Meet Those Fighting for Normal Lives
Constant Battle of RA Pain
I was officially diagnosed last year, during semester break (October to November 2007). February 2006 - my fingers started to hurt, especially in the morning. Summer (March to May 2006) - gone. June 2006 onwards - the pain came back, I couldn't move my fingers and wrists without feeling pain. There was a time when I even cried because dressing up for school became such a painful ordeal.
I'm on methotrexate right now. I hate drinking that... Doesn't taste good. Plus I still have stiffness in my fingers and wrists... It's spreading though, I'm starting to feel pain in my jaw, feet and elbows. Sometimes it irritates me to know that I can't do some things I really want to do just because I got this disease (mine's hereditary and stress-induced)
-Patricia
I was officially diagnosed last year, during semester break (October to November 2007). February 2006 - my fingers started to hurt, especially in the morning. Summer (March to May 2006) - gone. June 2006 onwards - the pain came back, I couldn't move my fingers and wrists without feeling pain. There was a time when I even cried because dressing up for school became such a painful ordeal.
I'm on methotrexate right now. I hate drinking that... Doesn't taste good. Plus I still have stiffness in my fingers and wrists... It's spreading though, I'm starting to feel pain in my jaw, feet and elbows. Sometimes it irritates me to know that I can't do some things I really want to do just because I got this disease (mine's hereditary and stress-induced)
-Patricia
I Too Have RA
I was diagnosed with RA about a year back and i am 22, it really hurts and it is so depressing to be a victim of this chronic disabling condition.I wake up everyday with all my body stiff and joints suffering from pain.I have been on methotrexate and other anti-inflammatory drugs and the situation gets better with medication but the side effects are just so distressing,i have lost too much weight and the worse thing is nobody understands my situation.I have been searching internet all the time but since i am a medical student i already know all those things and this knowledge of mine is really not helping me at all.The pain and stiffness is talking toll on me.My knee,wrist,hand and feet joints are affected with pain and stiffness.Sometimes the joint mobility also gets affected especially at wrist joint.Some days are better then other.I don't want this disease to progress any further.I doesn't want it to leave my joints deformed.I am not taking methotrexate for a while bacause of its side effects.Now i am only taking anti-inflammatory medications.If anybody here can help me suggesting some really effective herbal or natural remedy;i would really be grateful.
-Samrina
I was diagnosed with RA about a year back and i am 22, it really hurts and it is so depressing to be a victim of this chronic disabling condition.I wake up everyday with all my body stiff and joints suffering from pain.I have been on methotrexate and other anti-inflammatory drugs and the situation gets better with medication but the side effects are just so distressing,i have lost too much weight and the worse thing is nobody understands my situation.I have been searching internet all the time but since i am a medical student i already know all those things and this knowledge of mine is really not helping me at all.The pain and stiffness is talking toll on me.My knee,wrist,hand and feet joints are affected with pain and stiffness.Sometimes the joint mobility also gets affected especially at wrist joint.Some days are better then other.I don't want this disease to progress any further.I doesn't want it to leave my joints deformed.I am not taking methotrexate for a while bacause of its side effects.Now i am only taking anti-inflammatory medications.If anybody here can help me suggesting some really effective herbal or natural remedy;i would really be grateful.
-Samrina
Just Diagnosed Ra After 12 Years Of Osteo
I was just diagnosed yesterday after both my wrists were burning up below the thumbs at the tendons. I have had terrible joint pain for 12 years, mostly in my lower back, toes and thumbs. I've had terrible gout before. I have never had this type of tendon swelling. Do you get dry mouth and eyes with a dry cough? I feel like I have the flu, but I know I don't have the flu. I have been off work for 2 months coping with care giver burn-out (aging parents),depression, pain and menopause. I am a school teacher (grade 4, 30 kids) and I have been working full time forever. I love my work, but I don't know if I can work 5 days at this job anymore. I was planning to go back to work dec.1 because I was emotionally feeling much brighter, but now this diagnosis! I am 52 and very tired. Please talk to me out there. I feel blown away!
-Chelsea May
I was just diagnosed yesterday after both my wrists were burning up below the thumbs at the tendons. I have had terrible joint pain for 12 years, mostly in my lower back, toes and thumbs. I've had terrible gout before. I have never had this type of tendon swelling. Do you get dry mouth and eyes with a dry cough? I feel like I have the flu, but I know I don't have the flu. I have been off work for 2 months coping with care giver burn-out (aging parents),depression, pain and menopause. I am a school teacher (grade 4, 30 kids) and I have been working full time forever. I love my work, but I don't know if I can work 5 days at this job anymore. I was planning to go back to work dec.1 because I was emotionally feeling much brighter, but now this diagnosis! I am 52 and very tired. Please talk to me out there. I feel blown away!
-Chelsea May
19 Years Versus 2 Weeks
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am amazed and terrified at the relentless fury of this illness. My medical history reads like a Stephen King novel, and is not for the faint hearted, so I thought I should say some things about myself first. My great joys in life are my children, trees and dogs. I am passionate about the city I live in which is Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the most treed city in the world and I am blessed to live here. My three children aged 39, 38 and 21 have taught me much and I love them dearly. 19 years ago, following a bladder operation that went wrong, I was diagnosed with M.E., now called CFIDS. After several years of extreme fatigue, and after losing my gallbladder, I was sent to a Rheumatologist who diagnosed severe Fibromyalgia. I went hunting for a magic bullet, swallowing every possible herb, supplement and vitamin on the market. None of them worked, in fact many made me worse. For three years in a row, I went to a fasting clinic for 6 days each time, where after, I followed a 95% raw food diet. I also took no medication, and enjoyed a relatively good couple of years. But the fasting triggered migraine I hit the wall badly with skin cancer and a resultant wound that collapsed three times. This year my Rheumatologist, a great man Professor Asherson, passed away and I sought help from a new Rheumatologist in Pretoria who was doing much to help Fibromyalgia patients. In June, my ESR went up to 42. My health got worse. I had to see all the Gists, Pulmonologist, Urologist, Neurologist. Think it up, if it ended in gist, I saw them. Two weeks ago, my new Rheumatologist, diagnosed R.A. Apparently all the tests had come up positive. I was hospitalised an underwent aggressive treatment. The team approach in addition to the Rheumatology, consisted of a dietitian, physio, ergonomic expert, and psychologist. The future scares me, the Methatrixate terrifies me. The cost of the meds I am taking has put me under great financial stress. If anyone comes near me with a needle or implement of any type, I want to cry. The peculiar part of this story is that my 39 year old daughter has also been diagnosed with R.A. Idon't understand what I did to deserve this. This illness is obviously not for sissies. I take my second dose of Methatrixate on Christmas day. Please reassure me that this flare will damper down. I do not know if I can face it. My heart goes out to all R.A.Chronic Myafascia Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, patients. You have courage. I don't know if I do.Thanks for reading this.
-Angelpower
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am amazed and terrified at the relentless fury of this illness. My medical history reads like a Stephen King novel, and is not for the faint hearted, so I thought I should say some things about myself first. My great joys in life are my children, trees and dogs. I am passionate about the city I live in which is Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the most treed city in the world and I am blessed to live here. My three children aged 39, 38 and 21 have taught me much and I love them dearly. 19 years ago, following a bladder operation that went wrong, I was diagnosed with M.E., now called CFIDS. After several years of extreme fatigue, and after losing my gallbladder, I was sent to a Rheumatologist who diagnosed severe Fibromyalgia. I went hunting for a magic bullet, swallowing every possible herb, supplement and vitamin on the market. None of them worked, in fact many made me worse. For three years in a row, I went to a fasting clinic for 6 days each time, where after, I followed a 95% raw food diet. I also took no medication, and enjoyed a relatively good couple of years. But the fasting triggered migraine I hit the wall badly with skin cancer and a resultant wound that collapsed three times. This year my Rheumatologist, a great man Professor Asherson, passed away and I sought help from a new Rheumatologist in Pretoria who was doing much to help Fibromyalgia patients. In June, my ESR went up to 42. My health got worse. I had to see all the Gists, Pulmonologist, Urologist, Neurologist. Think it up, if it ended in gist, I saw them. Two weeks ago, my new Rheumatologist, diagnosed R.A. Apparently all the tests had come up positive. I was hospitalised an underwent aggressive treatment. The team approach in addition to the Rheumatology, consisted of a dietitian, physio, ergonomic expert, and psychologist. The future scares me, the Methatrixate terrifies me. The cost of the meds I am taking has put me under great financial stress. If anyone comes near me with a needle or implement of any type, I want to cry. The peculiar part of this story is that my 39 year old daughter has also been diagnosed with R.A. Idon't understand what I did to deserve this. This illness is obviously not for sissies. I take my second dose of Methatrixate on Christmas day. Please reassure me that this flare will damper down. I do not know if I can face it. My heart goes out to all R.A.Chronic Myafascia Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, patients. You have courage. I don't know if I do.Thanks for reading this.
-Angelpower