As Good As It Gets-Now What?

Hi Jamie!

Great post! Again I share your sentiments... I have both of his books, but havent yet gotten around to reading them. You have inspired me to get going and read! Have you read Louise Hayes book " You can Heal Your Life" ? She talks alot about your mind set and the power you have over your thoughts, living life in the present, and the effect of our thoughts on illnesses. Very simple to read, with lots of daily affirmations to help one. We cannot change what has happened in the past, but we do have the power to control how we react to the present, and this in turn will affect our future.

Talk soon

Tracy M

Reminds me of what Paul says in the bible about how our suffering draws us to rely on God:

2Corinthians 12:9

⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take the pain away from me. ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I'm on month 7 too and my suffering has helped me to turn to God to carry me throught the hard time of battling RA.  Shame on me to think that I can carry the burden all on my own or that I attracted this to myself.  God's love and mercy endures forever and his love comforts me and gives me the strength that I get not thru me but only thru him.  I agree that being in pain helps me to turn to God and to read his words for encouragement and builds my faith this draws me closer to Him. If I did not have the RA to deal with then I would probably not crave and long for that that spiritual hunger of knowing God. It has made me more spiritual. I read the scriptures to affirm that I am blessed, accepted, adopted and reedemed in Him and that God has only good plans for me.  May God bless you and may he give you encouragement and strength to know that you are not walking alone.

Isaiah 40:31

 ³¹ But those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.

It's quite possible that this isn't as good as it gets- you meds may kick in more or you may end up switching to another medication that will work better. However, you're on to a good thing when you've decided not to put on your life on hold anymore - this is an unpredictable disease, but you can't stop your life, because then you'd end up existing instead of living. Sometimes, it needs more pain meds and sometimes you need to cancel, but you have to keep going out there.

I haven't heard of the book you mentioned, but have ordered it from my library and look forward to checking it out. Personally, I've found a lot of help in mindfulness and Buddhist teachings and you may find it interesting, as well. I'll let you know what I think of the book.

Hi Jamie,

I was researching natural remedies and I ran across your post.  And as I read along, I could relate to everything you have been going though.  I could go on and on with my struggles with this disease, by I rather share with you what has been working for me.  I don't know what meds you are on but you might want to ask your doctor about Enbrel.  Jamie, I have tried over 10 different meds and this is the only one that works for me. It wasn't easy to get my insurance to approve it, but it was well worth it.  I've been battling this disorder for 11 years and preventing cartilage damage is the key.  You need to do everything you can to stay off of prednisone.  I know there are times when you will need it for flares but trust me avoid it as much as possible.  In addition, you might notice that certain foods can trigger flares.  I've noticed that seafood, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant tend to cause flares as well as foods high in sugar or salt eaten late at night.  There are so many things that I have learned in this battle and the main thing is you have got to fight.  Don't just lay down and let this disorder boss you around and make you into the oger that I was.  RA temporarily had me in a wheelchair but now I am back into my high heels.  Life is ment to be enjoyed to the fullest. Modern meds have come along way however I realized that negative emotions can cause flare also.  If anyone has offended you, be quick to forgive.  If you have an explosive temper, learn to manage that emotion.  There were times when I would fly off the handle and the next morning I could not get out of bed. I dont' know your whole story and I not here to judge.  I just want to share things that I have learned that help me over come the depression that accompany's this disorder.  I could go on and on but I just want you to know there is hope.  It does get better.  I hope that anything that I've shared will benefit you.  Take care of yourself.  Whatever that entails.

-Sheina-