RE: Re: I need some encouragement!

[Guest guest]

Everyone thinks that " arthritis " is " osteo " arthritis. Not that osteo is

not a very painful condition, but my opinion is that even if you say you

have rheumatoid arthritis, people think it's minor aches and pains. They

have no clue the seriousness of the disease.

My 81 year old neighbor has some osteo in her toes and she thinks it's the

end of the world. If I mention my RA, she goes on and on about her poor

toes! I've had days when I couldn't lift the blankets off me to get out of

bed and she's worried about her toes!! I just smile and listen to her

complain. Nothing I say would alter her opinion so I don't bother.

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of laurenrosepeters

Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 1:30 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

If it helps...you have someone in the same boat as you. I just turned

25. My doctors think I have had my RA since age 19. People will never

understand. No one really knows what RA is. They think arthritis...no

big deal! Its not just Arthritis! I have learned, to tell the people I

have the flu! There is no reason the need to know my business. As far

as they are concerned I just get sick alot.

If you happend to read my post a couple days ago. I did recently get

really frusterated with my close family. That is hard. I find that this

group is a nice outlet for those concerns. Pysically you have to work

wiht your doctors. Emotionally, I guess you just have to find coping

mechanism....like this group.

Things will get better. We have amazing medicine these days. I was a

toally different person 8 months ago, and I am healing now. I just have

to re-frame it. RA doesn't own me! I am a person that has a obstacle,

that's all.

I hope you get to feeling better soon. I know how you feel. It can be

really depressing. But don't ever lose site of the light!

Some days I am like " why me " . My conlcusing is that God is just trying

to make me a stronger person. I am surviving! I am proud of that.

Know that you always can lean on people that share your " obstacle " -

like all of us in the group. It helps!

Just don't give up!

..

<http://geo./serv?s=97359714/grpId=101478/grpspId=1705061498/msgId=

116066/stime=1217762590/nc1=5191950/nc2=5191951/nc3=4763760>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/3/2008 6:35:20 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

man_u8@... writes:

>tells me that what

I am feeling is real. >>

What a relief that is. I started having migrant pain last fall. I went to my

primary care doctor and told her it was something systemic. That it moved

from place to place and that there was something wrong. She said oh, it's

osteoarthritis. I went three times with different symptoms and she sent me to

different places to treat the symptoms. I asked for a referral to an RA doctor

and she gave me one but said " they don't do much for osteo. "

The podiatrist she sent me to told me to see an RA. When I finally saw him

and he listened so carefully and then diagnosed me, I wanted to say " See, I

TOLD you there was something wrong. " She is usually a good doctor, but really

dropped the ball on that one.

I was actually relieved to have the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. I had

known there was something going on for months.

dd

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Read reviews on AOL Autos.

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[Guest guest]

I love it Dorothy! It is amusing when others always want to " one up " you on

their pain. I just smile and say " oh, that must be TERRIBLE. "

Dorothy wrote:

I've had days when I couldn't lift the blankets off me to get out of

bed and she's worried about her toes!! I just smile and listen to her

complain. Nothing I say would alter her opinion so I don't bother.

[Guest guest]

HI NICOLE, IT'S NOT IN YOUR HEAD. WHAT WE FEEL DAY IN & DAY OUT AS FAR AS PAIN

IS REAL!!!

I ALWAYS USE DON'T SAY ANYTHING UNTIL U HAVE WALK IN THEIR SHOES!!

BEST WISHES & GOOD DAYS TO U,GOD BLESS MELYNDAGAMEZ 8/3/08 5:32P.. M.CST

[ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

> >

> > 

> >

> > If it helps...you have someone in the same boat as you.. I just

> turned

> > 25. My doctors think I have had my RA since age 19. People will

> never

> > understand. No one really knows what RA is. They think

> arthritis...no

> > big deal! Its not just Arthritis! I have learned, to tell the

> people I

> > have the flu! There is no reason the need to know my business.

As

> far

> > as they are concerned I just get sick alot.

> > If you happend to read my post a couple days ago. I did recently

> get

> > really frusterated with my close family. That is hard. I find

that

> this

> > group is a nice outlet for those concerns. Pysically you have to

> work

> > wiht your doctors. Emotionally, I guess you just have to find

> coping

> > mechanism.....like this group.

> > Things will get better. We have amazing medicine these days. I

was

> a

> > toally different person 8 months ago, and I am healing now. I

just

> have

> > to re-frame it. RA doesn't own me! I am a person that has a

> obstacle,

> > that's all.

> > I hope you get to feeling better soon. I know how you feel. It

can

> be

> > really depressing. But don't ever lose site of the light!

> > Some days I am like " why me " . My conlcusing is that God is just

> trying

> > to make me a stronger person. I am surviving! I am proud of that.

> > Know that you always can lean on people that share

your " obstacle " -

> 

> > like all of us in the group. It helps!

> > Just don't give up!

> >

> >

> >

> > .

> >

> > 

> > <http://geo./serv?

> s=97359714/grpId=101478/grpspId=1705061498/msgId=

> > 116066/stime=1217762590/nc1=5191950/nc2=5191951/nc3=4763760>

> > 

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Sometimes I don't think others can understand just how bad the pain can be.

Sometimes it can be so bad that you can only use one arm to do daily things.

It is not easy for someone to use just one arm and be in pain all the time.

Since Feb. I have been in constantly pain in my joints. In June I went to

my primary doctor to do what was going on. He told me I had tennis elbow in

my right elbow. I have felt pain in my other joints as well. On a daily

basis I will have pain hit my hands, fingers, wrist, arms and shoulders.

There is not even one day that I am not in pain. Sometimes it will hit my

knees and feet as well. On Thursday I went to a specialist to see about my

right arm. He did an ex-ray of my right elbow. And found out that I have a

mild case of Arthritis in my right elbow. He gave me a shot of

Corticosteroid. It was the most painful thing that I ever went though. It

will be worth it if the pain goes away. He said that I also have tennis

elbow. The kinds of pains that I am having are like burning and like needles

hitting me in my joints. Arthritis runs in my family. My heart goes out to

anyone in pain. Until you have been in pain nobody can really understand how

bad it can be. I know that there are others who are in worst pain then I

could ever be in.

callolin

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of rebpick1artist

Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 8:24 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

Do your meds help at all? I have a daughter who has had arthritis since

she was 7 1/2 years old. I now have fibromyalgia. Nobody seems to

understand the seriousness or the pain. I do. Hang in there.---

[Guest guest]

Shortly after my RA symptoms started, I went to my PCP for shingles. At

the time I had one swollen finger. She looked at it and asked if I had

any RA in my family.

Then when I went to a rheumatologist, he misdiagnosed me at first, when

she had been right about it. But this rheumy soon realized his mistake,

and I grew to love him. He was the most wonderful doctor I've ever had.

Unfortunately, he relocated to Atlanta.

Sue

On Sunday, August 3, 2008, at 07:59 PM, dgd301@... wrote:

>

> What a relief that is. I started having migrant pain last fall. I went

> to my

> primary care doctor and told her it was something systemic. That it

> moved

> from place to place and that there was something wrong. She said oh,

> it's

> osteoarthritis.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am sorry to hear about the kind of pain that you must be in. My pain is

bad but not as bad as yours is. It is so painful sometimes just to move my

arm. Today was a better day then it was yesterday. You just don't know

where the pain is going to hit. I can be doing nothing at all and the pain

will hit a part of my body. I never knew what it was really like to be in

that much pain until this happen to me. However I am going to keep going.

Because maybe tomorrow won't be as painful as it was today. It is hard

sometimes when you can only use one arm that is not as in bad pain as your

right. The bad part is the arm that I write with is the arm that is giving

me the most pain. The funny thing is that I always know when it is going

rain. At first when I had the shot I could even get my arm straight. It was

so bad then I could not even put in a pair of ear rings. My mother has

arthritis and it runs in our family. The bad part is not even being able to

raise my arm. I have to put it down right away. If I don't sharp pain will

hit it. But you know the only time that it does not hurt me is when I am a

swimming pool. It is like water helps my arm and joints. The shot has helped

me one thing. Because before I had the shot I could not even move a blanket

up on me. Pain shot out when I did. Sometimes others do not understand that

it is not going to go away. They mean well. Only when you have constantly

pain on a daily basic can you really understand how bad it can be.

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of michellefollet

Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 8:46 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

--- In @gro <mailto: %40> ups.com,

" Tuten " <callolin@...>

wrote:

Hi and group,

Sorry to hear about all of your pain, I too have been really

stuggling with my RA and FM. I am on so many tablets at the

moment. I counted 22 daily!!!

My pain is no better and I feel so disabled, It takes me all day to

get moving and I am up most of the night as my neck, shoulders arms,

wrists feet etc are aching!!!

It is so true that people who are not in pain don't understand. I

am lucky I have a very supportive husband and many times I cannot

get off the couch or even move my arms to put a blanket over me.

None of us want to live this way, but when I get just an ounce of

mobility, I feel so grateful. But of course it is only short lived.

When I go back to my rhematoligist I am going to tell him that if

these tablets he has me on are not helping, I don't want to take

them anymore!!!

At times we all feel so useless. I am waiting anxiously for some

warmer weather and pray that I won't be suffering so much.

I am thinking of everyone out there. As hard as it is try and stay

positive. Thank god for this support group.

Take care, .

>

> Sometimes I don't think others can understand just how bad the

pain can be.

> Sometimes it can be so bad that you can only use one arm to do

daily things.

> It is not easy for someone to use just one arm and be in pain all

the time.

> Since Feb. I have been in constantly pain in my joints. In June I

went to

> my primary doctor to do what was going on. He told me I had tennis

elbow in

> my right elbow. I have felt pain in my other joints as well. On a

daily

> basis I will have pain hit my hands, fingers, wrist, arms and

shoulders.

> There is not even one day that I am not in pain. Sometimes it will

hit my

> knees and feet as well. On Thursday I went to a specialist to see

about my

> right arm. He did an ex-ray of my right elbow. And found out that

I have a

> mild case of Arthritis in my right elbow. He gave me a shot of

> Corticosteroid. It was the most painful thing that I ever went

though. It

> will be worth it if the pain goes away. He said that I also have

tennis

> elbow. The kinds of pains that I am having are like burning and

like needles

> hitting me in my joints. Arthritis runs in my family. My heart

goes out to

> anyone in pain. Until you have been in pain nobody can really

understand how

> bad it can be. I know that there are others who are in worst pain

then I

> could ever be in.

>

>

>

> callolin

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: @gro <mailto: %40> ups.com

[mailto:RA-

SUPPORT@groups <mailto:SUPPORT%40> .com] On

> Behalf Of rebpick1artist

> Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 8:24 PM

> @gro <mailto: %40> ups.com

> Subject: [ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

>

>

>

> Do your meds help at all? I have a daughter who has had arthritis

since

> she was 7 1/2 years old. I now have fibromyalgia. Nobody seems to

> understand the seriousness or the pain. I do. Hang in there.---

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I also love my rheumatologist. In fact, I trust him to give me advice for

all my other medical problems. He is the only " specialist " I have that

actually sees " the whole picture " and not just the narrow window of his own

specialty.

If anyone is on Long Island, I'd be glad to provide his contact information.

Dorothy

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Sue

Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 8:02 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

Shortly after my RA symptoms started, I went to my PCP for shingles. At

the time I had one swollen finger. She looked at it and asked if I had

any RA in my family.

Then when I went to a rheumatologist, he misdiagnosed me at first, when

she had been right about it. But this rheumy soon realized his mistake,

and I grew to love him. He was the most wonderful doctor I've ever had.

Unfortunately, he relocated to Atlanta.

Sue

[Guest guest]

HI LINDA, I KNOW WHAT U R GOING THROUGH. I TOO CAN ONLY USE ONE ARM & IT SUX! U

R RIGHT U NEVER KNOW WHEN THE PAIN IS GOING TO HIT!!! I CAN ALSO TELL WHEN IT'S

GOING TO RAIN. I START HURTING THE DAY BEFORE.

IT'S TOO FUNNY MY DAUGHTER SAYS I'M LIKE THATS SO RAVEN IT'S A KID SHOW.. SHE

CAN PREDICT THE FUTURE!!

I HOPE U FEEL BETTER SOON. GOD BLESS, MELYNDAGAMEZ 8/5/08

[ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

>

>

>

> Do your meds help at all? I have a daughter who has had arthritis

since

> she was 7 1/2 years old. I now have fibromyalgia. Nobody seems to

> understand the seriousness or the pain. I do. Hang in there.---

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am glad that I found this group. Today was a better day for me. You are

right sometimes it is so hard to remain positive when you are pain. I am not

going to let this pain get me down. I know that there are days when the pain

is not as bad as others. Today was a better day for me. I know that I have

to live with the pain somehow. Sometimes it is hard. What gets me though it

is knowing that there are others like me in pain. And I know that there are

people who are in worst pain then me. I think that for me is having a place

where I can talk about our pain. I only wish that others did not have to me

in so much pain. I am glad that I went for treatment because if I had not I

would not have found out that I have arthritis. I knew that I had tennis

elbow but I did not know that I had arthritis. But I knew that my body was

telling me something. I can be just sitting down and not doing anything and

I will a pain hit some part of my joints. Sometimes it is like burning and

needles hitting me. It feels like it will not end. Then it does. The way

that I will approach is one day at time. I know that I am can person that I

was before. One thing is that I have to find a way to change the way that I

live. Because the pain will always be there. I used to be able to get in a

tub not anymore. If I get in a tub I can't get out. So now I take showers

that way I don't have to have to get down in a tub. I do know that chronic

pain is going to always be there. But I won't let it get me down. Thank you

so much for your support . It means a lot to me.

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of

Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 8:27 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

* & ,

I think we all know where your coming from w/ the pain. There are

days when I can't even bathe because it hurts to much to raise my

arms. It's hard to remain positive through the pain, I know I get

down on myself all the time because of the pain. Some days are better

then others, and when I have a good day...I take advantage of it. I

try not to over-do it because I pay for it the next day. I am seeing

a really great therapist who specializes in chronic pain conditions.

One thing that she told me that really stuck with me is that pain is

a feeling...it's not who you are. That has been my mantra lately and

I tell myself that everyday. Another thing that she told me is that I

need to quit trying to find the person who I was before RA...that

person does not exist anymore; I need to find who I am supposed to be

today. That is what I am working on now. Somedays are better then

others and I miss who I was before all this.

Other days are better and we have been dealt this disease only to

come out on the other side stronger. Hang in there!! Best of luck to

you.

[Guest guest]

TO REBEKAH & LAUREN, HEY LADIES. I'M NOT AS YOUNG AS THE BOTH OF U BUT I'VE BEEN

WHERE THE 2 OF U R &

I'M STILL THERE JUST A LIL OLDER, & MARRIED WITH A DAUGHTER. TOO MUCH 4 ME

SOMETIMES!!! DON'T GET ME

WRONG I LOVE IT BUT IT'S REALLY HARD WHEN I'M IN PAIN ALL DAY & CAN'T B THE WIFE

OR MOMMY I NEED TO B.

I'M 38YRS.OLD & HAVE HAD RA SINCE I WAS 5YRS.OLD, LONG TIME UGH! I HAVE COME A

LONG WAY SINCE THEN. I WAS UNABLE TO WALK DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF MY RA. NOW IN

THE PAST33 YRS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SURGERIES & I CAN WALK NOW!!!!

YEAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I STILL HAVE DIFFICULTY CUZ NOW ALONG W/RA I HAVE OSTEO &

NEUROPATHY & SEVERE DEPRESSION AT TIMES. IT SUXX BAD!! THE ONLY ADVICE I CAN

GIVE THE 2 OF U IS YES IT'S

VERY PAINFUL BUT DON'T LET IT BEAT U. THEN IT'S HARD WHEN PEOPLE DON'T

UNDERSTAND BUT TRY 2 FIND AT LEAST ONE PERSON U CAN CONFIDE IN THAT WILL LISTEN

TO U. LASTLY, DO SOMETHING U LIKE 2 TRY 2 FORGET

ABOUT THE PAIN BESIDES TAKING MEDS WHICH WE NEED BUT THERE R OTHER THINGS AS

WELL. I LIKE 2 LISTEN 2 MUSIC, I READ, WATCH T.V., SPEND TIME W/MY DAUGHTER, &

CHAT HERE WITH NEW FRIENDS I'VE MADE.

I'M SORRY TO B RESPONDING LATE BUT I HAVE BEEN SICK & COULD NOT USE MY HANDS 2

CHAT..

I HOPE THE 2 OF U WILL FEEL BETTER SOON & I.M HERE 2 LISTEN FOR THE BOTH OF U

LADIES O.K.

GOD BLESS,MELYNDAGAMEZ 8/7/08 3:30P.M.CST

[ ] Re: I need some encouragement!

If it helps...you have someone in the same boat as you. I just turned

25. My doctors think I have had my RA since age 19. People will never

understand. No one really knows what RA is. They think arthritis...no

big deal! Its not just Arthritis! I have learned, to tell the people I

have the flu! There is no reason the need to know my business. As far

as they are concerned I just get sick alot.

If you happend to read my post a couple days ago. I did recently get

really frusterated with my close family. That is hard. I find that this

group is a nice outlet for those concerns. Pysically you have to work

wiht your doctors. Emotionally, I guess you just have to find coping

mechanism....like this group.

Things will get better.. We have amazing medicine these days. I was a

toally different person 8 months ago, and I am healing now. I just have

to re-frame it. RA doesn't own me! I am a person that has a obstacle,

that's all.

I hope you get to feeling better soon. I know how you feel. It can be

really depressing. But don't ever lose site of the light!

Some days I am like " why me " . My conlcusing is that God is just trying

to make me a stronger person. I am surviving! I am proud of that.

Know that you always can lean on people that share your " obstacle " -

like all of us in the group. It helps!

Just don't give up!

You'll get better.

>

> I have RA as well as many other health problems and am 24 years old. 

> My RA affects all of my joints.  It is so hard being in pain

everyday,

> all day.  Expecially when the people around you don't understand. 

What

> do you do that helps minimize the pain?  Physical and emotional?

>

------------------------------------