Greetings to all from new member, aka Jules, in Arizona

[Guest guest]

Hello to all the memebers of this group I just found this morning

while searching for an online resource for help with managing my

Rheumatoid Athritis. I live in north-central Arizona, in a small

town, and due to many other devestating diseases I am now suffering

from, I am unemployed now, and lucky enough to have medical coverage

from the state.

Unfortunately, that leaves me at their mercy, and I am being denied

the drugs and other therapies my doctors try to prescribe me because

of their coverage restictions.

Therefore, my doctors have all reccommended that I seek out RA groups

like this online for support and information on my disease, which is

very scary for me, having NO IDEA what is really happening to me,

what I will face in the next year, 5 years or 20 years. How will

this, (and my other diseases like Osteo-Arthritis, Low Thyroid,

Degenerative Disc Disease, Scoliosis, Dejenerative Joint Disease in

both knees, and more...) affect me over time? What is HAPPENING TO

ME???

I'm so scared, I have NO other friends here in this small community

that has RA or all my other problems, and therfore NO ONE to talk to.

I want to know what's going on inside of me, and more than anything,

HOW TO FIGHT BACK with diet changes, exercise, supplements and a

holistic approach to the RA and all my other illnesses.

I was especially excited to see the postings about the comminality

that you other RA sufferers seem to have with me: a life-time history

of other immune diseases that began in childhood, such as a light

case of chicken pox at age 6, tonsilitis so bad from 6 to 10 that

they took out my tonsils and adenoids age 10 yrs. old, a severe case

of mononucleosis at age 14 that knocked me out for weeks, then a re-

exposure to chicken pox at age 20, 6 weeks after the birth of my 1st

child that resulted in the worst case of adult chicken pox I never

imagined was possible! Then at age 42 I was diagnosed with Low

Thyroid Function, and last May, the diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis!

I just broke down and cried for 15 minutes before getting back to the

computer to post this. I had a " light bulb moment " , and realized that

most of you that have RA had a very similar, if not almost identical

history and timeline of immune illnesses and diseases like me that

have seemingly led up to MY deveopment of RA!!!

I am loking forward to connecting with some of you that have already

been where I am now, have found any info on homeopathic or holistic

approached to treating the RA and other diseases I suffer from.

I am so thankful for this website, I have benefitted from it in just

the first 30 minutes being on it!

I will appreciate any help, info, insights or reccommendations from

those of you who have what I have and can offer any help to me at all.

Thank you all for your input and especially the information you all

post that has already began to give me hope anda feeling of not being

all alone in this depressing situation.

Respectfully and gratefully yours,

Jules

[Guest guest]

What medications are you taking Jules? If you wanted to try the biologics like

Enbrel or Humira, they have patient assistance programs which you should qualify

for. Nobody knows what the future holds for any of us, so just take it one day

at a time.

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Jules! You've come to the right place. When our bodies fail

us like this with all these ailments, its good to have a place to come

to for information and support. The camaraderie here is wonderful!

What meds are you taking? I don't have insurance, so am limited to

what I can take based on what my wallet can handle. Hubby works so

hard and SSD has not been approved yet (3 years waiting in March), so

alot of times I feel like a burden. Thank God he is an understanding

man and his main thing is to get me to feeling better. I have RA and

Fibromyalgia - along with Hypothyroid, High Blood Pressure, Anxiety,

Restless Legs, Sleep Apnea - and I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

I'm sorry you are not getting the treatment you need. I've found that

it is very common whether you are uninsured, relying on the state, or

any other insurance. There is a " Protocol " that most seem to adhere

to. Kinda like - you've gotta give this a try before we can move on to

that. I hope things get better for you.

Its interesting that you live in Arizona. Stan was just wondering the

other day if the dry climate was more conducive to RA than his cloudy,

rainy Seattle. Have you ever lived anywhere else? Have you ever

visited an area that is more humid? I just wondered if you've been

able to experience different climates and how it affected your RA.

Again, welcome. Check back in often. We'd love to hear from you and

know how you are coming along in your quest for the right combination

of meds. You are NOT alone....Doreen

>

> Hello to all the memebers of this group I just found this morning

> while searching for an online resource for help with managing my

> Rheumatoid Athritis. I live in north-central Arizona, in a small

> town, and due to many other devestating diseases I am now suffering

> from, I am unemployed now, and lucky enough to have medical

> coverage from the state.

> Unfortunately, that leaves me at their mercy, and I am being denied

> the drugs and other therapies my doctors try to prescribe me

> because of their coverage restictions. Therefore, my doctors have

> all reccommended that I seek out RA groups like this online for

> support and information on my disease, which is very scary for me,

> having NO IDEA what is really happening to me, what I will face in

> the next year, 5 years or 20 years. How will this, (and my other

> diseases like Osteo-Arthritis, Low Thyroid, Degenerative Disc

> Disease, Scoliosis, Dejenerative Joint Disease in both knees, and

> more...) affect me over time? What is HAPPENING TO ME???

> I'm so scared, I have NO other friends here in this small community

> that has RA or all my other problems, and therfore NO ONE to talk

> to. I want to know what's going on inside of me, and more than

> anything, HOW TO FIGHT BACK with diet changes, exercise,

> supplements and a holistic approach to the RA and all my other

> illnesses. I was especially excited to see the postings about the

> comminality that you other RA sufferers seem to have with me: a

> life-time history of other immune diseases that began in childhood,

> such as a light case of chicken pox at age 6, tonsilitis so bad

> from 6 to 10 that they took out my tonsils and adenoids age 10 yrs.

> old, a severe case of mononucleosis at age 14 that knocked me out

> for weeks, then a re-exposure to chicken pox at age 20, 6 weeks

> after the birth of my 1st child that resulted in the worst case of

> adult chicken pox I never imagined was possible! Then at age 42 I

> was diagnosed with Low Thyroid Function, and last May, the

> diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis!

> I just broke down and cried for 15 minutes before getting back to

> the computer to post this. I had a " light bulb moment " , and

> realized that most of you that have RA had a very similar, if not

> almost identical history and timeline of immune illnesses and

> diseases like me that have seemingly led up to MY deveopment of

> RA!!! I am loking forward to connecting with some of you that have

> already been where I am now, have found any info on homeopathic or

> holistic approached to treating the RA and other diseases I suffer

> from.

> I am so thankful for this website, I have benefitted from it in

> just the first 30 minutes being on it! I will appreciate any help,

> info, insights or reccommendations from those of you who have what

> I have and can offer any help to me at all. Thank you all for your

> input and especially the information you all post that has already

> began to give me hope anda feeling of not being all alone in this

> depressing situation.

> Respectfully and gratefully yours,

> Jules

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jules:

Welcome to our group of wonderful, caring, and informative people.

I too, have RA. I thought Arizona would help your RA. I moved here to

S.W.Florida from Cape Cod. My RA was so bad there, I was almost in a

wheel chair. I feel much better in this climate.

I know how much you suffer with RA. It is a beast of a disease. I have

a wonderful Rheumy here, and she has helped me so much. It took quite

awhile with diff. meds. to find the right combination to give me help.

Do you take Prednisone? I have been on it steady for 6 years. I hate

the gained weight, but it sure helps me function each day.

I hope you will feel better soon, and have some pain free days ahead.

Hugs,

Barbara

--- In , " TakeOff " <amazonwarrior_64@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello to all the memebers of this group I just found this morning

> while searching for an online resource for help with managing my

> Rheumatoid Athritis. I live in north-central Arizona, in a small

> town, and due to many other devestating diseases I am now suffering

> from, I am unemployed now, and lucky enough to have medical coverage

> from the state.

> Unfortunately, that leaves me at their mercy, and I am being denied

> the drugs and other therapies my doctors try to prescribe me because

> of their coverage restictions.

> Therefore, my doctors have all reccommended that I seek out RA groups

> like this online for support and information on my disease, which is

> very scary for me, having NO IDEA what is really happening to me,

> what I will face in the next year, 5 years or 20 years. How will

> this, (and my other diseases like Osteo-Arthritis, Low Thyroid,

> Degenerative Disc Disease, Scoliosis, Dejenerative Joint Disease in

> both knees, and more...) affect me over time? What is HAPPENING TO

> ME???

> I'm so scared, I have NO other friends here in this small community

> that has RA or all my other problems, and therfore NO ONE to talk to.

> I want to know what's going on inside of me, and more than anything,

> HOW TO FIGHT BACK with diet changes, exercise, supplements and a

> holistic approach to the RA and all my other illnesses.

> I was especially excited to see the postings about the comminality

> that you other RA sufferers seem to have with me: a life-time history

> of other immune diseases that began in childhood, such as a light

> case of chicken pox at age 6, tonsilitis so bad from 6 to 10 that

> they took out my tonsils and adenoids age 10 yrs. old, a severe case

> of mononucleosis at age 14 that knocked me out for weeks, then a re-

> exposure to chicken pox at age 20, 6 weeks after the birth of my 1st

> child that resulted in the worst case of adult chicken pox I never

> imagined was possible! Then at age 42 I was diagnosed with Low

> Thyroid Function, and last May, the diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis!

> I just broke down and cried for 15 minutes before getting back to the

> computer to post this. I had a " light bulb moment " , and realized that

> most of you that have RA had a very similar, if not almost identical

> history and timeline of immune illnesses and diseases like me that

> have seemingly led up to MY deveopment of RA!!!

> I am loking forward to connecting with some of you that have already

> been where I am now, have found any info on homeopathic or holistic

> approached to treating the RA and other diseases I suffer from.

> I am so thankful for this website, I have benefitted from it in just

> the first 30 minutes being on it!

> I will appreciate any help, info, insights or reccommendations from

> those of you who have what I have and can offer any help to me at all.

> Thank you all for your input and especially the information you all

> post that has already began to give me hope anda feeling of not being

> all alone in this depressing situation.

> Respectfully and gratefully yours,

> Jules

>