I want to say how happy I am to have found this site. It is unreal how much the world cannot understand this pain unless they have it themselves. I've found that even those who suffered great pain for 9 months due to a car accident still tend to forget what it was like. When I first found out, I refused to believe it. Made my doc re-run the test 3 times. I could not believe it, just could not take it in. I had suffered cancer at 22, with 3 returns all requiring surgery. I have suffered from anemia all my life, even requiring intravenous iron treatments. When the RA marched in, it was just one more thing I thought I could beat. My docs say I am a most stubborn patient, with many questions and demands on their time. I have to believe that some day I will get relief from this pain, this 24/7 constant gnawing, screaming, life-altering PAIN!
My Philosophy:
Once when my illnesses almost cost me my life I sat down and wrote this promise to myself for my family.
I Promise to always remember:
1.ACCEPTANCE IS NOT GIVING UP!
2.DO NOT EVER GIVE UP-YOU ARE LOVED!
3.GET INVOLVED IN YOUR TREATMENT
4.LEARN EVERYTHING YOU CAN-ALWAYS
5.TALK TO YOUR DOCTORS-LISTEN&LEARN
6.TALK TO YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS
7.BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK
8.DON'T TRY TO DO IT ALL ALONE
9.ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT!
10.REMEMBER THINGS CHANGE CONSTANTLY!
11.ONLY GOD KNOWS OUR LIFE'S ROAD.
12.DETOURS MAKE YOU CHOOSE.
13.I CHOOSE TO CONSIDER IT NOT AS A DETOUR, BUT AS GOD SHOWING ME A NEW PATH.IT MAY BE ROCKY,I MAY NEED TO BUILD A NEW ROAD,BUT I WILL FIND THAT THERE IS A WHOLE NEW LANDSCAPE OUT THERE THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN AND GOD PUT ME THERE SO I COULD ENJOY IT!
14.ACCEPTANCE IS CONSTANT!
15.LEARNING IS CONSTANT!
16.MY ILLNESSES HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE COMPLETELY AND FOREVER. THE CHANGES WILL BE CONSTANT AND NEVER-ENDING, THEREFORE IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR MY ACCEPTANCE TO ALWAYS BE THE FIRST AND LAST STEP.
17.I HAVE TO ACCEPT THE CHANGES GOD HAS MADE TO MY LIFE AND TRUST IN HIM TO GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO FIND A BEAUTIFUL PATH ALONG THE WAY.
18.EACH DAY IS A NEW DAY TO FIND A NEW WAY TO DEAL WITH AN OLD ILLNESS
19. EACH DAY GOD GIVES ME IS ANOTHER DAY TO FIGHT MY ILLNESS
20. ACCEPTANCE IS LEARNING THAT CHANGE IN CONSTANT AND HOPE FOR A CURE IS NEVER ENDING!
This is not to say that I don't have my moments. The RA, OA & Fibro are actually more demanding and draining than the cancer was. My life now is a huge big circle of pain, pain, pain. I do a lot of scrap-booking & reading now, things I had put off for years.
Well, this is long enough, I do tend to ramble. One final thing, a collage I made for my arthritis walks fundraisers. If you would like more info on those, follow these links to my web pages.
Arthritis Walk - Myrtle Beach, SC - October 25, 2008
Arthritis Walk - Florence, SC - October 04, 2008
I love everything that you said! Thankyou so much for sharing ane welcome to our community. it is full of caring and loving people.
With love in the heart, doors open with ease! Dr. Christina Lasich, MD