Comments on: The Four Courses of Rheumatoid Arthritis, part 1

By: Ruby

Ruby — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:23:16 +0000

Tower of Terror I hate RA

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:24:57 +0000

Isel,
Well said. I agree that this is what is missing for RA – a little understanding of what we deal with.

By: Isel Porras

Isel Porras — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:56:39 +0000

Hi, I am 46 and was diagnosed in May with moderate to severe RA. I chanced upon this website as I was looking up the stages of grief. I started simponi and methotrexate in June and noticed an immediate difference throughout most of my body. In Mid-July, my shoulder and neck began to bother me. I suspect part of the pain is stress- related and the other part is RA. I haven’t quite figured out which of the four RA types I might be, despite having had the symptoms for a while. I’ m still in what might be called a “pity party”, but just want to get out of this state of mind. I mourn, I cry, worry. I don’t care what I look like, I just want to continue to work and enjoy my family. I want to have hope and do sometimes, but am filled with questions and self doubt. I don’t want sympathy from others, but they don’t seem to understand the condition assuming I’m just exaggerating or meek. My family has been so supportive, but friends just dont’t get it. I want acceptance. I want concern….. I don’t want pity, nor do I want attention. I just want to feel that they are there for me – not that I would ever put anyone in such a position as to become a pain or a burden.

By: Amy Fowler

Amy Fowler — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:45:02 +0000

Kelly,
I sometime wonder if its these “different courses of RA” that creates a lot of the confusion over what RA is. When someone has the the chicken pox – EVERYONE gets this blister rash that itches like crazy, etc. It’s those symptoms that allows the diagnosis of the virus. For RA, some cases, Dr’s can’t agree on a diagnosis of RA because of the lack of “textbook” symptoms. Then even once you have been diagnosed, courses of treatment are different depending on Dr. Sometimes that treatment is deemed successful with disease in remission even with visible swelling of joints.
In my own case, different symptoms appear on different days. Severity of these symptoms can be effected by humidity. I don’t know if that is common for everyone, but both winter and summer humidity extremes cause greater severity of symptoms.
I guess my point is, I believe it is these differences or courses that seem to cause a lot of the lack of understanding of our disease. That “you don’t look sick” mentality is there because of the question you are asking here – what is RA supposed to look like?

By: maggi wolfendale

maggi wolfendale — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:58:30 +0000

Dear Kelly,
A friend passed on your site address when he saw it and I’m so grateful!
I will be 50 years old in June and have had RA since I was 21. After the initial diagnosis when I was still in the army(which strangely disappeared when I got out???) it took another 2 decades to get re-diagnosed and the information I was given then just didn’t gel with my own experiences, or those of other RA sufferers I had spoken to. The answers I found here ring true and I’ll be passing on your site address myself. many thanks. Maggi

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:04:13 +0000

Thanks, Patty. I’m so glad you hear you are getting answers & your husband has been supportive. No, I hope you can also feel better soon!
By the way, I smiled since I’ve had a hard time trying to convince certain people that the movie theater is not “easy.”

By: Patty K

Patty K — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:56:09 +0000

I just wanted to say that I have been reading your blog and the comments for 2 days straight– can’t “put it down” (so to speak!). Just got diagnosed in Oct after trying to get somebody to test me for 7 years! Thank you for this! Though my husband has been great,( after watching me cry for 7 years, at least we have an answer!) I have friends who are like: “Oh, arthritis, my Mom has that too. Do you want to go see a movie?” People don’t get it that it hurts me to sit in a movie seat for 2 hours, etc. etc. etc. I thought that now that I had validation, an actual DISEASE, they would understand why I haven’t been myself these past years, but mostly not…oh well, at least now I have you all! Thanks again!

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:47:28 +0000

Wow, Kathy. Your family has had it’s share of trouble from RA. I’m so sorry for you. I hope the GP will know how to get your husband as comfortable as possible while he waits – that is too long. If the rheum doctor has a waiting list, maybe you can check in with them periodically to see if you can get in sooner.

By: kathyb

kathyb — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:13:04 +0000

we just found out my husband has RA his mom has it, but was never diag. her hands are drawn. In June he underwent a colon section. Anyways, we can’t get into the specialist till May, in the meantime we’ll continue to see his general practioner, who is wonderful. Right now we don’t know where to turn what to do, all this is so overwhelming. My dad had this and fought it for over 20 yrs. back before all the meds. he sucumbed to the disease in 04. I know so much progress has been made and a normal life can be led, but I’m terrified, I can’t stop crying, and feel I have no one to talk to, and don’t know which way to turn.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:47:39 +0000

All I can say is thank God for your sense of humor and courage to keep going until hopefully you found a good doctor! Great post.