Janet

[Guest guest]

Hi Janet,

Welcome to the group. I am glad that you have joined us. I was reading your

intro and was amazed at how much we have in common. I am 35 and have a 6

year old son. I was divorced in 99 and diagnosed with severe RA in 2000.

The millennium didn't do me any favors!!! LOL I have recently started

Remicade, after going through the awful sides and reactions to many other

meds. The Remicade seems to be working well right now. I still have some

pain and limitations, but not like before. I thought that I went through the

acceptance and grief part of this, but it still sneaks up on me. When it

does, it is relentless. I just go into crying fits and terrible depression.

It is usually something related to Wyatt, my son. When I have to ask a

family member to do something with him or keep him at their house for a day,

I feel horrible sometimes. I do try to swim with him in the summer, but

other physical activities are limited. I stopped working in May of 2001 and

was approved for disability benefits. This has been a blessing for me. Not

only did I feel tremendous guilt for spending so little time with my son, but

just getting us dressed and ready in the a.m. was an awfully painful ordeal.

I was just physically and emotionally exhausted by the time I got to work at

a doctor's office. So Wyatt and I are both happy that I don't have to do

that anymore. I think that it is wonderful that your husband and children

help you out so much. Family support means the world to me. My sister is a

nurse and has helped me out many times, giving me my injections of

methotrexate when my hands just wouldn't work, driving me to appts and many

other things. Her husband helps me with heavy work around the house. My mom

is a legal secretary and is absolutely wonderful. My divorce and disability

were done at no charge to me. The attorneys that she works for are almost

like family to me. She has worked for them for around 40 years. Anyway, I

just wanted to say " Hi " and tell you a little about myself.

Love and Hugs

Stacey in PA