This has been the hardest longest week i have had to live through in a long time.

   To both of you...I have not been in this very long (going on 6 months since I first saw the Rhuematologist) What I did was I kept a daily log on my computer, of where I hurt physically and how I felt, tired,very tired, I want to just lay down on the floor tired, etc...including the depression.  I wrote it for about two months, then printed it out and took it to the Rhuemetologist with me. I think it is worth the hastle of switching docs if you need to.  The way I look at it is; How can they treat you if they won't listen to you? And also this wont go away in the near future so find a doc who YOU have confidence in to see you through for the long haul. I hope you both get the best help available to you.

    I am struggling with severe depression right now.  I am on meds for it, but they can not take away the reality of this disease. It is progressing and I am exhausted most of the time. the meds that are supposed to help have wicked side affects. Only good thing is I am losing my appetite...which is ok for me because I could stand to lose lots of lbs. I am just over 50 and was really hoping to get my energy back but , IT AINT HAPPENING!

     "I can put on a face to all the world ,

     That I am doing well,

     But facades don't work ,

     When I sit alone, assessing who I am."

   My job is taking care of physically and mentally disabled people. Soon my disability will prevent me from doing that...

Hey from what i have been reading the 1st  year is the worst till they get it under controll so dont give up on the energy levels yet!am dreading the med's and wonder if i could just pitter along with out them and maybe look into alternitive,am luck my daughter dose massage and she lighly monovers my sore ankles also she's been putting warm parafin wax on them (supose to be a beauty treatment)am going to ask if its ok to continue with this and also aroma therpy, if its ok you should try that to lift your spirits,am not thinking down the how long can i continue to work bit yet as am still hoping its hypocondra i have,keep smiling it makes others wonder what you have been up to

Jacabeans

x

My name shoild be thickasmince,i went to doc's as i suffer from anemia i thought my iron was low as i was so so so tierd, i happend to metion sore ankles,yes my iron came back low honstly i was happy with that then comes the letter we need to speak about the results, wasnt my normal doc and he said i was being referd to hospital all the time am thinkin pernious anemia, even when the appoinmet came for Rheumatology am thinking strange they deal with blood counts, sitting in the hospital i started to wonder the realisation never dawned till i came home with two leaflets on medication one of which i'll go on when i go back thusday and looked them and one they had given me (lodine SR) to start right away up on the computer, things started to fall into place, the ankels normaly so thin were like ballons that day, the tierdness the flu like symtoms,doc said she had two posibiltys it could be and wasnt ruling out any till the blood tests came back, hope the second is hypocondrac,wil keep you posted am armed now with questons and my daily ailments for thusday.

Jacabeans

Thanks for the support Jacabean!  You are right I need to be patient and give the meds time to work, but I worry about being able to support myself.  Talked to my boss today. she says they can custom make my job for me based on my limitations. Thank God.  I was so affraid she would tell me that they need healthy people and they would need to lay me off.  Sorry about the bold my computer (laptop) wont cooperate with me.

   Hope you get definitive answers at the doctors thurs.  As to the potassium level being high and that relating to RA, well I can't answer that question.  But when it comes to the Iodine...are you having problems with your thyroid or parathyroid glands? Because I think they sometimes prescribe that for thyroid problems.  If you are having thyroid problems I think alot of the symtoms of that can be similar to RA. Keep me posted ok? And hang in there as we all do...  Mel

Dose that not make you feel great ? you must be a valuble memeber of staff and fantstic at your job if your boss is willing to adapt things for you to continue WELL DONE!maybe with that off your mind things will start to turn the corner for you as a carer your boss maybe better informed about the ilness and more understanding,( all you need now is your hubby to jump on bord) i dont do ilness never been illl i get realy tierd and have my iron checked it gets a little low and i have some iron for a few months and am fine, blood tests for thyirod came back clear the lodine SR says its for RA and other related athritis?i dont thnk its doing anything, i woke up last night with pains in my left fingers thats a first,my neck and bottom of my back are achey to but it couldnt rain any harder here maybe an going to be like the old wifies and be able to tell the weather with what ever i have,keep smiling Jac x

hey mel,

amazing that your employer took that into consideration.  my boss is type A (i'm sure you know what that means) personality.  he knows what i have, although i don't think he fully understands.  once i find out what meds i'm gonna be on, i'll have to face the music with him.  i figure if i put it on the table right up front, and what i'm up against, then he can decide if he needs to hire someone else to do this job, of if he's gonna support my needs.  i hate to sound like a whiner, but i gotta take this seriously, and so does this he.  tomorrow will tell. my appt is 8:45am.  i'm getting anxious. 

hey mel,

amazing that your employer took that into consideration.  my boss is type A (i'm sure you know what that means) personality.  he knows what i have, although i don't think he fully understands.  once i find out what meds i'm gonna be on, i'll have to face the music with him.  i figure if i put it on the table right up front, and what i'm up against, then he can decide if he needs to hire someone else to do this job, of if he's gonna support my needs.  i hate to sound like a whiner, but i gotta take this seriously, and so does this he.  tomorrow will tell. my appt is 8:45am.  i'm getting anxious.