A Beginner's Guide to RA: Workin’ for a Living

I just wanted to say I appreciated that article.  I am an insurance agent with RA and I struggle it seems like moment by moment throughout my day.  From sitting at the desk working to getting in and out of my car for my appts, and from even to what kind of seating I sit on at my appts.  It is very embarrassing if I have to sit on a couch and it is too low because it is so painful to get up that I would rather just crawl under it and die.  I printed this off and some of the other links, so I just wanted to say thanks.

Thank you as well. I have informed myself with lots of information from this site. Trials are daily and adjusting is daily. Being newly diagnosed can be overwhelming, but I see from this site that I am not alone and i dont need to be so afraid.

Thank you again!!

I had such a bad night last night.  I literally couldn't get out of my chair.  My son has to help me sometimes, but not all the time, so I tried to and my legs hurt so bad I couldn't do it.  I just started bawling out of complete exhaustion and frustration.  I don't know how much longer I can do this, the pain is so overwhelming that every single thing I do in my day is affected. I feel like I want to just crawl into bed and never get out.  Of course I know this is not an option, but I sure want to.

My wife is 59 and became symptomatic about 3 years ago.  She had taught for 33 years before that.  Until she was diagnosed  and treated with methotrexate and plaquenil, it was agony for her to get up every morning for work.  I suggested that she quit work, but she didn't and we both now see how important it was for her to continue.  Her discouragement did not give way to depression.  Her meds now allow her to function relatively pain free although her knees are still stiff.

So I wanted to say I appreciate your article and want to re-inforce that for some, work is a form of therapy.

Great article - thank you for this resource! I opted to tell my boss and my coworkers. Like so many of us, RA is not my only health issue, and it had become quite evident that there was a problem.  So far, they've been great about it, and I'm doing everything I can to stay as productive (and healthy) as possible (e.g., doing what the doc says, taking my meds, eating right, getting plenty of rest).  Like others have said, sometimes that means taking the whole weekend to recharge so that I can start again on Monday.  I think "normal" died the day I got my diagnosis, but work does give me a bit of that back.  I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from my work, and not being able to do it would be very upsetting (and frankly scary).  I feel for those who have reached the point where they can no longer work, and realize that disease progression may take me there, too.  But for now, I'm still a working girl!

hi lene.

i am a regular visitor of your shareposts. i had an appntmnt wth my rheumy last weekend and he has put me on HCQS (rather known as plaquenil ), folic + iron, neotextrate.

the MTX i am suppsd 2 take 2.5 mg - 4 tabs on every wednesday.

having had xperience with drugs, could u tell me how these cud affect my organs, if they do..? or at all what are teh chances?

i hve had the disease for over 6 yrs, but was never on conventional medicine.

i had homeo and ayurveda treat me for so long.. but after a point, only NSAIDs helped.

my rheumy poked my knee joint and took out a lot of fluid. and then injected me with steroid. after that i feel i am in heaven !.

i will b coming to toronto , hopefully by  April 1st week. cud u also tell me a bit abt the healthcare in canada? thanks much !

roshni.

So far I have been lucky that I have been able to get up every day and go to work, no matter how much pain I am in.  (A drug reaction did sideline me a few days, but I did not give in to the pain!)   I figure, if I give in today, what's to stop me from doing that the next, and the next, and the next...  But weekends I spend a lot of time in bed recovering.  Thankfully, I have an understanding husband and children. 

I did chose to tell my employer, as soon as I knew for sure.  I am a high school teacher, and it was affecting my ability to do my job.  Hard to teach, when I can't raise my arm to the board.  They got me a special camera for my desk that projects my work to the board so that I do not have to stand or raise my arms (thankfully, so far my fingers have been spared).  I also found out one of my admistrator's spouses has RA, so I have someone on my side with a clear understanding.  Everyone's situation is different, but don't just be afraid, think about what can be gained from sharing the information.