hate that people don't know what RA is

[Guest guest]

It is a real pet peeve of mine that the general population does not

distinguish between RA and regular arthritis. My extended family

and some friends just don't understand. I hate when my aunt

will say, " Oh yeah, my arthritis bothers me too " . It is nowhere

near the same thing! I told my family that I am not coming for

Christmas, and I can tell they just don't understand, but the trip is

just too much for me. I cried about it because this is my father's

side of the family and he passed away last year. My family thinks

that just because I have rosy cheeks and that I am young that I

am not sick!