Happy Thanksgiving and an Update

November 24, 2005

Hi group.

I haven't been around for awhile, but I want you to know I read the posts, and

send prayers out to all of you when you need them.

My name is Noreen, I'm 51, live in Minnesota, and have been diagnosed with RA

for about 3 years now, I think.

To all the people who don't know me, I feel I know all of you through your

posts, and I know we are all family because of this disease. You can get some

wonderful support from this group, as well as very helpful information.

I've been on MTX for almost 2 years now, injections, and have been doing great.

So good, one reason I haven't posted is out of guilt. I didn't want to come on

brag about feeling better when others were suffering.

I vowed I would tough this out and not let it affect my work

For the last month or so, however, I've been putting up with a lovely flare that

has actually made me ask to do different jobs at work (I'm a lab tech, and I

don't know if you would want someone drawing your blood, whose hands won't

bend.) My knees were so bad one day, I needed a cane at home. My shoulders

have been waking me up at night. My carpal tunnel is at full blast. My elbows

are sore to the touch. And I'm so stiff, I have a hard time turning my head, and

in the bathroom....well never mind, you don't want to hear that part.

I know a lot of this has to do with the sudden change from warm fall, to winter

we had here, but it really is ticking me off.

Stupid disease. Just when you think you have it under control, it sneaks up and

bites you.

Ok, enough whining.

I know I'm still doing well. I can still work (most of the time), still sew

(most of the time), and can still ignore the housework (all the time). Today, I

can make a fist with each hand (yippee), and only had a slight problem with my

shoulders last night, so caught some sleep.

Sorry to those of you who are going through worse. I know I am a big whiner.

Just needed to do that.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and today, I'm thankful for the people in this

group, who are the most understanding of the problems of this affliction .

..

Noreen

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