getting a diagnosis of a chronic illness is scary. You're right - your life as you know it is over. You have to grieve the loss of health in order to move on.
The good news is that if you do have to have RA, now is a pretty good time to have it. There are more treatments available than ever before and many more people go into remission or have their RA controlled so well that they can lead a pretty normal life. Approach to treatment has changed to early and aggressive intervention, which can feel like a bit of a whirlwind, but the faster you get your RA, suppressed, the more you protect your joints and enhance your chances of getting back to life. And it is very possible to do that - I know people with RA who play soccer, kickbox, get married and have kids, work, go to school and everything else I go into leading a normal life. Some have more symptoms than others, but at the end of the day, life goes on and you live it.
Still, you are taking the first steps on a journey of discovering how your life is changing and how to navigate the medical system. I'd recommend that you check out my post on what makes a good rheumatologist and how to prepare for your first appointment. You may also want to check out my post for people who are new to RA - it sort of summary post that collects links to many resources in our archives that have information about pre-much all aspects of life with RA.
One of the crucial aspects to learning good coping mechanisms is to connect to others who lived with the same disease. I am very glad that you found our community - we are here to help you through it. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Hang in there. It gets easier.
It does take a bit of mental adjustment to the diagnosis, even though it is good to know what the problem is. Give your mind time to adjust and although your life will never be the same, it is possible to learn to live with your new life.
Not looking back is the key, don't think about the what ifs of life. What if you never got sick, etc, live for the present, take each day separately, only think about the future, and dont let yourself regret what might have been.
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Hi,
Just take a minute and breathe.
Okay, I agree that it's not the greatest thing in the world to be diagnosed with. But while there currently isn't a cure, scientists are working on it and making strides toward that end.
You're taking the first step in getting this under control... you're going to a Rheumatologist. I know it's all scary... I was in your shoes just a few years ago. The medications & side effects seem frightening and overwhelming at first, so just breathe and don't panic. As you learn more about RA, you'll find that treating early and aggressively is what most doctors agree works best... stopping damage from occuring is way better than trying to fix it after the fact.
The future now isn't exactly the same place as it was before your diagnosis, but it can still be bright and productive. RA is treatable now.
So don't worry about accepting your diagnosis. That will come with time. Don't let this moment in time overwhelm you.
We're all here for you.
Ish