Guest guest Posted November 15, 2005 Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 Welcome Joyce, You have come to the right place to hang out. It is so great to chat with others, it just helps in so many ways. So, just know your not alone with this disease. Hugs, Tawny > > Hi... > I have just joined this group and have enjoyed reading all of the > messages so far...I would never ever wish RA on anyone...but I am glad > to know I am not alone in this! <<I will try to get this message > typed...and sent sometime today...but, > I am somewhat slow going today with my hands. > > I am 40 and was diagnosed with RA when I was 25. > I have severe RA and have recently been told it is > starting to cripple some of my joints. > > I am blessed that I am able to be a stay at home mom.... > for now. > I would like very much to get out and be able to handle > at least a part time job. I fight the feeling of worthlessness when > money is tight...you know? My husband works 12 hours rotating shifts > as a police officer and then part time...when he can get the hours...as > a security guard.... My two daughters are in their teens and do help > out quite a bit. I do have so much...I know... but I still at times > get very discouraged from my RA. > > This past weekend I had a sudden very bad flare up in my back and > hips...the pain was so bad I was not sure if it was just from my > arthritis. After talking to my DR he referred me to the ER...as it was > after clinic hours and with the kind of pain I was having it could have > been any number of things. My right hip and surrounding area was > painful and very hot...my lower back and up my spine...etc... > I did go to the ER late friday night... > and then finally > after tests and exams and costing me about $100. it was decided that > the pain must have been 'just my RA after all'....as precaution I was > on bed rest for a couple days and given pain pills... > I was relieved to find out there is nothing 'more' wrong with me...but > damn---how can one be sure? I also felt like an idiot because after > having RA so long I should have known that's all it was....?? > > Has this ever happened to anyone else............?? > > I also struggle with trying to explain to people who just don't get > it... I am sure I am not the only one who has been given the comments > something like... " oh, I have arthritis too...I just take a tylenol and > deal with it " ...there is much resentment towards me from my husband's > family ... why can't I just wear a brace or carry a cane...?? If only > it were that simple.... > > Anyway.... > blah! I needed to get that out... > ;o) > thank you for accepting me into this group! > > Hey---at least my arthritis has not stopped me from being a friend...I > do look forward to talking with many of you and giving support where > I am needed! > > May you find warmth today... > Joyce > > **I know that I might be in a wheel chair or one of those funky scooters > soon...I am wishing for one that is similar to a mini zamboni...how > fun would that be?? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Dear Joyce, Oh, yes, I've been to the ER a couple of times for a fruitless, frustrating, gosh-I-could-have-told-you-that-myself experience. My shoulders are the worst with the fibromyalgia and when it goes down my arm it always freaks doctors out and they send me to the ER to prove it's not a heart attack. Welcome to the group. The experience of having friends and relatives who think that the definition of arthritis is " a tad stiff and achy " is universal. We need to think of new names for RA and fibromyalgia that sound more like what they feel like--maybe " excruciatitits " or something. Any ideas????? God bless, laura Joyce <ooniteowleroo@...> wrote: Hi... I have just joined this group and have enjoyed reading all of the messages so far...I would never ever wish RA on anyone...but I am glad to know I am not alone in this! <<I will try to get this message typed...and sent sometime today...but, I am somewhat slow going today with my hands. I am 40 and was diagnosed with RA when I was 25. I have severe RA and have recently been told it is starting to cripple some of my joints. I am blessed that I am able to be a stay at home mom.... for now. I would like very much to get out and be able to handle at least a part time job. I fight the feeling of worthlessness when money is tight...you know? My husband works 12 hours rotating shifts as a police officer and then part time...when he can get the hours...as a security guard.... My two daughters are in their teens and do help out quite a bit. I do have so much...I know... but I still at times get very discouraged from my RA. This past weekend I had a sudden very bad flare up in my back and hips...the pain was so bad I was not sure if it was just from my arthritis. After talking to my DR he referred me to the ER...as it was after clinic hours and with the kind of pain I was having it could have been any number of things. My right hip and surrounding area was painful and very hot...my lower back and up my spine...etc... I did go to the ER late friday night... and then finally after tests and exams and costing me about $100. it was decided that the pain must have been 'just my RA after all'....as precaution I was on bed rest for a couple days and given pain pills... I was relieved to find out there is nothing 'more' wrong with me...but damn---how can one be sure? I also felt like an idiot because after having RA so long I should have known that's all it was....?? Has this ever happened to anyone else............?? I also struggle with trying to explain to people who just don't get it... I am sure I am not the only one who has been given the comments something like... " oh, I have arthritis too...I just take a tylenol and deal with it " ...there is much resentment towards me from my husband's family ... why can't I just wear a brace or carry a cane...?? If only it were that simple.... Anyway.... blah! I needed to get that out... ;o) thank you for accepting me into this group! Hey---at least my arthritis has not stopped me from being a friend...I do look forward to talking with many of you and giving support where I am needed! May you find warmth today... Joyce **I know that I might be in a wheel chair or one of those funky scooters soon...I am wishing for one that is similar to a mini zamboni...how fun would that be?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Hi Joyce, Welcome to this group! I had to laugh at your comment about a scooter like a zamboni! My husband Ron would probably like it if I got a scooter that would hold his golf clubs so I could caddy for him and he wouldn't have to pay cart fees... I've been the ER route too, though I don't have RA. I have Dercum's disease, Fibro, and MS and have finally found a doctor that, while she doesn't understand Dercum's (it's a rare disease) she realizes that it is going to pop up some weird symptoms and she doesn't want to take the chance on it being something else. Unfortunately, I live in a very small, rather backward town, and the hospital is a reflection of that. I've got the therapists educated, but the rest of the hospital doesn't even want to see me coming! I'm fortunate too to be able to stay home--I " retired " at age 55 after 42 years of working, and Ron retired at age 62 after 37 years at Abbott Laboratories. We live near our daughter, who has a 5-year old and 2 1/2 year old triplets--lots of fun! Don't get too discouraged--come here and let off the steam, we'll listen! Judi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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