Today I feel like 100

By Twinkisses4me Wednesday, June 18, 2008

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Some days are just better than others. I did get some running in, with a lot of walk breaks, but still it was exercise. I then painted the fence. My wrists are killing me now. I feel like such a baby. Why do we do these things to ourselves. I think I try to pretend I can do the things that others without the disease can do. I try so hard to keep up with the other girls at the running group...why..is it fear of knowing that my days are numbered as a runner?

I developed RA after the birth of my son. That was almost 9 years ago. Some days I feel like a normal person others I feel like I am 100. When am I going to realize my limitations and remember that I do have a disease.

Is it common to have

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Hollybgroovin, Health Guide

6/23/08 12:30pm

Here I am 5 years after the pain. In the back of my mind I know my limitations, but sometimes I do what I want just because I want to feel somewhat normal. It is hard to realize that you can no longer do as much as we once used to. A year of go I could do so much. I could do all my running around and keep going for at least three or four days before I began a flare. Now I can't even do a full days worth of work or errands before spending the next three or four days in severe pain. Limits are hard to recognize, especially since they change so often. It takes a while, and some days we want to pretend that we are able to do all the same things that we used to be able to do. You will learn what you can and can't do. It's hard though because it's pretty much admitting that you are sick. As far as feeling 100 years old...I am right there with you on that every single day. In fact I was at a family reunion a couple days ago and couldn't even get around as well as my 92 year old great aunt. Keep your head up, and try taking at a slightly slower pace for awhile and see if that helps. Good luck and best wishes!

Jandy

1/ 4/09 2:44am

Hi, My name is Jandy and I too, was diagnosed shortly after the birth of my son. During my pregnancy I had a lot of the usual ankle swelling, etc. Except that I had inexplicable pain to both of my wrists. My fingers were swollen, but again, the OBGYN doctor said it was due to the pregnancy and dismissed me.

I gave birth, and six months later visited my primary care doctor. He asked me what medications I was taking. He was alarmed when I told him about all the Motrin I was taking over the counter. At that time, no one had ever taken the time to ask me that simple question, and all my aches and pains were attributed to my current job as a nurse.---A lot of pulling and tugging, etc.

He did some blood tests,-ANA, RF, Sed rate,---all were abnormal. We immediately ruled out Lupus and Srojens. There were so many other much more scary possibilities.

After he did all these tests, he sent me to a rheumatologist so that they could officially diagnose me. The rheumatologist I saw was extremely rude and did not believe that I had RA. She basically told me that I did not have any finger deformities, or swelling, my hand x-rays were normal, and I did not fit the profile. And she sent me home.

I was really upset at that point. I was not imagining this horrible fatigue and pain that went on all day. Even writing was painful. But my manicured hands looked "too healthy"!

I needed answers. I am not a hypochondriac. And I certainly don't enjoy going to doctors, but I needed to put a name on what was eating away at my once healthy body.

I went back to my Primary, he went back over all the tests. He put me on Celebrex, told me to get off the motrin. I held on like this until I got in to see another RA doctor.

This new clinic was God sent. I was treated like a human being. The ARNP sat down and listended to my whole story. she combed through all my previous lab work and ordered some more. An MRI showed Synovitis, or inflammation of the capsule of fluid around the my joints. Even though my wrists and fingers were not swollen, yet, this proved that I was sick. I was not imagining it all and I was not dismissed. Treatment for RA has to begin early enough to prevent the soft tissue and joint damage. If I would have taken that first doctor's advice and went home and ignored the pain, I think I would be in much worsed shape right now.

She also diagnosed me with Fybromyalgia. I think it goes hand in hand with RA because, if you think about it, all your ligaments, tendons, and joint tissues are constantly under attack. These structures are attached to our muscles, our muscles have connective tissues as well. Basically our whole muskuloskeletal system is under attack. I can have muscle pain even if I get 10 hours of sleep. I get a fever daily, which in turn makes me hurt more. I know there are better days, but these are rare and few.

I hope one day there will be a cure, in the meantime, I will try anything to feel better.

The best advice I can give anyone is follow your rheumatologist's instructions to the T. Make sure you are in tune with your body. Take your meds, try new therapies, herbs, massage. If you need sleep, then sleep. Don't push yourself too hard. I learned that I can't do the things I did just five years ago - like digging in the garden. If i try, then I will be in pain. I want to heal, not cause more damage.

Good luck to you...

sincerely,

jandy

Jandyp123@gmail.com

Today I feel like 100

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