I always say, "Fine, how are you?" I never tell people when I'm having struggles with my RA. What is the point? They don't get it and frankly, I'm tired of trying to make them get it. Every time I tell someone I have RA they say, "Oh yeah, I have that in my knee." or some such crap. I have given up. I just smile and say, "Fine."

That's always my answer to. "How are you feeling"
"Fine thanks, you?"
It's automatic.
I have to stop myself from doing that with the doctor too. That's one person you really want to know the truth.
Just picture what it would be like if we were honest!
"How are you feeling"
" Not to good. My left knee hurts like heck and I got pins and needle pains in my left toes. My right hip is shooting pain into my rump and down my leg. My back hurts and my ankles and wrists are sorer than heck but I don't have a headache, sore throat or earache or fever so I guess I'll live"
Then watch her/him back slowly away with glazed eyes muttering something about an appointment that they were late for. LOLOL!

Doctor, oh I'm ok or oh I'm alright with a slanted down tone. I purposefully do not want them thinking I'm awesome when I'm not. It's an act I've begun doing.
Family or friends, I'm ok, change of subject. If you've seen my post on vent family, then you understand why I've stopped discussing things with people. Now I only torture ny husband with my crap.

Normally, I respond fine or great. No one wants to hear about my troubles if we are just having a quick conversation.

If I am going to be participating in activities with friends, I will tell them I have some limitations. If they inquire... I will tell them I have an autoimmune disease that is attacking my body. I explain it is similar to cancer in the way it attacks the body. Next they ask what it is called, I say, rheumatoid disease. This usually puzzles most people because they have only heard of rheumatoid arthritis.
When they ask if it is RA, I say that RA is only one of the many (for lack of a better term) side effects from the disease.

Once I compare it to cancer that seems to open their minds to the fact that this may be more than stiff joints. This approach has been effective with most of my friends.

Bottom line; No one will understand unless they have the disease.

I seem to be saying "hanging in there" a lot these days. Surprisingly, I get that back from a number of people. They may not have RA, but they probably have some other "invisible" challenge making their lives difficult. Even though we have RA, we have no corner on misery.

Lately I've been answering "about the same". The conversation on that topic usually ends there. On a REALLY bad day I say "Don't ask, I might actually tell you".

Like most others have posted, I have a pretty automated reply of "Fine. How are you?" or "Ok, thanks."

It's rare that I give a "Good" and smile. Usually when that's the case it's because I am stuck in a corner where I have to put my "professional face" on (Example: If I'm interviewing an applicant for a position)

The thing I hate most is when people just come up to me and say, "How are you doing? Good? I can tell you feel better today!" As if I ever felt "good", now all of a sudden other people are telling ME how I feel!?!?!? It really bugs me because they don't see (or feel, rather) how much I cover up because I need to keep my job. :/

I like to say "excellent & you" ; why not it freaks people out and amuses me. Trish

"if I was dong any better, I'd swear I was dreaming!"

NO.
I found as many others its not worth it, even with family and friends.
Recently a friend who had seemed understanding flipped in a conversation and explained how this would never happen to her because she was going to stay strong. I promptly let her know that's what I used to think.Its simply not worth the frustration to me.
This is an extremely isolating illness.

plattejh, I love your answer. You are very funny, and I think I will start using your response on a really bad day.

I always soay to the neighbors, I'm good. Even if I have that look on my face that says otherwise and then ask how they are. Close friends that know about my situation they can tell how I feel and I may elaborate a bit. To the general public, I will nt go into anything at all. Oh I'm okay and leave it at that.

Usually I say what my status says here..I'm still breathing so that is a good sign

connect2u

Nice user name. I use my comments usually to people who know me very well. People just ask out of habit - I'm not sure they really want any details.

Another one I sometimes use is "Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies". My mother used to use that one now and then in relation to all things not just health.

I'm still so early on that I much more often get, "Are you feeling any better?" to which I've been saying, "I'm beginning to think it doesn't get any better than this!" and smile. They usually don't want to talk about it after that anyway, which suits me just fine.

Speaking of "fine," I heard once at an Al-Anon meeting that FINE stands for F'd up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional. I'm waiting until I can smile and say, "Just FINE, thanks, and you?" and mean it that way... I know it's coming... ;-)