset > prior to being > diagnosed. I was really misinformed about the > disease. > > Thanks for reading... > > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 Hi there, If anyone asks me why i use a cane or hand splints or am in pain all time I just tell them that I have an auto-immune disease. I won't explain any more than that. The last time someone asked me what was wrong, I told them that I had an auto-immune disease they said " OH MY GOD! YOU POOR THING! Then asked what kind of auto-immune disease, so I said to myself " aww the hell with it....I said I HAVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS...they then said " OH YOU MADE IT SOUND SO SERIOUS BUT MY GRANDMA HAS THAT AND SHE IS 80. I wanted to whack them but I just laughed and asked what her email address was...I then emailed her a definition of RA from a site and she called to appologize.....she could not believe it. Corinne ltlmisscrankypants wrote: > Hello. > > How do you all explain your RA in a short and simple way to people in ask > what's wrong? Most don't understand RA or know what it is. Many who > hear " arthritis " ...think it's a disease you get when you're a senior > citizen. > Many just think it's " sore joints " . > > Do you say you have an auto-immune disorder that affects your joints? I > don't freely tell people what's up, but there have been times where > people > have asked. If I say RA, then they dismiss it like it's nothing. I am > embarassed to admit that I was of the same mindset prior to being > diagnosed. I was really misinformed about the disease. > > Thanks for reading... > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 Hi there, If anyone asks me why i use a cane or hand splints or am in pain all time I just tell them that I have an auto-immune disease. I won't explain any more than that. The last time someone asked me what was wrong, I told them that I had an auto-immune disease they said " OH MY GOD! YOU POOR THING! Then asked what kind of auto-immune disease, so I said to myself " aww the hell with it....I said I HAVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS...they then said " OH YOU MADE IT SOUND SO SERIOUS BUT MY GRANDMA HAS THAT AND SHE IS 80. I wanted to whack them but I just laughed and asked what her email address was...I then emailed her a definition of RA from a site and she called to appologize.....she could not believe it. Corinne ltlmisscrankypants wrote: > Hello. > > How do you all explain your RA in a short and simple way to people in ask > what's wrong? Most don't understand RA or know what it is. Many who > hear " arthritis " ...think it's a disease you get when you're a senior > citizen. > Many just think it's " sore joints " . > > Do you say you have an auto-immune disorder that affects your joints? I > don't freely tell people what's up, but there have been times where > people > have asked. If I say RA, then they dismiss it like it's nothing. I am > embarassed to admit that I was of the same mindset prior to being > diagnosed. I was really misinformed about the disease. > > Thanks for reading... > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 I know what you guys mean every time someone asks me what is going on I tell them I have RA and I either get you are too young for that or it can't be that bad and in which joint do you have it. I wish their was a way for people to understand. Thanks for the great support and information off of this group. Thanks Angie > > > Hello. > > > > How do you all explain your RA in a short and simple > > way to people in ask > > what's wrong? Most don't understand RA or know what > > it is. Many who > > hear " arthritis " ...think it's a disease you get when > > you're a senior citizen. > > Many just think it's " sore joints " . > > > > Do you say you have an auto-immune disorder that > > affects your joints? I > > don't freely tell people what's up, but there have > > been times where people > > have asked. If I say RA, then they dismiss it like > > it's nothing. I am > > embarassed to admit that I was of the same mindset > > prior to being > > diagnosed. I was really misinformed about the > > disease. > > > > Thanks for reading... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2005 Report Share Posted August 12, 2005 I know what you guys mean every time someone asks me what is going on I tell them I have RA and I either get you are too young for that or it can't be that bad and in which joint do you have it. I wish their was a way for people to understand. Thanks for the great support and information off of this group. Thanks Angie > > > Hello. > > > > How do you all explain your RA in a short and simple > > way to people in ask > > what's wrong? Most don't understand RA or know what > > it is. Many who > > hear " arthritis " ...think it's a disease you get when > > you're a senior citizen. > > Many just think it's " sore joints " . > > > > Do you say you have an auto-immune disorder that > > affects your joints? I > > don't freely tell people what's up, but there have > > been times where people > > have asked. If I say RA, then they dismiss it like > > it's nothing. I am > > embarassed to admit that I was of the same mindset > > prior to being > > diagnosed. I was really misinformed about the > > disease. > > > > Thanks for reading... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 You know, I ran into the same problem. Say " rheumatoid arthritis " and all people hear is " arthritis " - and then they'd say to me " aren't you kind of young to get that? " Then I'd have to go into this spiel about what it was, while they eyed me disbelievingly. So I quit saying arthritis. I just tell them that I have an auto-immune disease that attacks my joints, and if they want to know more I go into it being a rheumatic disease and that it is, at times, like severe arthritis in every joint all at once. Then I show them the swelling in the joints of my hands and the lump on the back of one hand (still not sure why I get that, but the bigger the lump, the more sore I am that day). Once in awhile I get someone who hears " auto-immune " and thinks " AIDS " . People are vastly misinformed about so many things. Luckily the people who matter to me are the ones who know what condition I was in just a few months ago - so when they see me up and training dogs and working in the yard, they don't shrug me off as making things up. They KNOW how bad I was. It's the people who meet me now and don't understand why I might drive from my house to the fishing lodge instead of walking (we're on the same long driveway). I try to tell them I only have so many steps in each day, and I don't want to waste them walking to the fishing lodge when I could be playing with my dogs or walking on the beach instead. I'm amazed at how many people DO know what RA is though. and the gang in Alaska ----- Original Message ----- From: ltlmisscrankypants How do you all explain your RA in a short and simple way to people in ask what's wrong? Most don't understand RA or know what it is. Many who hear " arthritis " ...think it's a disease you get when you're a senior citizen. Many just think it's " sore joints " . Do you say you have an auto-immune disorder that affects your joints? I don't freely tell people what's up, but there have been times where people have asked. If I say RA, then they dismiss it like it's nothing. I am embarassed to admit that I was of the same mindset prior to being diagnosed. I was really misinformed about the disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2005 Report Share Posted August 16, 2005 You know, I ran into the same problem. Say " rheumatoid arthritis " and all people hear is " arthritis " - and then they'd say to me " aren't you kind of young to get that? " Then I'd have to go into this spiel about what it was, while they eyed me disbelievingly. So I quit saying arthritis. I just tell them that I have an auto-immune disease that attacks my joints, and if they want to know more I go into it being a rheumatic disease and that it is, at times, like severe arthritis in every joint all at once. Then I show them the swelling in the joints of my hands and the lump on the back of one hand (still not sure why I get that, but the bigger the lump, the more sore I am that day). Once in awhile I get someone who hears " auto-immune " and thinks " AIDS " . People are vastly misinformed about so many things. Luckily the people who matter to me are the ones who know what condition I was in just a few months ago - so when they see me up and training dogs and working in the yard, they don't shrug me off as making things up. They KNOW how bad I was. It's the people who meet me now and don't understand why I might drive from my house to the fishing lodge instead of walking (we're on the same long driveway). I try to tell them I only have so many steps in each day, and I don't want to waste them walking to the fishing lodge when I could be playing with my dogs or walking on the beach instead. I'm amazed at how many people DO know what RA is though. and the gang in Alaska ----- Original Message ----- From: ltlmisscrankypants How do you all explain your RA in a short and simple way to people in ask what's wrong? Most don't understand RA or know what it is. Many who hear " arthritis " ...think it's a disease you get when you're a senior citizen. Many just think it's " sore joints " . Do you say you have an auto-immune disorder that affects your joints? I don't freely tell people what's up, but there have been times where people have asked. If I say RA, then they dismiss it like it's nothing. I am embarassed to admit that I was of the same mindset prior to being diagnosed. I was really misinformed about the disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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