Re: Current Debate AND medicine use

[Guest guest]

I have found the current discussion very informative. I was just

diagnosed with RA last Sept. and I want to learn everything about the

disease. It has been helpful to hear different sides of an issue.

I understand why people don't like taking drugs. Before RA, I rarely

took any medicine. When I had surgeries, I'd stop taking the pain

medicine as soon as I could tolerate the pain. If I had a headache, I

would go all day without taking medicine. I think I went overboard,

but I'd always believed it was best not to take drugs.

Since I've had RA, I've come to believe medicine isn't bad if taken

properly. Without my medicine, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed

in the morning. I wouldn't be able to parent my daughter. Before my

RA drugs took affect, I had trouble even lifting her some days. I've

come to see medicine as a " good " and " positive " thing. I'm now

willing to take anything necessary to have a pain-free life.

Jean

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Gwen Orel wrote:

I guess that depends on your definition of what sharing information

means. I consider that I *am* sharing information when I counter a

statement like " drugs are poison. " Sorry that makes you

uncomfortable. That's not my intent. But allowing blanket

statements that seem factually wrong makes ME uncomfortable. I've

lived with this disease for 25 years and have a lot I can share, but

that won't mean always blanket agreement...

I don't find it to be real support just to hear " sorry you feel bad. "

In fact, Nellie's original statement to the newbie was also not

just " sorry you feel bad. " Information, pros and cons, about

treatment and expectations is what you get in a REAL support group,

which I hope this is.

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