Re: Re: Looking for others who understand!

[Guest guest]

My family has called me lazy too and we have a dog also. I used to love to take

her for walks but now it is really hard some days.

But when they get the flu or a bad cold they want me to take care of them.

It's

so not fair at times.

Joy

epete367 <epete367@...> wrote:

I am 46 yo and also have carpal tunnel due to the RA. Last week I had

a cortisone shot in my left carpal tunnel area. It is so nice not to

have a numb hand anymore. Like you I take mtx and weekly injections of

Enbrel. At many times I find my RA depressing especially when I am

really aching. One of my biggest problems is feeling that my family

doesn't really understand. Recently we had to leash walk our dog

instead of just letting him out in the yard. Most of the time I would

tatake the dog out in the early morning so my 15 yo could get a little

more sleep before school. A couple of times I had to ask him to walk

the dog because I was feeling really miserable and he called me lazy.

That just hurts. To some extent RA will always rule your life because

it will dictate what you can accomplish in a day. If the day is good

you can be superwoman. However, if it is a bad day you have to learn

to give in somewhat and take it easier. If you are used to leading an

active life that is hard to adapt to. I work as a volunteer with the

Make-A-Wish Foundation. The foundation grants wishes of children ages

2 1/2 to 18 with life-threatening illnesses. Whenever I get really

down I think about the children I have the honor of working with and

their families. I find it to be a real reality check. It makes me

realize that while my RA stinks there are things that are so much

worse. We are also lucky (if you can call it that) to have RA today

rather than 30 years ago. There have been so many advances in

medicine. My mom had RA and she had knees replaced, used a walker, a

wheelchair. Other than taking pain medication and cortisone shots

there was little that could be done to limit the progress of the

disease. I know how the physical day to day coping can bring you down

but try counting your blessings. Hope you feel better!

>

> Hi! I am new to this group. Been diagnosed with RA for about a year

> and a half. I also carpal tunnel secondary to this wonderful

> disease! I am currently on weekly injections of Methotrx and

enbrel.

> I am 36 yo and keep hoping that I will wake up and this nightmare

will

> be over! Is there anyone else out there that has found a way t not

> let this rule your life?

>

> Annie

>

[Guest guest]

Yes I know some of the others on the list don't have family support.

I have it with my 17 year old and 15 year old or my dh however either. They

still think

I should be able to do it all. They always make fun of me for how slow I walk

and waddle.

They have no clue. My husband even asked me if I thought I would make it to

50.

Nice huh?

But some days are a lot better than others too and I try not to let it get me

down.

I don't think I have it as bad as some others and will make it thru one day at

a time.

Joy

annbow96 <annbow96@...> wrote:

I am so sorry to hear this...however, it does make me feel better

knowing that others have the same problem. It is hard for my 13 yo

daughter to understand why I do not feel up to taking her certain

places, like fairs or amusement parks. I also have the problem with

my daughter trying to " take over " . No Mom, don't try to pick that

up, It is too heavy for you...I hate when I have to ask her to open

things for me. It is a constant struggle to maintain the Mom role,

but yet rely on others. I am not lazy...I am just strength

challenged!!

Annie

> >

> > Hi! I am new to this group. Been diagnosed with RA for about a

year

> > and a half. I also carpal tunnel secondary to this wonderful

> > disease! I am currently on weekly injections of Methotrx and

> enbrel.

> > I am 36 yo and keep hoping that I will wake up and this

nightmare

> will

> > be over! Is there anyone else out there that has found a way t

not

> > let this rule your life?

> >

> > Annie

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

On 12/13/06, annbow96 <annbow96@...> wrote:

>

> I am not lazy...I am just strength

> challenged!!

>

> Annie

>

Annie, I love that line! You've put it so well. I am very lucky, in that

we have our own business so my " boss " is very understanding. And my kids

are grown, the two youngest have been very supportive. Almost to the point

of smothering me at times . . . and my daughter-in-law and grandchildren

understand, too. Even the two year olds like to " help " Grandma by making

sure she has her cane before we go out. I guess it's just normal for them

that Grandma has to sit down before she can hold them. I'm still working on

my oldest son, he thought the whole thing was just a play for sympathy for a

long time, but he's had the opportunity to see me on a couple or really bad

days and I think he's beginning to realize that this is for real.

I give myself Humira shots every week. I was uncertain at first, but my

PCP's nurse taught me how and it's turned out not to be a big deal at all.

I set the Humira out 20 minutes beforehand, to let it warm up a bit, then

swab the area and let it dry. I hold the syringe parallel to my skin, tight

against the skin, and then quickly rotate it up. The needle goes in quickly

and easily that way, I'm not sure I could ever just jab myself. I then push

the plunger verrrrrrry slowly, stopping whenever it starts burning and

waiting for it to quit. I find that it hurts less in the areas with the

most fat!

Humira now has a pen that's supposed to be easier, but I haven't tried it.

Does Enbrel have anything like that?

--

Shoreview, MN, until April! brrrr!

South Pasadena, CA

You can see my galleries at http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

[Guest guest]

I give myself my Enbrel shots, and it doesn't hurt at all, most of the

time. I inject into my tummy, where I have lots of territory. I use the

25mg twice weekly Enbrel, and prefer that to the 50mg, which seemed to

come with the dullest needles!

Sue

On Wednesday, December 13, 2006, at 09:39 AM, cassy wrote:

> Yes, mam I give myself my shots, hurts but I have gotten used to it.

> Cassy