Re: trying not to be in Denial Marilyn

[Guest guest]

Hi Marilyn:

Welcome to the group - you will find that you get

great support and information here, and will make good

friends who truly do understand what you are going

through.

Yep, we have all gone through that denial stage, it's

just part of the process of dealing with RA, and

dealing with a disease that has no cure and will be

with you for the rest of your life. The good news is

that there are medications that can help you to

continue to have a good quality of life. It takes

time and some adjusting of meds/combo of meds to find

the right ones, so be patient. Has your doctor talked

about adding something to the Mtx if it is not doing

the job for you? There are other meds that do really

well when added to Mtx.

Currently I am on 5 Mtx weekly, Enbrel, Mobic, and

Ultram ER for pain. I have had RA now for 7 years. I

am 52, married to my best friend for 24 years this

month, and have two great kids, 19 and 22. We live on

a small farm with lots of animals, including horses,

dogs, and various fowl, and they keep me going, and

get me up and out of bed each morning to feed. The

meds I am on have allowed me to have a good quality of

life with my RA which is under good control now. I

even get out and ride my horse from time to time, body

and weather permitting. I also have OA, Raynaud's and

Fibro (I take other meds for the Fibro).

To answer your questions, yes, RA can definately move

around from joint to joint, day by day, and even hour

by hour. I never know what joint might be involved

from day to day, but do have pain all the time in the

tops of my feet and elbows. It gets frustrating never

knowing how the day will be, or making plans and

having to change them at the last minute because of a

flare, but you learn to deal. It is a lifelong

relationship with RA, but fighting it with everything

you have is the way go, and early and aggressive

treatment is very important.

I am glad that you have found this group, and I know

that we will be able to offer you the understanding

and support you need.

Take care - Kathe in CA

--- oeayc <amporter@...> wrote:

> Hi I am new to the board. I am 50 years old. I was

> dianosed wirh RA > about 3 to 5 years ago. This last

winter it was> really bad I could > hardly walk. There

isn't a support group in our area> and I would like

> to communicate with others that have similar

> problems. Questions I have > does your inflammation

move to different parts of> your body? Like one

> day it might be your feet next day your jaw? I have

been trying to> tell myself I don't > have it. But Dr.

said sounds like you are trying to> make a deal with

> your body. He said he was glad to see my determation

> but I will always > have RA. Marilyn

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