Hi Everyone,

My name is Barb. I have lived with RA for 20yrs now. I have had my ups and downs. I remember when I was first Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I cried, and asked my Rheumatoligist to please keep me from getting as bad as my father-in-law (at that time I was married to my first husband) had gotten.  I have been on just about every drug you can think of, I have had numerious surgeries.  My state of mind and with my Doctors help i have not given up. There have been times when I just wish I could go back to my younger years, before I had my first flare up. I have found through the years that if I take a hot shower in the morning I am not stiff during the day and I can do everything I need to do, with taking breaks. If I allow this to diease to run my life, instead of me running my life, then I feel I have given up. I am still going strong at the age of 49 yrs. young.  There are three of us in my family who have RA.