Another Newbie with quetions....

[Guest guest]

I think I did have an event that triggered RA for me.  I was 52 when diagnosed. 

I had moved from Florida where the sunshine is at a very intense angle and I was

outside all the time when not doing housework or at work.  I think when I moved

to the Colorado mountains as a traveling nurse and then to northern California

my drop in vitamin D production set me up.  I think we are just learning the

purpose for vitamin D in our bodies.  I also had been through a tremendous

stress at the same time, getting a divorce after 25 years of marriage (though

now such a blessing I can't even describe acurately).  I now have a very

supportive husband of over ten years and I am dealing with this disease head

on.  I work full time in a very demanding job (nurse manager) but easily able to

do so.  All of us are different with this disease and how we respond to the meds

it is trial and error for each of us.  I am hopeful that medical advances, such

as stem cell

research (not embroyonic) will reverse this disease permanently.  Just as a

side note, I find narcotic medication never helped with the pain.  Over the

counter ibuprofen did much better but I have a history of ulcers so only take in

extreme cases of pain and swelling.  Not often.

Good luck to you,

Dale Ellen