Re: I feel so alone Lizzy

[Guest guest]

Hi Lizzy:

You are not alone any longer. You have come to the

right place for support and information. We have been

where you are, and understand. It's very hard for

someone who does not have RA to begin to realize just

how difficult it can be some days for us to simply get

up and out of bed in the mornings, how hard it is for

us to do simple tasks, do the things that we did

before with no problem! They can't get the image of

the old us out of their heads - we still look the

same, so what's up?

They don't know of the pain we carry daily, and the

exhaustion that no amount of sleep will ever erase.

All you can do is keep talking to them about RA. When

I was first diagnosed, I would send my husband emails

about information I had found on RA because it was

easier for him to read about it than to sit and listen

to me talk about it! Whatever it takes. Check out

the RA support page and you will find other ways to

get the message to them, letters and such. They

should help.

There has been a lot of talk here and information

about dependency and addiction because we take pain

medications. The thing is, we do not take these meds

to get high or that sort of thing, they relieve our

pain, and so addiction is the wrong word to use when

we need something to help with a physical medical

problem. My pain meds do not make me high, they just

take the edge off the pain so that I am able to do

what is needed on a day to day basis to take care of

myself and my family. I need the medication, but I am

not addicted to it. Look at the homepage for more

information on this.

Give them time, it is new to all, and I know that they

are upset to see you in pain all the time, but can't

fix it, so they try and make believe it is not

happening. Talk to your doctor, and ask him for

something to help you sleep - sleep that is

restorative and will help you to de-stress yourself.

I take Ambien CR and Zanaflex at night (I have fibro

too), and this has enabled me to be able to get

better, deeper sleep. Also, I am on an antidepressant

which helps me to cope better with the emotional and

physical aspects of this disease. I am not saying

that these things will help everyone, nor should

everyone try these medications, I am just letting you

know what has helped me. Talk with your doctor about

your depression, okay?

Keep in touch and let us know how things are going

with you, okay. I wish you the best of luck in

getting your boyfriend and other family members to

understand - it takes time - I have had RA for 7 years

and my family finally really gets it! You know you

always have us, and we do understand what you are

going through. Come here anytime you need. Take care

-

Kathe in CA

--- lisreg <lisreg@...> wrote:

> My name is Lizzy and am 33 years old. I am from

> Texas and was

> diagnosed with arithritis 10 years ago, but

> diagnosed with RA about 2-

> 1/2 years ago. Of course, I have my good days and my

> bad ones. What I

> cannot stand is how some of my family even my

> boyfriend don't seem to

> have any understanding as to how I feel with this

> thing I have. They

> seem as if they think I am over-reacting. And I

> cannot stand it. As the

> days go by, I feel myself getting more and more

> depressed. I try to do

> what I can to keep myself busy (I have 4 girls), but

> at night, it is

> the worst. I try to sleep but can't sometimes. It

> seems the only time

> I am able to sleep is when I take pain medication.

> I don't want to

> become dependent on those. I guess I just need

> someone to talk to and

> I am hoping this is where I can do that. This is

> where I know people

> will understand what I am going thru.

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Music Unlimited

Access over 1 million songs.

http://music./unlimited