Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
So today was the first real cold day, in my area...yesterday was a bit warmer. Today i woke up, more stiff than I had been in a while at at least since i noticed a slight decrease when i started mtx. I switched to mtx injections last week, i've not gotten as sick as i did while i was on the pill but then i wonder if they are working effectively.
I am a college student, full time, I had an exam today which anymore most of them are scantron tests..amazing little buggers. However today my one instructor decided we needed to write a five paragraph essay on 5 theories of criminology. Totally fun...yeah. I made it out of the class without crying but only just.
My hands are primarily effected but now i notice stiffness in my shoulders. Not a lot but i can feel it and they hurt. I dunno if the inflammation has spread there or if its just the fact i carry a lot on my shoulders in my backpack. Next semester my mom has convinced me to get a snazzy wheely one to help take the load off.
I dont go back to see my rheumy until Christmas eve, she had a morning appointment or else i wouldnt see her until after the holidays.
I am also dreading getting sick. I always do. I have asthma and when i get sick it automatically settles into my chest. So when i get a cold i get bronchitis and if im stubborn it might be pneamonia. I really hate doctors...i like my doctors they are awesome..but in general i dont like the medical community. My Rheumy mentioned that mtx makes it harder to fight infection and if i feel like im getting sick to go see my pcp and mention im on immune suppressants so that i get seen sooner rather than later.
Mainly recently i find myself all over the board with emotions sometimes i feel happy but then the next i feel horrible. My parents are trying to be understanding but they also want things done around the house. I try and make it my goal to get one chore accomplished a day, if im lucky thats generally dinner and maybe the dishes. Today no such luck. I just dont plain feel good. I hate it. My mom thinks i've been having signs for a while, but they werent bad enough to warrent being looked at. We only went down the autoimmune disorder route this past summer when i woke up with a swollen neck, my face, eyes, ears, neck and chest were bright red. My mom wanted to take me to the ER i objected...i was just there the day before for an asthma attack and they ignored me for 3 hours because i wouldnt stop coughing...hellooo it said in my files i have Cough Varient Asthma. So we went to the minute clinic, while the Nurse practioner was unable to diagnose anything she gave me prednisone...oh god i was in heave for a week, at least when i was at the 50mg dose..when i weened down i was miserable again. My Rheumy doesnt want to put me back on steroids as she feels they would be detrimental to my health for right now plus she wants me to see a pulmanory specialist and feels steroids would cover up any problems in that area.
Urgh...can i curl up in a ball and bury my head in the sand yet?
I am a college student, full time, I had an exam today which anymore most of them are scantron tests..amazing little buggers. However today my one instructor decided we needed to write a five paragraph essay on 5 theories of criminology. Totally fun...yeah. I made it out of the class without crying but only just.
My hands are primarily effected but now i notice stiffness in my shoulders. Not a lot but i can feel it and they hurt. I dunno if the inflammation has spread there or if its just the fact i carry a lot on my shoulders in my backpack. Next semester my mom has convinced me to get a snazzy wheely one to help take the load off.
I dont go back to see my rheumy until Christmas eve, she had a morning appointment or else i wouldnt see her until after the holidays.
I am also dreading getting sick. I always do. I have asthma and when i get sick it automatically settles into my chest. So when i get a cold i get bronchitis and if im stubborn it might be pneamonia. I really hate doctors...i like my doctors they are awesome..but in general i dont like the medical community. My Rheumy mentioned that mtx makes it harder to fight infection and if i feel like im getting sick to go see my pcp and mention im on immune suppressants so that i get seen sooner rather than later.
Mainly recently i find myself all over the board with emotions sometimes i feel happy but then the next i feel horrible. My parents are trying to be understanding but they also want things done around the house. I try and make it my goal to get one chore accomplished a day, if im lucky thats generally dinner and maybe the dishes. Today no such luck. I just dont plain feel good. I hate it. My mom thinks i've been having signs for a while, but they werent bad enough to warrent being looked at. We only went down the autoimmune disorder route this past summer when i woke up with a swollen neck, my face, eyes, ears, neck and chest were bright red. My mom wanted to take me to the ER i objected...i was just there the day before for an asthma attack and they ignored me for 3 hours because i wouldnt stop coughing...hellooo it said in my files i have Cough Varient Asthma. So we went to the minute clinic, while the Nurse practioner was unable to diagnose anything she gave me prednisone...oh god i was in heave for a week, at least when i was at the 50mg dose..when i weened down i was miserable again. My Rheumy doesnt want to put me back on steroids as she feels they would be detrimental to my health for right now plus she wants me to see a pulmanory specialist and feels steroids would cover up any problems in that area.
Urgh...can i curl up in a ball and bury my head in the sand yet?
The cold weather doesn't do anyone's joints any good. Maybe at Christmas your rheumy will have a plan for you to get feeling better.
In your first paragraph you mention not getting as sick from the injectable MTX and wondering if it's working as well. It's actually more effective when injected. Your stomach gets off easier as it doesn't have to digest the stuff.
You sound like you are trying really hard to be a good student and a good daughter. I hope your parents understand what's going on with you and that they can give you whatever support is most appropriate. You have a lot going on.
I don't know a lot about medication, since I can't take most of them.
But when you think you can't take anymore chores or whatever, I think you have the right to just give in and try to relax. Your family will understand that, won't they? There are moments when you simply have to cope with ONE problem and you need all the energy you have just to do so. And there is absolutely no need to feel guilty by doing so! By feeling guilty you add to your stress. And stress, as we all know, is really to be avoided whenever possible!
I can't imagine now going back to college with the stiffness and lain that is within my hands. I understand your frustration as I had to go back onto mtx again from being off of it for almost 2 years. For you and I, we have our advair, our inhaler, our RA drugs which is three for me, singular and nexium.
It's hard for our family to understand the effects of RA unless they can physically see us swelling or as red as a tomato before they realize things are wrong with Sunday to day. We all know it doesn't quite work that way for us all.
My wife came up with something so she would know my pain level and have a realistic expectation of how much I would be helping around the house. On the refrigerator there is a white board and everyday I put my pain level and my fatigue level. She know with just looking at the whiteboard how I'm feeling without it seeming as if I'm complaining day to day.
Hold your head up high. There are rough days no doubt. But it makes the days you feel great that much more enjoyable.
I think im getting a cold, which i dont need right now. My chest is heavy and im coughing a lot more plus my throat is sore..so yay me. blarg
I am new to this RA stuff so I don't have a lot of words of wisdom to share with you. However, I do have a link to an article you should read and then show to your parents if you agree with it. I know when I read The Spoon Theory it rang true for me. I also shared it with my family so they can better understand what I need to do to make it through each day. I hope it helps and you are feeling better soon.
Here is the link: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/