Re: First Time in a support group

[Guest guest]

Hi :

Welcome to the group! You will find a lot of support

and understanding here, as well as great information.

You are definately not alone in this. It is a roller

coaster of emotions and changes in our lives, and we

just have to hang on as best we can.

Your story sounds like mine in that it started in my

hands and now involves just about all joints of my

body, and like you, I am on good meds at this time

which keep my RA relatively level, still have flares,

but overall am able to live a good quality of life.

I am 52, married with two children, 19 and 22, and

living in southern cal. We live on a small farm with

horses, various fowl, and dogs. It's a lot of work,

but truly keeps me going and gets me out of bed when I

would much rather just lay there. I try to ride my

horse at least once a week, and this gives me a

feeling of " normalness " , as it is something that I

have been able to carry on with since RA, OA and fibro

have come into my life, even if much less often than

pre-dx.

I also have a very good doctor, who is always willing

to listen and try and help me. I am on Enbrel,

Methotrexate, Mobic and Ultram, and also take meds for

fibro, high blood pressure, and asthma.

Tell us a little more about yourself - take care -

Kathe in CA

--- lange_kevin <lange_kevin@...> wrote:

>

> Hello all, I read many of the messages and feel

> comfort in the fact > that I am not going through

this alone. I have> dealt with this > disease for the

past six years. It seems that I> have been on a >

roller coaster ride throughout that time. > I am too

young to just sit back and give in, keep up

> the good fight

> and I wish everyone well.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

--- In , " lange_kevin " <lange_kevin@...>

wrote:

>

>

> Hello all, I read many of the messages and feel comfort in the fact

> that I am not going through this alone. I have dealt with this

> disease for the past six years. It seems that I have been on a

> roller coaster ride throughout that time. I started with pain in

my

> hands, progressing rapidly to every joint in my body, from feeling

> great an very physically active to having my wife tie my shoes and

> fasten my belt. Those were the bad times, fortunately life has

> improved and I function much better almost feeling normal at

times.

> It seems to flare up occasionally but never to the point I was at

its

> worst.

> It has been very hard at times to stay positive through the pain

and

> fatigue but family and prayer help. I have a great DR. She has

been

> very helpful along with her staff kind of like a family. I look

> forward to reading what people have to say, what is working for

them

> what is not or if there are any new treatments out there.

>

> I am too young to just sit back and give in, keep up the good fight

> and I wish everyone well.

>

> Thanks,

>

hi!

I'm new here too,I found it about three weeks ago, lurked awhile and

then jumped in with both feet (thats a lie..I can't jump amy more)!

I found it to be a very friendly place, with lots of nice people and

information. I think some one here has been on just about any of the

RA meds that you could name.Not all have the same experience with the

med, but it's nice to hear all the different opinions.And some days

when I am feeling sorry for myelf, someone else posts and my heart

goes out to them because they have it so much worse right then than

I do...it's a good place to be so you don't feel so alone with your

problems, and when friends and famiy are sick of hearing about it;you

can talk here all you want. SO... Welcome, jump right in! Jenna