Of course I'm not really surprised to be having a flare-up right now, while I'm in the middle of finals, but all the mental effects of RA coupled wtih the now crippling physical effects can really drive a girl mad. I've had a sudden plunge these past few weeks, for the worse and am going to the Student Health center in the AM because of significant unexplained weight loss, fever, irregular periods and PAIN! I had already scheduled an appointment w/ my rheumatologist in 2 weeks, when I'm home for xmas break. But when you have 2 term papers due and have zero motivation, it's rather hard to perservere. I'm worried about my health, but I am more so frustrated than anything else.
I had been doing so well, and was pleased with my drug regiment, and now I've crashed. Gotta love the roller-coaster that is RA. Especially trying to email professors and apologize for not meeting deadlines. I am hard on myself because I don't want to believe that I physically can't get my work done. I am in the overwhemed/stressed phase of the semester, and hope that tomorrow's snow will bring me joy here in DC.
Thanks for reading my ranting words... -nicole
Hey there,
My name is Liz and well, am not totally sure how this works, posting a comment etc. If everyone is able to read this, then hi all, and if this is only going to Nicole, hello as well:).
I stumbled on this site while researching the latest in pain meds/muscle relaxers I've been perscribed. I've spent some time reading through the stories, from all different women/people, and am somewhat shocked to see how different they are, yet how they are all too much the same. To read over the things others have said about their situation, I can't help but become even more angered.
I, myself, began the journey to the diagnoses that is RA one year and two months ago with "bronchitis". That lead to "this that and the other", sinus issues, fevers, aches and pains etc, then finally to pleurisy almost a year to the date. And just like so many of you out there posting on this site, a site I am more than sure we never would/could have imagined we would one day be posting on, I am a 28 year old female. Physically fit, active and happy. More importantly, thought my life was finally headed in a grown up, on my own, sucessful direction. I own a horse(aka money pit), and of course my two dogs, and was also a full time ER vet tech so I did little resting and was happiest that way. ( And yes...I like animals a bit:). And then this hits and it seems, at times as there has been NO remission yet for me, that all is lost. And then to read about how many more, (not that I really thought I was the only one), are there struggling in the same ways I am...and so many of us so young. Just not fair... I have to say I am most impressed to see how many, those months from graduating from Uni. and other such situations similar, there are that seem to be at an apparent calm. This is something I, almost more than anything, need help with, is getting over this anger at the RA, at my body for having it even. It doesn't help that I have been in a state of denial until maybe 3 months ago. I kept thinking, it, along with the pleurisy would surely go away as did all the other infections I've had in the past. I thought I had been holding my own for the last while then yesterday afternoon the pain in my chest came shooting in from out of nowhere, (knocks the wind out of me from the pain), can't breathe except for tiny little breaths that are absolute torture, can't talk and can't really move. (The pleurisy is direclty related to the RA I should mention but most people don't have it longer than two weeks...I'm lucky:)
Anyway, I'm now rambling on but would love to hear from anyone who has delt with or is dealing with well, being ****** this has happened to you. Not to say we can't get through it..I'll be damned if this is going to ruin my life entirely, but it would just be so good to hear from any of you out there who know what I'm talking about. I know you would have known what I was talking about by simply saying "I have RA", but like I said, I'm mad, and well, a woman went on ranting anyway. I feel a bit better though:)
Wish all of you the best, and it would be great to hear from any of you, angry or not, at some point. I will registed as a user for this site tomorrow(need to go to bed now), but feel free to email me at letoikaya@yahoo.com should you care to exchange email "war stories", or simply just to chat about the turns life takes sometimes.
Take caare-Elizabeth
Hi Liz, I'm Debbie a 54 year old with two awsome grown daughters out on their own, and I was blessed with twin daughters thirteen years ago. The onset of my RA was at 14 years old and was able to be finally given a true diagnosis at 42 . The only time I truly ever felt in remission with no pain when I was pregnant. I truly feel the hormones are a major factor in my case. Unfortunately my husband had a hard time living with my disease and chose to leave my girls and I. With all the added stress i'm hurting everywhere plus being in full blown menopause , I feel the hormones are a great contribution to the problems. Im so sorry to hear your situation but truly my heart goes out to you. Positive attitude is very important but also very hard at times, most people have a hard time understanding that. I don't know what meds you are all taking. I went without any treatment for years living in denial besides the fact it was hard for the doctors to give me a poss. diag. of RA. Sometimes I'm still scared their missing something. I had a friend who we lost 2 yrs. ago who had lupus, and saw her Dr. for some new symptoms she was concerned about. Her Dr. sent her away twice saying he felt it was just associated with her lupus,and after her persistance and seeing another Dr. they found she actually had stage 4 lung cancer. I've seen different rheumatologists all over the country through the years of moving from state to state and find I pretty much get the same response from all of them just handing me another medication. Last weak I was given a new RX for Vicodin 500mg, Just what I need with 13 yr old twin daughters and their hormones bouncing off the walls, a 4lb. poodle who's in heat, myself in full blown menopause, and now lets just add the RX for Vicodin to the picture to really turn our lives into a party mode
Hi Liz, I'm Debbie a 54 year old with two awsome grown daughters out on their own, and I was blessed with twin daughters thirteen years ago. The onset of my RA was at 14 years old and was able to be finally given a true diagnosis at 42 . The only time I truly ever felt in remission with no pain when I was pregnant. I truly feel the hormones are a major factor in my case. Unfortunately my husband had a hard time living with my disease and chose to leave my girls and I. With all the added stress i'm hurting everywhere plus being in full blown menopause , I feel the hormones are a great contribution to the problems. Im so sorry to hear your situation but truly my heart goes out to you. Positive attitude is very important but also very hard at times, most people have a hard time understanding that. I don't know what meds you are all taking. I went without any treatment for years living in denial besides the fact it was hard for the doctors to give me a poss. diag. of RA. Sometimes I'm still scared their missing something. I had a friend who we lost 2 yrs. ago who had lupus, and saw her Dr. for some new symptoms she was concerned about. Her Dr. sent her away twice saying he felt it was just associated with her lupus,and after her persistance and seeing another Dr. they found she actually had stage 4 lung cancer. I've seen different rheumatologists all over the country through the years of moving from state to state and find I pretty much get the same response from all of them just handing me another medication. Last weak I was given a new RX for Vicodin 500mg, Just what I need with 13 yr old twin daughters and their hormones bouncing off the walls, a 4lb. poodle who's in heat, myself in full blown menopause, and now lets just add the RX for Vicodin to the picture to really turn our lives into a party mode
Hey there Debbie! And thanks so much for writing me! It meant a lot, and was nice to hear from someone else that has "been there, done that". No one ever really seems to understand what this is like, and the doctors pratically run for cover when they get into my health care and issues. I have found some relief seeing an "off the beaten path" sort of doctor, who is an MD but specializes in "nutritional muscle testing", and goes more into nutrition and treating the cause, NOT the symptom. I am starting to feel that he has taken me as far as he can, however, and things seem to be getting worse. I don't know where that leaves me though, and if this is just something I have to live with for the meantime. God I hope not... talk about an up hill battle! For the most part I think I live in denial, as bad as feel even. I had such an active lifestyle that it's just hard to accept I guess. Although I have a recently worsening blood sugar issue that has now stopped me in my tracks, basically making me "pass out" for a bit, twice in the last couple months, so there is always something remind you whether you want to believe it or not:) Are you on any meds? Other than the so often prescribed pain killers? Have you found one that you think works best overall? Sometimes I feel as though I am getting to the end of my rope, but need to step back and realize things just aren't that bad....I don't think:)
Anyway, it was really very nice to hear from you, and hope to hear back from you again in the future.
Thanks again, and take care!
Elizabeth