Guest guest Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 PLEASE TAKE HEART! I know where you are, because I've been there. When you can't find relief from pain you feel like a rat in a cage and someone invisible is tormenting you and you can't escape. I know the path your mind takes when you're looking for a door out of that cage, but don't go there! There's always another day where you'll say, " Phew! I'm glad I came through that. " The worst days are temporary even if it seems like they won't be. A day will come when you say, " God, I'm glad I didn't do that! " I promise. Be aggressive with your doctors about pain management and don't let them make you feel " psychosomatic " . Don't be afraid or ashamed to take the medications you need for pain relief or to help you sleep. In the long run, their side effects aren't as damaging as the stress of the pain or the wear and tear on your body from missing sleep. Maybe your health care professionals can hook you up with social services (or look in the phone book or many local churches keep those numbers handy) for some help with bills or maybe counseling and please don't feel bad for needing help. How many years have you worked and paid into the system? How much of your money has the government sucked out of your paycheck in your lifetime? I know it's hard to need help, but it's your money anyway--or it would have been if they hadn't " removed " it for you. Remember that your lack of sleep makes it harder for you to make the right decisions, and you wouldn't want to make some choices now from which there is no going back. Do you have a church family? Confide in them, if so. If not, maybe now is the time to look for spiritual support. The fact that you feel bad for not being able to work only proves that you are a productive, giving person. You've probably been giving for all of your 59 years. Otherwise this wouldnt' be such a shock for you. It's your turn to let someone else help you and GET THAT HELP. My prayers are with you. Please hold on. laura groggygimp <groggygimp@...> wrote: hi i was diagnosed with ra about 3 mos. ago. symptoms came on rather suddenly, when over night i was nearly crippled with pain and went to the hospital. i was angry and surprised at the diagnosis, since i had n;o previous symptoms, and my ignorance of the disease led me to believe i was psychosomatic, since i thought arthritis was no big deal. i couldn't work for nearly 6 weeks, pain has improved only with multiple meds, including methotrexate, prednisone, hydroxychloroquin, naproxin, and humeris(inj. every other wk.). it seems that none of these rx's are either cures or good for you. the symptoms are only minimally eased, i'm now using a cane, and suffer from muscular cramping in hands, feet and legs. sleep is hard to come by, and the toll is great on me finacially. i'm slipping into arrears in rent and bills. i'm 59, a man, and i find this all emasculating. i've come to wits' end and see no future, but a lack of quality of life and loss of work. with this disease, and my age future work is not likely. i'm contemplating other ways out at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2005 Report Share Posted October 1, 2005 PLEASE TAKE HEART! I know where you are, because I've been there. When you can't find relief from pain you feel like a rat in a cage and someone invisible is tormenting you and you can't escape. I know the path your mind takes when you're looking for a door out of that cage, but don't go there! There's always another day where you'll say, " Phew! I'm glad I came through that. " The worst days are temporary even if it seems like they won't be. A day will come when you say, " God, I'm glad I didn't do that! " I promise. Be aggressive with your doctors about pain management and don't let them make you feel " psychosomatic " . Don't be afraid or ashamed to take the medications you need for pain relief or to help you sleep. In the long run, their side effects aren't as damaging as the stress of the pain or the wear and tear on your body from missing sleep. Maybe your health care professionals can hook you up with social services (or look in the phone book or many local churches keep those numbers handy) for some help with bills or maybe counseling and please don't feel bad for needing help. How many years have you worked and paid into the system? How much of your money has the government sucked out of your paycheck in your lifetime? I know it's hard to need help, but it's your money anyway--or it would have been if they hadn't " removed " it for you. Remember that your lack of sleep makes it harder for you to make the right decisions, and you wouldn't want to make some choices now from which there is no going back. Do you have a church family? Confide in them, if so. If not, maybe now is the time to look for spiritual support. The fact that you feel bad for not being able to work only proves that you are a productive, giving person. You've probably been giving for all of your 59 years. Otherwise this wouldnt' be such a shock for you. It's your turn to let someone else help you and GET THAT HELP. My prayers are with you. Please hold on. laura groggygimp <groggygimp@...> wrote: hi i was diagnosed with ra about 3 mos. ago. symptoms came on rather suddenly, when over night i was nearly crippled with pain and went to the hospital. i was angry and surprised at the diagnosis, since i had n;o previous symptoms, and my ignorance of the disease led me to believe i was psychosomatic, since i thought arthritis was no big deal. i couldn't work for nearly 6 weeks, pain has improved only with multiple meds, including methotrexate, prednisone, hydroxychloroquin, naproxin, and humeris(inj. every other wk.). it seems that none of these rx's are either cures or good for you. the symptoms are only minimally eased, i'm now using a cane, and suffer from muscular cramping in hands, feet and legs. sleep is hard to come by, and the toll is great on me finacially. i'm slipping into arrears in rent and bills. i'm 59, a man, and i find this all emasculating. i've come to wits' end and see no future, but a lack of quality of life and loss of work. with this disease, and my age future work is not likely. i'm contemplating other ways out at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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