Looking at a Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Up with a Smile
See what a Rheumatoid Arthritis flare up plus a little creativity can produce!
There was a treat in my email box last night. Young freelance writer Brooke Windsor wrote up this clever verse about her Rheumatoid Arthritis flare. It gives cool meaning to “grin and bear it.” Brooke’s writing touched me and made me smile and I’m so glad she is letting me share it with you.
Dear Kelly,
I just recently discovered your site, and I wanted to let you know how much it has helped me… I am currently having one of the worst flares I’ve ever had and even typing this note is a bit too much. However, after having a good cry about having to cut my shirt off in order to take a shower since my shoulder was so swollen I couldn’t get out of it myself, I remembered the idea of laughing at this “inconvenience” from all the funny articles on your site since it really is a laugh or be miserable kind of world for rheumatoid arthritis patients. I took it upon myself to make my own funny of my bad flare by taking an hour to type up this little joke. I thought you might like it as it really did make me smile once I finished. Again, thank you so much for your website. I really need to know there are others out there going through the same thing as me on days like this.
-Brooke Windsor
You know it’s a bad Rheumatoid Arthritis flare up when…
Recommended reading:
- What Is the List of Rheumatoid Arthritis Joints?
- My little video: Rheumatoid Arthritis Hand – Safe Handshake
- Here’s another poem written by a reader
I can totally relate! It’s not just the physical aspect–my mind goes into paralysis! Even though I can type on a computer, my brain fails to function!
Yes!! I love this. Thank you for posting it Kelly and Brooke, thank you for writing it. You have a wonderful sense of humor. This was so funny. I needed a laugh about my RA. I related to them all! Thanks Brooke! Cracked me up! 😀
Love it… made me LOL!!! Shared on FB. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing this with us Kelly! This is terrific Brooke! Keep up your creativity – it is what has gotten me through some of my worst days!! Great job!
Humor is healing and so good for the soul! I really had to giggle about the remote/tv comment. And the convenience food comment. I grab a Kashi bar for breakfast and lunch because it’s too much trouble to make a peanutbutter Sandwich!!! Sweet yet bittersweet but we have to keep our sense of humor! Thanks Brooke, and to you, Kelly, for sharing…. 🙂
So, so true!!! I especially relate to the lines regarding claiming to have lupus and becoming ambidextrous…and the pillow sleeping, too!! Life with RA…would rather smile than cry ~ 🙂
Thanks Brooke you made me smile today!! Gilly x
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Dear Brooke,
Love your name and sense of humor!
You hit it out of the park with this poem——————-EXACTLY! Thank you for keeping the laughs coming and I look forward to reading more of your talented material.
Girl, you have a gift————–so do you Kelly.
We are blessed to have you both!
Gentle hugs!
Brooke, this is wonderful! There’s nothing like another RA warrior to ‘get’ what we go through. Thanks for sending this to Kelly so she could share it with all of us. I hope your flare is soon gone and that your dear hands can keep sharing words with the world.
Now that is Very, Very good… Keep up the good work!
Brooke,
Thank you! This is so true! I am sorry that you know this
so well. But glad that you shared it!
Fantastic post! Excellent writing. I laughed hardest and related the most to the one about telling people I have lupus so I don’t have to hear the “I have arthritis too,” speech.
That part is where I lauged out loud, too! Telling people I have Lupus in my general response anymore because I’m so sick of the mix-up with OA!
Thank you so much Brooke and Kelly, You sure have a handle on this…I can relate to all of this. putting jewelry on and earings have been a challenge or trying to put a barrette on back of my hair…what a trip lol. Brooke I see a great career a head for you. You made my day.:o) 😎
Brooke, Praying that your flare is gne soon! xxx
I really needed this laugh, sombody tell me how to stop :rotfl: my neck is starting to hurt LOL! My cabinets are stocked with “Bowl Apetit” :rotfl: gotta go eat now…you are awesome girl keep your chin up!
Love it Brooke! Thanks
Sooooo helpful. When I’m in the middle of a flare that keeps me from doing anything — like now — just when I get comfortable (by our standards) with an OK TV show and pillows propping up all my parts, and some foods that isn’t too disgusting, just then an evil part of my brain says, “See you’re OK. You’re just lazy.” This funny post reminds me that anything I can do to feel better is basic survival and that all these things are REAL. Love to you all doing the same.
Kay: I can so relate to what you wrote, especially the lazy part. I own an amazing amount of pillows of different materials and sizes. I keep a choice of 4 on my bed each night and will change up in the night depending on my neck and shoulders.
RA is like having the worst job in world, ’cause it sure feels like work anymore. The job you can never quit.
Brooke! This is awesome! Thank you for bringing smiles and laughs to my day. It’s wonderfully refreshing (and therapeutic, too!) to be able to see these very real challenges in a humorous way! Now I’ll smile when I reach for the remote, make my instant dinner, and adjust the pillows. Now if I could just get brave enough to try the “lupus” line… 😀
Thanks, Kelly, for sharing Brooke’s work with us!
p.s. I checked out three audio books today and returned four audio books to the library. How did you know?
LOL I love it!! It’s SSOOO true, all of it! Except the NSAIDS being a breakfast of champions, I used to be for me until the NSAIDS gave me an ulcer and pancreatitis which was NO FUN. Thanks for the great laugh!!
My lovely daughter, This is fantastic.
Brooke and Kelly: Thank God for gifted women who put their talents to their best use.
Snorted coffee on the lupus line (no offense to anyone with lupus). Ah well, my stuffy sinuses needed a rinse.
Thanks for the smile! I can identify with many of these. I have reposted this on my blog.
Hi Patty, I would really rather you posted the link to my post than having copy-pasted the post into your own blog. Usually, people write to me and ask to borrow images – I spend many hours creating my images & the software is expensive, too. Thanks.
Great post!!! Thanks for sharing. Cereal is my bestfriend when I am feeling really anti-cooking.
Awesome! (Left hand typing today. . .) Thanks for setting a great tone for the day. .
I love Brooke’s poem, it really “hit’s the nail on the head” as my Dad used to say!!!!!! I have done all the things’s she says! RA is a hateful disease and most people really do not understand! They do think it is just like most other arthritis, just a little pain here or there and it goes away. We have pain EVERYWHERE! I have nodules in my lungs that mimic a heart attack when they flare up! Anybody else have that? They are in my left lung and man they hurt when they get mad! I could go on and on, but what the heck, you all know and most of us are the only one’s that read this anyway. Love you all and soft hugs to you!
Dear Julie, how did they diagnose them? Ouch. :C
What a great list! I too loved the “tell people I have Lupus so I don’t have to listen to the “I have arthritis too” !!
Well thank you Kelly, this really made me smile! I thought I was just weird with my collection of pillows, feels good to know I’m not alone. I can truly identify with everything Brooke says!
Oh good, I’m glad you smiled. I have my special pillow I take everywhere for a knee or an elbow – there are never enough pillows. LOL 😀
This was terrific, and it’s so important to “laugh” even tho you want to cry! Well done, Brooke, well done! I have read the articles you have on remission, Kelly, and I was so excited cause I felt I was in that period of the disease. Then over the holidays, of course, I started getting the ol’ familiar pain in hands, wrists, and toes. I have a great rheumy – she increased my pred. by 1 mg and unfortunately my metho by 2.5 mg. but I am getting relief, so that’s a good thing. I was so hoping to keep going in a positive direction, and yet, WHAM! So reading this was great – keeps the whole deal in perspective…and nice to know we’re not alone out there!
Thanks Kelly!
For those of you who seen the movie “Steele Magnolias”… the part where you’re crying your eyes out for M’Lynn and Clairee says to hit Ouiser… and you start laughing while you’re crying. Same here – while I was reading what Ms Kelly passed on today, in silent tears w/pain, I suddenly broke out in laughter …at the same time. Whooo hooo… gotta love the emotional rides. Thanks Brooke, I can so relate. And Thank You Ms Kelly for passing it on. Here’s wishing everyone blessings!
I am also going through the worst flare i’ve ever gone through. I’m only 27 and know exactly how you feel Brooke. I laughed out loud for the first time In awhile reading this. Thanks for the chuckle. I literally feel your pain!
Ha! i was in the mood for a laugh; this post is both very funny and poignantly true.
I just found this site today & what a blessing! I’m currently in a terrible flare & the support & laughter on this site really helps!