Re: Re: Looking for others who understand! Annie

[Guest guest]

Hi Annie:

Well, I hate to be the pessimist, but I do believe, at

least for me, and for others I have spoken with who

have RA and such diseases, we are never the same as we

were when we were healthy. We can get close, and

there are days when there is less pain and I can get

around and do more, and then there are still days when

I don't get up much and basically vegetate because the

pain is so bad. Keep in mind, I do have Fibromyalgia

too, and this in intself causes more pain in my body,

joints and fatigue.

The Enbrel has helped, that is the best thing I have

been on for my RA, and it is keeping it stable. Yes,

those commercials are a bit unrealistic, but they are

trying to sell a very expensive drug to RA patients.

I still ride my horse, with compromises about how I

get on and off, and sometimes I need help brushing,

doing his hooves, and putting that saddle up there,

and then fastening the straps. But I ask for help,

and I always know that once I get in the saddle I am

fine, it's on the ground that I am hobbling all over -

riding my horse makes me feel " normal " again, and I

think that is about as close to feeling that way as I

can get most times. I don't yehaw and ride like I

used to, but a good hour or so of walking is about my

limits nowadays.

It does not take our lives away, it just changes them,

depending upon the severity of your RA and your

response to medication. Try to stay as active as

possible within pain range, I do stretching exercises

daily. Adapt and learn to pace yourself, and rest

when you must. Being back the way we were is probably

not gonna happen, but we can still be as good as we

can possibly be within our limitations. Don't stop

enjoying life.

You will be fine - my kids were 12 and 15 when I was

diagnosed, I was not single, but my kids adjusted just

fine. As far as your work, I don't know what you do,

but hopefully you will be able to continue that

without much problem. It all depends on so many

variables just what affect RA will have on your life

-disease and medications, what you can and cannot do.

I am sorry that your hands are so bad, I know my

daughter is in so much pain some days, and says the

pain is sometimees up into her elbows. I worry about

her with developing RA, but the future will tell, and

in the future there will be better meds, and perhaps a

cure even, who knows?

I know it must be so hard to be alone and facing this

with all of your responsiblity, but you know that you

can always come here and vent, ask questions, talk, we

are here for you, okay? Take care - Kathe in CA

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[Guest guest]

Hi Annie:

If the once weekly Enbrel shots do not work for you,

you might consider the twice weekly shots. I do give

myself my shots at home - no big deal really once you

get used to it. Also, if heat helps at all, make

yourself some rice socks, they form to the joints well

too - I like the bags of frozen veggies as an ice pack

too - use them on my knees and ankles lol.

Kathe in CA

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