Guest guest Posted August 10, 2007 Report Share Posted August 10, 2007 Hi, I kinda feel in the corner right now because I dont have a clue what Im doing here. I guess I will start by introducing myself. Im a 36 yr Mom to 5 kids I live in So Cal. My mom and grandma and great grandma have RA and now its my turn I guess. Im also being tested for Lupis. I have had pain in my knees and hips for many many yrs. I chalked it up to childbirth and running after kids and lifting them. The last several yrs it started in my ankles and now my wrists and fingers. My joints in my hands are swollen,my sis said if I had hair on them I would have man hands...humm didnt quite know how to respond to that one. Somedays it hurts so darn bad and others Im ok....is that the norm?? I guess I need reasurrance Im not crazy, growing up we always thought arthritis was an old lady problem.My family and friends give me that " look " when I try to tell them what Im feeling. That makes me feel more insaine. Geez I hope Im making sence. Maybe Im feeling sorry for myself. I hope to be able to talk to some of you soon if I havent scared anyone hahhha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 Hi, Your letter sounds like me. My grandmother and great grandmother had RA. Mine started in my feet so bad I could hardly walk. I had to give up teaching because I couldn’t stand for hours. Then it went to my hands and wrists… I have man hands too! And I chase after kids all day too. I feel much better now that I am on meds consistently. My rheumy says that the longer it takes to onset the better off the prognosis, which I think is my case. I still have bad days, (it is in my neck now and that can be difficult), but most of my days are good. My feet rarely hurt any more. My advice is to get on consistent meds and stay on them every day.Good luck, T -----Original Message----- From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of kidsdogsandchaos Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 9:47 PM To: Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: New here Hi, I kinda feel in the corner right now because I dont have a clue what Im doing here. I guess I will start by introducing myself. Im a 36 yr Mom to 5 kids I live in So Cal. My mom and grandma and great grandma have RA and now its my turn I guess. Im also being tested for Lupis. I have had pain in my knees and hips for many many yrs. I chalked it up to childbirth and running after kids and lifting them. The last several yrs it started in my ankles and now my wrists and fingers. My joints in my hands are swollen,my sis said if I had hair on them I would have man hands...humm didnt quite know how to respond to that one. Somedays it hurts so darn bad and others Im ok....is that the norm?? I guess I need reasurrance Im not crazy, growing up we always thought arthritis was an old lady problem.My family and friends give me that " look " when I try to tell them what Im feeling. That makes me feel more insaine. Geez I hope Im making sence. Maybe Im feeling sorry for myself. I hope to be able to talk to some of you soon if I havent scared anyone hahhha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2007 Report Share Posted August 17, 2007 Kidsdogsandchaos wrote: Somedays it hurts so darn bad and others Im ok....is that the norm?? Ardeith writes: When you are on the proper meds, you might not have such swings between feeling very bad and being more or less OK. But no one is going to tell you that you'll ever be any better than you are, right now. Whatever damage you have is going to remain with you.....the idea of the medications is to try to prevent further damage..... Kidsanddogs wrote: I guess I need reasurrance Im not crazy, growing up we always thought arthritis was an old lady problem.My family and friends give me that " look " when I try to tell them what Im feeling. That makes me feel more insaine. Ardeith writes: You might try to relate your pain to something your family and friends have experienced themselvs. Like a toothache in every joint? Many people have had toothaches. Or....have any of them sprained an ankle, or broken a bone? Or had a baby? When you have a baby, you know the pain will end, and you'll have a little one to cuddle.......but the pain of RA isn't going to have such a sweet result. And sometimes it seems it will never end, doesn't it? My mom used to draw little faces on her knees, and then she'd smack them when they ached. It didn't make the pain any less.....but it was funny....and the grand- children would laugh........sometimes all you can do is laugh or cry.....and laughter is something others can share. No, you are not insane......but your family and friends see someone they care about changing in ways they can't understand. Get some brochures from your doctor's office to give them.......can't hurt, and might help them understand. Ardy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 I guess I need reasurrance Im not crazy, growing up we > always thought arthritis was an old lady problem.My family and friends give > me that " look " when I try to tell them what Im feeling. That makes me feel > more insaine. > > Ardeith writes: You might try to relate your pain to something your family > and friends have experienced themselvs. Like a toothache in every joint? > Many people have had toothaches. Or....have any of them sprained an ankle, > or broken a bone? > Or had a baby? When you have a baby, you know the pain will end, and you'll > have a little one to cuddle.......but the pain of RA isn't going to have > such a sweet result. And sometimes it seems it will never end, doesn't it? > > My mom used to draw little faces on her knees, and then she'd smack them > when they ached. It didn't make the pain any less.....but it was > funny....and the grand- children would laugh........sometimes all you can do > is laugh or cry.....and laughter is something others can share. > > No, you are not insane......but your family and friends see someone they > care about changing in ways they can't understand. Get some brochures from > your doctor's office to give them.......can't hurt, and might help them > understand. > Ardy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 , I hear you talking! In the last 5 months I have fallen and cracked a rib and buised about 4 of them, then again fell and bruised two more on other side, then fell and broke one rib and bruised all the rest, back of head cuncusion, injured (cracked) the sacroiliac area then got an acute infection in the two sacroiliac joints for which I am still immobile and in the meantime had oral surgery removing part of upper gums and jaw bone and am schedulled to have surgery on lower jaw, gums and teeth removed. I am not looking forward to that. I am getting pretty tired of it all, and especially of being somwhat of a burden on my children, as my daughters, for the past three weeks have had to come in (usually my eldest) to see that I get food and medication and do gth emergency room bit and take me for MRI's and Dr appointments. My wrists are so inflamed from RA that it is verry uncomfortable wheeling this wheel chair, but thank THE LORD I have it! I should be pretty well healed from this in another 4 weeks, and hopefully ready for the surgery again. I am fortunate to have a TV and this computer and can do things like working on my photographs and making wallpaper for my computer. I just made one i really like that has a black background and a white statue of Kiing praying with the 23rd Psalms in white script which blends quite well with my black desk top. I will appreciate any prayers that any one would like to offer up for me that I can continue being patient another three months, and i will do the same for all of you who are about to give up as I know that there are others who are in a lot worse circumstances than I.. Let us not give in to depression, but keep our minds too busy for it to enter our soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 Hi, I am Gloria from Ok., and will be happy to put you on our prayer list. I belong to a small country Baptist church and it has been my saving grace. Not a day goes by without someone calling to check in on me. I have not been as depressed since we have joined this church. Keep us posted. God Bless, Gloria>> > , I hear you talking! In the last 5 months I have fallen and cracked a rib and buised about 4 of them, then again fell and bruised two more on other side, then fell and broke one rib and bruised all the rest, back of head cuncusion, injured (cracked) the sacroiliac area then got an acute infection in the two sacroiliac joints for which I am still immobile and in the meantime had oral surgery removing part of upper gums and jaw bone and am schedulled to have surgery on lower jaw, gums and teeth removed. I am not looking forward to that. I am getting pretty tired of it all, and especially of being somwhat of a burden on my children, as my daughters, for the past three weeks have had to come in (usually my eldest) to see that I get food and medication and do gth emergency room bit and take me for MRI's and Dr appointments.> My wrists are so inflamed from RA that it is verry uncomfortable wheeling this wheel chair, but thank THE LORD I have it! I should be pretty well healed from this in another 4 weeks, and hopefully ready for the surgery again.> I am fortunate to have a TV and this computer and can do things like working on my photographs and making wallpaper for my computer. I just made one i really like that has a black background and a white statue of Kiing praying with the 23rd Psalms in white script which blends quite well with my black desk top. I will appreciate any prayers that any one would like to offer up for me that I can continue being patient another three months, and i will do the same for all of you who are about to give up as I know that there are others who are in a lot worse circumstances than I.. Let us not give in to depression, but keep our minds too busy for it to enter our soul.> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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