Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hi all. I'm new to the group and wanted to take a minute to introduce

myself. My name is Rhonda and I was diagnosed as being in the developing

stages of RA in August of this year. It's a bit confusing to me as I'm

often in pain and am fatigued so much that sometimes I can barely think

straight how I can be " developing " . I can't imagine what will happen as the

disease progresses. I'm trying to be proactive in learning about this

disease and have joined a couple of groups to learn and share as much as I

can.

Medication-wise I'm on plaquenil, prednesone and relafen with the occasional

vicodin thrown in when nothing else works. Recently I started physical

therapy in the water and I'm hoping to be able to work out soon. Being in

pain as often as I am makes it difficult for me to be willing to work out

but I'm hoping to build enough muscle to avoid the prednesone entirely.

I've also developed a cyst that popped up on my wrist, similar to a ganglion

cyst - what else can I develop from this disease (sigh and LOL at the same

time).

On top of having RA, I'm recently married (about a year now) and trying to

blend families, I work full time and I go to school full time. Life is

incredibly busy, stressful and I'm doing my best to keep up but sometimes,

with the advent of RA, I feel completely overwhelmed. I feel as if I'm

always complaining about not feeling well or being in pain (sometimes I'm

sick of my own self). I feel insecure about complaining to my new husband

so often. I'm happy to have found a group that I hope to be able to share

information and encouragement with as well as to vent when I need to.

Blessings,

Rhonda