Guest guest Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 That's so good to hear, . I switched careers about 4 years ago into massage therapy from teaching at a university! It's killing me that I can't practice what I love right now. Plus the pain is well.you know. My business associates do not understand. They're like " can't you take an aspirin? " And they claim to be healers themselves! I guess I'm going through this for a reason, but it's very frustrating. Patience has never ever been one of my strong points. _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of DeNicola- Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:15 AM Subject: [ ] Re:at a low point Hi , I have been in your situation. After I was diagnosed I gave up on my dream of being a high school English teacher and moved back in with my parents. My parents live in a 2 story house and I was trapped on the second floor, unable to walk down the steps or do anything. At the time I was on prednisone (80mg/day), naproxyn & Vicodin but it didn't help. I was extremely depressed and often thought about suicide. After 3 months of living at my parents' (and still under my dad's insurance), the HMO agreed to pay for Enbrel. It didn't work so I tried Remicade, and found relief. After being on it for 3 months, I did well enough to stop the Vicodin and significantly reduce the prednisone. I found a job and moved out. That was 9 years ago this June. There are plenty of drugs available now and hope is there, even though it doesn't feel that way sometimes. Take care, Steph in VA This is really wearing on me. I'm in a dark place right now. The pain is awful and a horrible case of self loathing and pity has set in. Someone please tell me you've gone through this and it gets better, because like I said...I'm really bottoming out right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 I find it interesting how little people know about Rheumatoid Arthritis, they don't know we are the " professionals " of the arthritis community and they don't have a clue what many of us have gone through just to continue working, taking care of our homes, or in some cases just trying to live some kind of a normal life. I watch the national evening news every night and they are now advertising a lot of medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis, which may raise awareness but I'm not sure who they are actually marketing to because I find it amusing. One gal says she takes such and such and now she can continue to skydive. Oh really sweetheart, well thanks to my medication I can LIFT MY OWN COFFEE CUP!!! I've been putting off skydiving until I can afford a full body cast, it'll be like pushing a sarchopagus out a small plane. I'll take the aspirin right before someone yells, " Geronimoooooooo! " Stan, Seattle, Snow on my hill, Clouds in my sky. --------- [ ] Re:at a low point Hi , I have been in your situation. After I was diagnosed I gave up on my dream of being a high school English teacher and moved back in with my parents. My parents live in a 2 story house and I was trapped on the second floor, unable to walk down the steps or do anything. At the time I was on prednisone (80mg/day), naproxyn & Vicodin but it didn't help. I was extremely depressed and often thought about suicide. After 3 months of living at my parents' (and still under my dad's insurance), the HMO agreed to pay for Enbrel. It didn't work so I tried Remicade, and found relief. After being on it for 3 months, I did well enough to stop the Vicodin and significantly reduce the prednisone. I found a job and moved out. That was 9 years ago this June. There are plenty of drugs available now and hope is there, even though it doesn't feel that way sometimes. Take care, Steph in VA This is really wearing on me. I'm in a dark place right now. The pain is awful and a horrible case of self loathing and pity has set in. Someone please tell me you've gone through this and it gets better, because like I said...I'm really bottoming out right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 stan, i love your sense of humor. it feels so good to laugh. kate in gig harbor From: stanpfister@... <stanpfister@...> Subject: RE: [ ] Re:at a low point Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 10:33 AM I find it interesting how little people know about Rheumatoid Arthritis, they don't know we are the " professionals " of the arthritis community and they don't have a clue what many of us have gone through just to continue working, taking care of our homes, or in some cases just trying to live some kind of a normal life. I watch the national evening news every night and they are now advertising a lot of medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis, which may raise awareness but I'm not sure who they are actually marketing to because I find it amusing. One gal says she takes such and such and now she can continue to skydive. Oh really sweetheart, well thanks to my medication I can LIFT MY OWN COFFEE CUP!!! I've been putting off skydiving until I can afford a full body cast, it'll be like pushing a sarchopagus out a small plane. I'll take the aspirin right before someone yells, " Geronimoooooooo! " Stan, Seattle, Snow on my hill, Clouds in my sky. ------------ -- Original message ------------ -- From: " ldydewinter " <ldydewinter@ comcast.net> That's so good to hear, . I switched careers about 4 years ago into massage therapy from teaching at a university! It's killing me that I can't practice what I love right now. Plus the pain is well.you know. My business associates do not understand. They're like " can't you take an aspirin? " And they claim to be healers themselves! I guess I'm going through this for a reason, but it's very frustrating. Patience has never ever been one of my strong points. _____ From: @gro ups.com [mailto: @gro ups.com] On Behalf Of DeNicola- Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:15 AM @gro ups.com Subject: [ ] Re:at a low point Hi , I have been in your situation. After I was diagnosed I gave up on my dream of being a high school English teacher and moved back in with my parents. My parents live in a 2 story house and I was trapped on the second floor, unable to walk down the steps or do anything. At the time I was on prednisone (80mg/day), naproxyn & Vicodin but it didn't help. I was extremely depressed and often thought about suicide. After 3 months of living at my parents' (and still under my dad's insurance), the HMO agreed to pay for Enbrel. It didn't work so I tried Remicade, and found relief. After being on it for 3 months, I did well enough to stop the Vicodin and significantly reduce the prednisone. I found a job and moved out. That was 9 years ago this June. There are plenty of drugs available now and hope is there, even though it doesn't feel that way sometimes. Take care, Steph in VA This is really wearing on me. I'm in a dark place right now. The pain is awful and a horrible case of self loathing and pity has set in. Someone please tell me you've gone through this and it gets better, because like I said...I'm really bottoming out right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 I saw the weirdest thing in my neck of the woods this morning, being that you are in Gig Harbor which according to Maps is only 33.28 miles from where I'm located (and at this point I am legally obligated to inform you that you well within " stalker " range according to my Parole Officer, yeah like he " knows " everything). Anyway, there was snow on the ground but it was above freezing so it was sort of raining. But it really wasn't rain because the rain drops were freezing, but it wasn't really frozen rain. Being the brianiac that I am I determined that it was " raw " snow! Now how often do you see that? Stan Seattle, Just cloudy now. --------- [ ] Re:at a low point Hi , I have been in your situation. After I was diagnosed I gave up on my dream of being a high school English teacher and moved back in with my parents. My parents live in a 2 story house and I was trapped on the second floor, unable to walk down the steps or do anything. At the time I was on prednisone (80mg/day), naproxyn & Vicodin but it didn't help. I was extremely depressed and often thought about suicide. After 3 months of living at my parents' (and still under my dad's insurance), the HMO agreed to pay for Enbrel. It didn't work so I tried Remicade, and found relief. After being on it for 3 months, I did well enough to stop the Vicodin and significantly reduce the prednisone. I found a job and moved out. That was 9 years ago this June. There are plenty of drugs available now and hope is there, even though it doesn't feel that way sometimes. Take care, Steph in VA This is really wearing on me. I'm in a dark place right now. The pain is awful and a horrible case of self loathing and pity has set in. Someone please tell me you've gone through this and it gets better, because like I said...I'm really bottoming out right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 In March 2007, I began suffering symptoms of RA, they became quite severe. In July 2007, I was initially diagnosed and given something to treat the pain. In late August 2007, I finally got an appointment with a Rheumatologist and we began treatment for my condition. The truth is that I have not really been the same since, not mentally or physically. I went from " make me normal again " to settling for pain free days and the ability to function. I am happy for people who can find a treatment that works for them, especially the young people because this is no picnic. While the commercials can amuse us it's also encouraging to know that giant drug companies are working on it and maybe one day there will be a miraculous cure. Stan, Seattle, Cloudy. -------------- Original message -------------- From: " Mimi " <mimi212@...> Stan, you crack me up!! It is so true about the RA Commercials, though. They are so deceiving and then it makes it even worse for those who are able to get " some " relief from one of those meds - its like everyone is expecting us to be miraculously cured. I would be happy with relief, but I don't know if anything will give me back all that I have lost. Sorry - I don't mean to make this worse than what it is, but I really wish more people would be in tune with the REALITY of RA!!.....Doreen I find it interesting how little people know about Rheumatoid Arthritis, they don't know we are the " professionals " of the arthritis community and they don't have a clue what many of us have gone through just to continue working, taking care of our homes, or in some cases just trying to live some kind of a normal life. I watch the national evening news every night and they are now advertising a lot of medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis, which may raise awareness but I'm not sure who they are actually marketing to because I find it amusing. One gal says she takes such and such and now she can continue to skydive. Oh really sweetheart, well thanks to my medication I can LIFT MY OWN COFFEE CUP!!! I've been putting off skydiving until I can afford a full body cast, it'll be like pushing a sarcophagus out a small plane. I'll take the aspirin right before someone yells, " Geronimoooooooo! " Stan, Seattle, Snow on my hill, Clouds in my sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 stan and others. in march 2006 I suffered from severe back pain for no reason. then in May 2006 I woke up one morning and couldn't move. When I tried to move it felt like every bone in my body was going to break. I laid in bed for 3 days and my xhusband wouldn't help me even try to get to the bathroom. He didn't even care enough to call me an ambolance. I finally got myself up and made myself move and on top of all of that I have 2 kids. I have never been right since and was diagnosed with RA finally in Aug 2006. I have been on and off MTX and enbrel. I still haven't found relief even in the enbrel. So I'm still searching for something that will work. Re: [ ] Re:at a low point In March 2007, I began suffering symptoms of RA, they became quite severe. In July 2007, I was initially diagnosed and given something to treat the pain. In late August 2007, I finally got an appointment with a Rheumatologist and we began treatment for my condition. The truth is that I have not really been the same since, not mentally or physically. I went from " make me normal again " to settling for pain free days and the ability to function. I am happy for people who can find a treatment that works for them, especially the young people because this is no picnic. While the commercials can amuse us it's also encouraging to know that giant drug companies are working on it and maybe one day there will be a miraculous cure. Stan, Seattle, Cloudy. -------------- Original message -------------- From: " Mimi " <mimi212@...> Stan, you crack me up!! It is so true about the RA Commercials, though. They are so deceiving and then it makes it even worse for those who are able to get " some " relief from one of those meds - its like everyone is expecting us to be miraculously cured. I would be happy with relief, but I don't know if anything will give me back all that I have lost. Sorry - I don't mean to make this worse than what it is, but I really wish more people would be in tune with the REALITY of RA!!.....Doreen I find it interesting how little people know about Rheumatoid Arthritis, they don't know we are the " professionals " of the arthritis community and they don't have a clue what many of us have gone through just to continue working, taking care of our homes, or in some cases just trying to live some kind of a normal life. I watch the national evening news every night and they are now advertising a lot of medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis, which may raise awareness but I'm not sure who they are actually marketing to because I find it amusing. One gal says she takes such and such and now she can continue to skydive. Oh really sweetheart, well thanks to my medication I can LIFT MY OWN COFFEE CUP!!! I've been putting off skydiving until I can afford a full body cast, it'll be like pushing a sarcophagus out a small plane. I'll take the aspirin right before someone yells, " Geronimoooooooo! " Stan, Seattle, Snow on my hill, Clouds in my sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 I am often shocked at the lack of support we from spouses and family. Especially when symptoms are so obvious and undeniable. Is this a complete lack of understanding, denial, no concern, or people just being jerks? Stan, Seattle, Cloudy. --------- Re: [ ] Re:at a low point In March 2007, I began suffering symptoms of RA, they became quite severe. In July 2007, I was initially diagnosed and given something to treat the pain. In late August 2007, I finally got an appointment with a Rheumatologist and we began treatment for my condition. The truth is that I have not really been the same since, not mentally or physically. I went from " make me normal again " to settling for pain free days and the ability to function. I am happy for people who can find a treatment that works for them, especially the young people because this is no picnic. While the commercials can amuse us it's also encouraging to know that giant drug companies are working on it and maybe one day there will be a miraculous cure. Stan, Seattle, Cloudy. -------------- Original message -------------- From: " Mimi " <mimi212@...> Stan, you crack me up!! It is so true about the RA Commercials, though. They are so deceiving and then it makes it even worse for those who are able to get " some " relief from one of those meds - its like everyone is expecting us to be miraculously cured. I would be happy with relief, but I don't know if anything will give me back all that I have lost. Sorry - I don't mean to make this worse than what it is, but I really wish more people would be in tune with the REALITY of RA!!.....Doreen I find it interesting how little people know about Rheumatoid Arthritis, they don't know we are the " professionals " of the arthritis community and they don't have a clue what many of us have gone through just to continue working, taking care of our homes, or in some cases just trying to live some kind of a normal life. I watch the national evening news every night and they are now advertising a lot of medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis, which may raise awareness but I'm not sure who they are actually marketing to because I find it amusing. One gal says she takes such and such and now she can continue to skydive. Oh really sweetheart, well thanks to my medication I can LIFT MY OWN COFFEE CUP!!! I've been putting off skydiving until I can afford a full body cast, it'll be like pushing a sarcophagus out a small plane. I'll take the aspirin right before someone yells, " Geronimoooooooo! " Stan, Seattle, Snow on my hill, Clouds in my sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I seemed to have dropped a word , I meant to say that we don't get, as in not getting the support we need. It's good when you can choose the people that are around you that are a positive influence but many are in a position were they simply cannot do that. As you, I am in a position where I can make my own choices, but I still have to endure my brother in law at family functions. Stan Seattle, Foggy - fog is just clouds on the ground. -------------- Original message -------------- From: " Mimi " <mimi212@...> I think its a little bit of it all, Stan. I try to educate those that don't seem to understand, wake up those in denial and those that are jerks or just don't care are not a part of my life anymore. We don't need all that stress.....Doreen I am often shocked at the lack of support we from spouses and family. Especially when symptoms are so obvious and undeniable. Is this a complete lack of understanding, denial, no concern, or people just being jerks? Stan, Seattle, Cloudy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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