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...
This year has just sucked! there's been something happen every damn month. Recently diagnosed with RA, can't find a medication to help so far. My biggest complaint is the muscle stiffness and pain and swelling. Prednisone is the only thing that has helped so far and I can't stay on it all the time. I'm not trying to be a whine ass, basically I just need to vent. In January, my uncle passed away, in February, my best friend moved away several states away. In march we realized we needed a new roof, in april my husband was off work because of gallbladder attacks, in May he had gallbladder surgery and that's when the RA started attacking my knees and legs, then we found out our home owners insurance is dropping us because we had to make a claim for wind damage to our roof and to top it all off on June 9th we had to put our Furbaby, Sniffles, to sleep because we found out he had bone cancer. Sniffles was and still is the love and light of our lives. We miss him terribly, we lost OUR CHILD. We have no human children.
Now I am learning the RA is relentless in letting up...I'm still working full-time but we are so financially strained and all I do is pray and keep telling myself it could be worse. I'm terrified that more bad things are to come and I don't even want to think about it. Everytime something else goes wrong, I can't help but think, SERIOUSLY?! REALLY?! WHY God, we can't seem to catch a little bit of a break? My God is a loving and caring God, but then my head keeps going and going and that awful thought pops into my head saying Why is God picking on us so much? I know the God of my understanding isn't like that, but I can't get rid of these thoughts.
I have hit rock bottom and I don't know if I have the strength and/or will power to pull myself up out of this awful pit I'm living in.
Now I am learning the RA is relentless in letting up...I'm still working full-time but we are so financially strained and all I do is pray and keep telling myself it could be worse. I'm terrified that more bad things are to come and I don't even want to think about it. Everytime something else goes wrong, I can't help but think, SERIOUSLY?! REALLY?! WHY God, we can't seem to catch a little bit of a break? My God is a loving and caring God, but then my head keeps going and going and that awful thought pops into my head saying Why is God picking on us so much? I know the God of my understanding isn't like that, but I can't get rid of these thoughts.
I have hit rock bottom and I don't know if I have the strength and/or will power to pull myself up out of this awful pit I'm living in.
I hope you have some success finding a medication that works. I find it so frustrating that when they start a new med it take weeks and weeks before one can tell if it's even going to work. It's not like we can take a pill and in a few days tell if it's working. (Except our miracle drug- Prednisone). None of my treatments are working either and I meet tomorrow to talk about biologics . The pain wears you down I know and takes a lot of our energy (for me anyway).
Can u do something small like go out for an ice cream cone, or hot bubble bath with some great praise music (or whatever you love)? I have found that little things can change my day and try to distract myself from the constant pain. I send you gentle "cyber" hugs.
It sounds like you're able to handle what was being thrown at you until your health got soo..like I said-you get your health more under the right meds etc and you WILL be able to get your feet nback under ya..in the mean time-feel free to whine or whatever
like i said, you got it out so leave it out. control that six inches between your ears, entertain nothing but positives, you must.
personal example; the ping-pong-bounce of pain from joint to joint, the swelling of one side then the other, i look at it as actually a possible improvement to my life because my Dad was a bad diabetic and died a terrible, painful, drawn out death. He would only half-***ed control his diet. I was well on the way to the same ending. Then RA ran right over top of me. Pain like never before. Found a diet (my screen name plus no processed sugar) that worked very well is lessening/controlling flares/pain. Problem now is that I'm so dang skinny it looks unhealthy though all the BMI's say I'm perfect. Blood work perfect for sugar, BP, cholesterol, etc. When I cheat the diet (excuse, to put on a little weight) it doesn't take long to swell up and hurt. So, if not for this virtually immediate pain I would have ended up just like my Dad.
Work on that area between your ears.
Attitude is key. No matter what life throws at you just keep walking through the mire. There are good times to come, just keep going and don't get too down or you will miss those rays of light!
Good luck
Yes it does seem to hit one thing after the other.
We wonder how much more can I take?
Then someone comes a long with bigger & more & we think hmmm. Just maybe I'm not hit so hard.
So many people around me are sick. Meaning fighting for their lives.
Doesn't lesson our troubles or how we feel. As we still have to get up daily & push through what life throws at us.
Yet I look at those who are facing worse & thank god my family is not dealing with fear of loosing me or my husband.
I don't talk much about my beliefs but in this case I will.
God doesn't give us more then we can handle. Sure feels that way at times. God knows I've asked why?
Yet when it feels like I'm getting pounded I simply get exhausted & remember to hand it over to him best I can. I ask for the strength, courage & wisdom to get through.
It's not always easy & at the end of these tough tough times we find we are stronger then we ever thought.
Perhaps this tough time your going through will enable you to help another down the road. When that person feels they can't handle another thing.
I do feel for you. It's simply not fair at times. I feel overwhelmed & put to the test myself.
We'll get through it all because we are strong & let's face it we have to.
Hang in there & if you feel your not getting any better in to RA department get with your doctor. Remember the doctor is paid by you to help you.
Mean while I'll send up a prayer things get a little easier for us both.
I'm very sorry about your lose.
Sammy
During this upheaval try to find the little bright spots during your day. A butterfly, sunshine, your husband's smile. A kind friend's support. fireflies at night. This is what helps me. I've had this disease for 10 years and if I don't stop and notice beauty and give thanks I start to lose it. Good luck! xoxo