Ratnapriya

I have been living with RA for the last nine years and for the last six years it is being properly treated. I am a research scientist working in a leading research institute in my country as faculty. After returning to my country after several years in different labs in Europe, I became the victim of drug induced RA which was not diagnosed for three years that left extensive permanent damages. None of my doctors believed I would ever walk leave alone work.  But I told myself that RA cannot rob me of the dream I had all my life to have my own research group and work in the field I love. Several people told me to give up my job. I refused to let go of my dream because that is what kept me going through the dark corridors of pain. Now after nine years, I head a research group as Professor and work full time as any of my healthy colleagues. I walk with a bad limp cannot negotiate staircase without a crutch and have several other disabilities.

If you think the pain is gone and I am better. Hell no!!!! Like all RA patients I have bad days and very bad days. Fatigue that can knock anybody down even when I am in an important meeting. This is because I keep telling my RA that it cannot take over my life and I will definitely put one foot before the other. My students do not mind at all if I take five minutes to walk from one lab to another. My colleagues have got used to picking up things from the floor for me and never be condescending to me. My husband feels and tells me that I am normal (far from truth) and have learned to walk as slowly as I do when we share a walk and forces me to go beyond my limits. I on my part take my RA meds regularly do a yoga and free hand exercise regime to keep me as mobile as possible. During the initial period of my disease  the faces around me were all filled with pity. I hate pity. Slowly over the years, pity has been replaced by grudging respect. It is difficult living with RA, it is more difficult  to do it smilingly. But give it a try, that smile on your face can definitely push your RA to the backseat of your life.