Comments on: Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Onset Stories, page 5

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:49:26 +0000

I feel very sad that your experience is quite typical of what I’ve heard. Thank you for sharing with others here. Today’s blog would be a perfect companion to your comment! http://rawarrior.com/the-path-of-mercy-in-medicine-a-tale-of-two-doctors/

By: Adele

Adele — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 06:14:40 +0000

I suffered for three years in severe pain and felt no hope of ever finding out what was wrong with me. I was so swollen, sore, just the weight of a sheet lying on my feet was excruciating. The worst part was that I kept telling the Doctors what was happening and they didn’t listen to me. They thought I was a menopausal histerical woman with too much time on my hands. Truth be told I didn’t have a good Doctor. I switched to another Doctor and she was mad. She sent me to the Rheumatologist immediately. Hence I was on prednisone for over a year, methotrexate, etc. I think the thing that hurt the worst besides the physical pain was that no one could see why I hurt. Eventually blood tests and swollen joints were proof. I felt so all alone because I knew something awful was going on with my body but it took too long to prove it. I feel for anyone who has RA.

By: Adele

Adele — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 06:07:20 +0000

I think Rheumatoid Arthritis is a horrible disease.

By: O.J._13241952803805771376

O.J._13241952803805771376 — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:25:29 +0000

all of you are “reading my mail” as they say. It is such a relief to find out you aren’t crazy. Thanks to all and best wishes for better days ahead. Never give up and NEVER walk in fear!!

By: Katherine Martin

Katherine Martin — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:04:40 +0000

Kay, Leigh Ann and Vicky I am so sorry to read about your pain and confusion. I am right there with you ladies I am 48 and 3 years ago I woke up and when I went to get out of bed I felt as if I had bricks tied to my knees, the pain was unbearable. Fast forward to now I have RA I am on Enbrel, 17.50 mg of MTX once a week, Folic acid every day and Celebrex 2x a day. Ok that is the meds. I have a stool in my shower because I cannot stand in the shower long enough to do all I need to do. What about a bath? Ha I can get in with a big splash, but getting out that is a whole other story with a unhappy ending- so I no longer try. I put my shampoo and conditioner in soda bottles because the mouth is bigger and this means no squeezing. I have a spaghetti dipper I use to wash my hair with when I can only lift my arms so high. I have front snapping bras when I cannot bare the pain of snapping my bra and turning it around. I have quilts that my mother gave me which I no longer use because I did not have the strength to pull them up on me at night. I now use light blankets. I have a stool to set on between my sink and dishwasher to help me do the dishes. I have to walk backwards down stairs so my knees do not feel as much pressure. I did not go upstairs in my house for two years. When my wrists hurt my son picks me up and drives me to & from work. I can’t pick up my grandchildren. That infuriates me, they cannot sit on my lap because this hurts my knees. One time I was going down the stairs of my sons home and my grandson son said look BeBa I am walking just like you. Now it is funny but then it was so incredibly sad. Seat belts, ignition starting and removing the gas cap were a nightmare. I will not even go into the bathroom detail unfortunately you probably know what I am talking about. When the RA gets in my jaws brushing my teeth is nearly impossible. Sometimes you just have to use mouthwash. LeighAnn I know about the hand/claw thing in the morning I would have to set my alarm a hour earlier than I needed to take my celebrex and do my hand exercises. I have to use plastic grips on doors to open them. One morning I woke up and I was in such a bad mood or a pain mood anyway it was raining outside and my son was knocking on the door and I heard him say mom hurry I am getting soaked. I started laughing- When I finally got to the door I told him the one thing you never say to a person with RA is HURRY. I am doing much better now and sometime I too wonder how I stood so much pain before the Enbrel and Celebrex. God bless those who do not have insurance and cannot afford medication. Ok I could go on for ever and ever and ever but I just wanted to say I will pray for you all.

By: Ronda

Ronda — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:23:47 +0000

Thank you for sharing your stories. It just blows me away how long it took for your diagnosis. It is unbelievable the ignorance of some doctors. I learn from every story I read, thanks again.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:46:33 +0000

Hi Amy, I’m sorry you are going through this. If you are “dismissed” it will be tough, but keep trying. You need an answer. Many RA patients get the Fibromyalgia comments first & then it’s changed to RA. Either way, don’t give up.

By: AmyW

AmyW — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:35:18 +0000

Ladies:

These stories sound so much like me. I won’t take you through my symptoms except to say that my pain started in my shoulder too, and I was diagnosed with shoulder impingement and treated with multiple cortisone injections. In addition to bilateral joint paint everywhere, I now have the cysts. Only they’re not just in both ankles, they’re also in both wrists, both feet, and on one knee. We’ve just moved into one story house because I couldn’t carry my 17 month old upstairs in our old house. I’m waiting on a RD appointment. I have a positive ANA but my RF is low. I have a family history of RA. My internist keeps saying fibromyalgia. I too have a pharmacy in my bathroom. I’m terrified that the rheumatologist is going to be equally dismissive. Today I couldn’t even keep my hands firmly on the steering wheel of the car… Thanks for telling your stories.