The R Word

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I've decided that I want to share with the group that I am officially in

remission, 10 months and counting. I'm on my 3rd year of taking Enbrel and

I have no doubt that is what has put me into remission. I'm feeling really

good, no pain at all. I'm still on a low dose of prednisone, will be for

the rest of my life as I've taken it for 17 years now. I've also lost 75

pounds over the last year, am getting a lot of exercise and have started

working part-time. I had trouble finding a job as I haven't worked in 17

years and had retired my nursing license years back. But I am now working

as a housekeeper for three families. I actually love it. It pays well; I

work alone and can go at my own pace. And I'm going to be working extra in

the spring cleaning and organizing closets as I'm very good at organizing

things.

There are so many new people in the group that I don't know and who don't

know me. I was diagnosed in February of 1991. The worse years for me were

the first 7-8. I spent a year and a half in a wheelchair, not being able to

walk much at all. My muscles were being attacked too and my arms and legs

would be frozen in position every morning and I couldn't sit up or move much

at all. The pain was very bad, so bad that I mentally blocked out a lot of

what happened during that time. I know about it because my family has told

me. But I was lucky enough to find a good doctor who helped me and I had my

first remission in 1999 that lasted a year. It would have probably lasted

longer but I pushed myself hard that year. I trained for and walked in a

marathon with the Arthritis Foundation's Joints in Motion Marathon Team. I

can proudly say I am a marathoner as I crossed the finish line of the Dublin

City Marathon in Dublin, Ireland with a time of 8 hours and 6 minutes. I

wasn't fast but I did it. Afterwards my remission was gone. But I would do

it all over again. It taught me to fight this disease and never give up

because there is always hope.

So now I'm lucky enough to get another chance at remission. I know that I

may wake up one morning and it will be over but I try not to think of that.

I take every day as it comes and am very grateful for every day the dragon

stays away.

I sometimes feel guilty about feeling good when so many of you are in so

much pain. I've been in that place where you think that pain is all you

have to look forward to. And I've almost given up a few times. I know

there are several more in our group in remission also and I think it's

important to let people know that there is always a chance at remission.

Aleeta