I am so sorry! I pray that God will help you through all of this and give you strength. I know how hard it is to stay on the course when you are fighting so much physical pain. I wish I could come clean your house..I'm in Ohio and not sure where you are. You could send me a private message. I'm sending you hugs and prayers!

I feel bad that your in so much pain. Do you have anyone to help you around the house? Whatever you do don't isolate yourself from people. That can help with depression.

I am so sorry to hear of all your troubles. It can really be draining emotionally to constantly deal with all you have on your plate. Do you belong to a church? Our youth group often help folks who are unable to keep up with these types of things as part of their community service. We have adult youth group chaperones who help organize these kind of activities. We have found it to be a great way for people who are stuck at home to have some company and also give the kids a chance to do something rewarding for a member of their own chuch. I will keep you in my prayers! I hope, I know, better days are coming your way!

I'm so sorry you are so down. Do you have a therapist? Are you opposed to trying a different antidepressant? I started taking Zoloft about a year ago and it was truly life changing. Therapy sure helps too. I hope you find some peace and a reason or two to smile...

With all that you have going on, I think there would be something wrong with you if you never were depressed. Keep in mind that it will pass. I'll be praying for you.

I'll snap out of this with the good Lord's help. I'm not opposed to therapy...it saved my life when my husband passed away with a heart attack 21 years ago. I just do not feel that it is necessary at this time for me. I think we all get depressed at times dealing with these danged autoimmune diseases. I learned through therapy to meditate and of course pray and it always lifts me up. I have horrible reactions to antidepressants...as I do to many many drugs. I've had my pity party today and I know that tomorrow will be a much brighter day for me.

Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers. This group is wonderful for lifting each other up when we are down.

Sometimes I just need to reflect on all that God has given me...not just the things that have been taken away. I have a wonderful grown son who lives with his old mama and does what he can for me. That is more than a lot of people have. I have to also remember that my life has changed forever but it is still life. I have strong faith because I know He walks beside me every step of the way.

God bless you all.

Im so sorry ncgranny I too started a terrible flare today ;-(
My house is never clean anymore, I didnt plant flowers this year. I am down too.
Just as soon as I get through a flare I get a couple good days and then down two weeks, etc. Etc.
I am so embarrassed about not planting flowers its one of ny fav summer things to do....RA just wouldn't let me do it.
I hope the good days come back soon for u!
Xoxo MLC.

My heart goes out to you. I know what you mean about a clean house; it sounds silly but it does lift one's spirit to walk into a sparkly clean room that smells fresh, especially sniffing a little wood cleaner and nice clean sheets. Can you manage to pay someone once a month or something to clean? Sometimes I pour a little Clorox down the toilets to make them smell better.

Things are bad for me. Six weeks ago I had hip replacement surgery, which went well by itself. But now I'm severely anemic from the trauma of surgery (drs.talked of transfusion), weak as a kitten, taking blood thinners (I get clots), and in bed some days. I am a widow but I'm glad no one can see me so weak because I've always been the strong one. I am also facing possible ankle surgery from RA deformity. Not sure if my RA doctor is doing all that could be done. In the half year since DX, I am now nearly blind in my right eye (cataracts aggravated from prednisone), with constant joint pain and significant changes in the bone structure of my hands and ankles.
But I'd come clean your house if I could! My 25-year-old daughter is coming home this weekend and that sparks me up.

One or two at a time, our problems are easier to handle. When piled on all at once, they become nearly intolerable! As I sit here, my elbows hurt, my hands hurt, my.... hold on, maybe telling you what doesn't hurt would be easier! LOL.... I had to drag myself to church last night. As youth leader and pastors wife, I used obligation as my driving force. It's during times like these where depression so easily sneaks in and tries it's best to take over.

For me, it helps to stay moving. The problem with this method is that it also hurts! I'm currently not taking anything, but will soon be trying Orencia. I want a break. Well, "wanted" is probably the key word there. Now, I'm not so sure. Now, I'm ready for the meds again.

I have no doubt you feel as though your trapped under a pile of blankets, smothering while you beg someone to start peelng them off of you. Struggling to use your worn out and sore body to kick at least the bottom corner off. It's an aweful place to be, and my heart and prayers go out to you. But you see, that's the great thing about life, while we feel as though we'll never make it through today, tomorrow everything could change. Tomorrow we could wake up with one or two, or all, of our problems resolved. It's the surprises that keep us going!

"I won't worry about tomorrow, because God is already there!"

-Tanya

I'm sorry you're going through such a hard time. I've been there - well, I am there. The fatigue is diminished with a new med I've been put on to combat tiredness, but I'm still in lots of pain and never have the motivation to clean. Some days I don't even manage to scoop the litter box, and with 4 cats that's a big deal. Recently, I went out of town and had my mom come over to feed the cats for a couple days, and since she knew I'd been having a tough time, she cleaned my whole apartment. It was about the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. Right now I'm putting all my hopes on the Orencia that I'm starting next week, just praying that it works to diminish this pain so I can really start wanting to do stuff again.

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I think everyone here understands what you're going through. This disease is hard and it sucks. Continue to lean on the Lord - He'll help you through this. But lean on us here, too, because sometimes people are also good :)

Frances, so sorry you are not doing well. I am blaming all my aches on this horribly humid NC weather. Hopefully,we will have an early fall. I am also having problems coming down from my prednisone. I was doing fine on 5mg, was even boasting how normal I felt. Well after being on 4mg for two weeks my neck is hurting very badly causing muscle spasms in my back as the day goes on.

Having a hard time taking some of the anti-flammatories that my new doc says would help with the inflammation. He suggested turmeric (which I feel like i'm allergic to). He also suggested
magnesium at night for the muscle spasms. But it kills my stomach the next day,all day.

My new integrative doctor did food allergy test saying that allergies cause the mycomplasma that causes RA. Guess what? I had no food allergies.

I am taking this natural antibiotic and felt good until neck start hurting (going down to 5mg prednisone). Rheumatologist says only thing he can give me is Orencia which of coursr takes time.

So I guess what I am saying is that I am there with you, not as many aches as you. But it doesn't seem like there are any answers.

I am sending many blessings your way.


E

God bless all of you for your kind thoughts and prayers. I cannot express how grateful I am for my DS buddies. It is so helpful to be able to vent to others who are going through this same illlness..although I wish none of us had this painful disease.

I am reciprocating by remembering each of you in my prayers. God bless you all.

Hugs//Frances

Wendy, I was so hoping your new regimen would be your answer...maybe it is still early on and it might still be.

Housekeeper is high on my to-do list before the summer ends. Hubby says he will help, and he has learned how to vacuum, but he doesn't know the other tasks exist. I can't get on my knees because of RA and my bike accident, the baths are filthy, my window - you can't see through them.

So part of my disability money is going to pay for someone to make my house clean. I did that the first 5 years, when I was not properly medicated, and would have done it forever, but both the ladies I had quit and went to work as nurse's aides. Hoping you feel better soon.

I have spent the summer trying to clean the living room, and I am finally seeing the end of the battle! Goodwill has benefitted by stuff I can no longer wear or use, and (shhhh, my kids have lost a few items), My next big project is straighteneing the kids book shelf, and getting a shelf set up in my son's room, which means taking it down from where it is, and getting rid of most of that stuff. Then I should be able to put up all the things that are boxed in the livingroom.
My goal is to get the LR as clean as possible, so that I can replace the carpet, which is 12 years old, and has a rough life, with young children, and a sick Mom.
I was a spotless housekeeper, but for many years, I didn't not care at all, I was so miserable with pain and nausea being the worst issues. Even though I feel bad now, and my pain is high, I still feel a desire to do something for a few minutes, and then I have to rest. Rest Is getting harder as it hurts to sit, or lay on my back, but I feel God's arm around my shoulders, encouraging me to remember that love is the most important thing.

I hope that you can have some peace with your treatment. I am not always at peace, but sometimes I am, and it feels so nice!

Hugs!!!!!