Q: When DX RA ru DX FIbro too? | Arthritis Information

 

Just a question. Was wondering if you are dx with RA do you get dx with fibro too?Oh yeah, new here....hello. I was dx'd with Fibro first then RA about 3 months after.

Welcome to AI,  washcloth!  The answer is "no".  They are two separate conditions with separate diagnostic criteria. However, many people are diagnosed with both (like me). It is scary, and I feel decieved by life in general. ANd nobody understands how it has effected me. Sorry to be such a downer, I am still in shock. This has changed every aspect of my life.You'll find many compassionate people here who understand what you are going through.  It is hard to explain to the people in our lives as they do not live it so cannot really understand it. 

It is scary, but with knowledge about RA you may find it less scary.  Most people live their lives just like they did before.  The treatments available now can be very successful.

Perhaps if you tell us your story you might find others here who strongly relate to your own experience.
Welcome washcloth.  We understand how this is affecting your life.  Feel free to vent and ask questions.  There's always someone who can help you through the rough patches.  Remember, there are many good drugs available now to help you live a great life.  Washcloth is a dork term/name I know but that is how it turned out, besides it is more exciting that way. I've had RA for over 20 years..I do not have fibromyalgia.  And my life is not ruined.  It can can be ruined if you allow it to be.  Hi Washcloth and welcome to the forum.  Tell us a little about yourself.  How long have you had RA?  What meds are you taking?  Remember, do not let RA define who you are as a person.  I'm not RA, it's just a chronic illness that I have.  I'm the same person I was before, maybe a little slower, have had to modify a few things in my life, but I'm still me.  I choose to be happy and enjoy life to it's fullest.  Don't give in.  Practice happiness.  It's there for you.  LindyHi Washcloth. Like others have said, not everyone with RA automatically has Fibro. My rd said about 15-20% of people with RA have Fibro as well. Hi washcloth!! hello washcloth, welcome here !! You will find alot of support on this

It is hard to explain to the people in our lives as they do not live it so cannot really understand it. 

That is so true! Thankyou all for your support, it is a grief that I am going through. I did not agree with the one statement though where you have to make your own  happiness......true to a point but obviously it is not the way life is for so many, although glad they can live in that type of world.

I am trying to read most of the posts so I can get an idea of what is expected of me when I write a feeling about my probs....don't want to be too much of an outcast! lol washcloth2008-03-23 09:53:48No outcasts here, washcloth, just people rowing in boats that look and float a whole lot alike.  Some are bigger, some are faster, some are brightly painted and some are simply bobbing in the sun, but we're all still in boats.   

This is a great place to vent, and for support.  Thanks for sharing your story, you'll find others here in the same boat as yours.
You pay your doctor good money for his expertise BUT its your body and its your life and money.  You want to work as a partner with your doctor to improve your health.  Don't follow orders blindly.  Understand why you are taking the meds, what they are designed to do, why he believes its the best meds, AND what are your alternatives. Well said, Buckeye. WO......wait a minute Buckeye. I can see that you clearly do not like my point of view, or how I feel......I am allowed to grieve...maybe not here, but I am still allowed to grieve. I certainly will not grieve here.....I certainly will not share anymore of my feelings here. Apparently I don't do it correctly. washcloth, this is a forum where we try to help each other by sharing our ideas.  Buckeye was sharing his concern that you are abdicating control of your health care.  He was expressing concern and his point of view.  You can choose to consider his opinion or not, but he has the right to express it as you have the right to express your own. Joy2008-03-23 11:01:14RA and fibro are RA are hard diseases to live with. I wasn't dx till Nov of '91. IT took years adn the development of new meds to help my disease. I was fotunate to have a supportive bf at the time. [QUOTE=buckeye]You pay your doctor good money for his expertise BUT its your body and its your life and money.  You want to work as a partner with your doctor to improve your health.  Don't follow orders blindly.  Understand why you are taking the meds, what they are designed to do, why he believes its the best meds, AND what are your alternatives. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Joy] washcloth, this is a forum where we try to help each other by sharing our ideas.  Buckeye was sharing his concern that you are abdicating control of your health care.  He was expressing concern and his point of view.  You can choose to consider his opinion or not, but he has the right to express it as you have the right to express your own. [/QUOTE] Washcloth You want to work as a partner with your doctor to improve your health. THis is assumming I am not. I working with my rheumatologist.

THere were a few other things too but nevermind.....I am not looking for "poor me" but unfortunately that is your view of me.

 

I know where my mistakes have been made, mostly in trusting and believing in the wrong people, thus no support system. THat was a bad choice on my part, I have to live with that. And now with RA and fibro. I will not grieve here.

 

 

My ability to love is not tarnished, nor is reading or hugging a child. I also enjoy dogs and country, designing,Sunday cooking breakfast with the kids, hanging clothes out in the summertime if possible, going for long walks. THat as you said is not ruined, just not available.

 

 

 

And one thing for certain, I will never blindly follow anyone's direction, they do not always have your best interest at heart. Washcloth; Welcome to AI. Hi  Washcloth, I'm glad you are here. I have had ra going on 3 years. I don't fibro. There are many emotions with ra. Somedays, I still grieve for the person I was. Somedays, I get pissed off, somedays, I feel one way or another. Mostly frustrated. It's normal to long for the way things used to be. You got dealt a bad hand, alot of people have too. Just remember as you read any posts on any website. Opinions are like *ssholes, everybody has one. _popupControl();Hey. I was dx with FMS 1 year before I was dx with RA. The thing with FMS is that is difficult to treat because no one know too much about it. I was told to exercise daily, eat right (which I was doing already) and take some NSAIDs, sleep well and correctly manage my emotions. I did that and in 6 months I instantly felt better. I was able to return to study and I felt fabulous. But the reason why I can't manage my FMS in the way that works is because my RA is currently not managed well, I can't walk everyday, I'm in so much pain I can't sleep, blah blah blah. But one day, my RA will be managed and I'll be back, kicking arse. Attitude is everything with both illnesses. You have to accept that somedays you can't do things and somedays you can do things, so you do them and then you end up paying for it for the next month. It is hard to live with, but you aren't alone, you will never "get over" it, but you will get used to it and you will be able to incorporate it in your life and make it a happy one. The best piece of advice or information I got when I was first dx with RA (and secondary FMS) is that the first 2 years are the hardest to cope with because you are still finding out what you can and can't do. That helped me understand why I couldn't feed myself and why I felt so down at 4pm everyday that I would lie in bed and cry because I couldn't do what I wanted to. I also learned that patients who self-limit themselves (those who say "I can't do this, I have RA") end up making their condition worse and those who do not educate themselves on the disease die earlier and have a worse prognosis because they are harming themselves unintentionally.
_popupControl(); paperdoll2008-03-23 21:55:27Thank you cindee and paperdoll,that helps a lot. YEs I have a bad outlook, my life changed and I prefer the life I had before. I felt more independent, actually had fun and was not judged. This is all so new to me. So many here have been through this for many years. It has been a total shock for me. Maybe I am not like a lot of people when they have had to go through this, but not everyone is alike. Some people shed tears, others become bitter with a chip and want revenge. I am allowed to shed a few tears on this one. I am allowed to feel the feelings I have of total loss. washcloth2008-03-24 06:10:58Paperdoll.....it is amazing  you mention ( " I can't")  I am a person that believes in "I can" or "I will try". I can't means..."I won't"...or "I don't WANT to"....... I was dx with JRA at 11 and fibro at 12. My life has changed a lot. I do not remember what it was like to not be in pain. But I have really come to live with it and not be upset. I am not the disease, I have a disease but that is not who I am, and it does not run my life. Its easy to be upset I was, I was a kid and didn't really understand, I thought only old people got it. But I have had it for a long time. Find a way to deal. The only way you will be content is if you deal. But don't rush yourself through the grieving process, it is very important. Good luck. Life isn't over at all!Well put ShaDucky. I have to find a way to push myself (gently of course) everyday and deal with my pain. Oh, thankyou. I have no ralatives. I am on my own. Bfriend.....he does not want me either but may someday again. I just cannot start over with a new relationship at this point....I cannot "learn" another person.Hey for both of you! My family and my hubby have a rough time with this. They get very emotional during a flare. Be gentle with them and praise them for the tiniest thing they do while you really hurt. Because the disease makes them feel helpless and depressed. I hope all goes well, just be patient and gentle with your family. Don't lie to them about the pain, but don't yet at them because of it. ShaDucky, I used to get so pissed at hubby for not helping me when I (obviously) needed it. Well, I realized he's not a mind reader. Instead of getting aggraveted with him, I now ask for help and he has no problem helping, my kids too. Washcloth, I'm sorry you don't have anyone, but remember, you have us to lean on.Yep! Hard to lesson to learn!I know of washcloth's dilemma.it is close to mine!!!!!! I can identify with it especially when family is involved jodejjr2008-03-24 09:21:10Life is not always what you think it is when other people are involved. SOmetimes I think my meds interfere with making good solid decisions.......life changing decisions get blurred and the emotion of it all makes it more difficult.Washcloth has moved to Rheumamisfits.

Yes, I visited there. Haven't written much. DId mention though that there were some nasties here. Some of you really hurt my feelings, at least some of what that was said here. But I am growing thicker skin. Can't expect everyone to understand.

Washcloth Buckeye, I really want to believe what you say, I really do. At the time, with me just coming here and then feeling as though I had been blasted and yelled at just because my feelings were not the same as the group or yours was tough on me.I was not asking for ""poor me"" treament, just to listen and maybe be a little supportive. In posts that I read, it seemes as though people were supportive. Maybe after being here for awhile..... To Washcloth, and everyone else (including Buckeye).... You know..one of the things that I find a little distressing sometimes in this "support" forum, is that we don't always remember how devastated we were when we were first diagnosed, when trying to "help" a newbie.  This thread is a perfect example.  Washcloth is a newly diagnosed RA'er, just as we all once were, and she is still in the "Oh My God, What do I do now"? phase of her acceptance and understanding of what is happening to her.  For the most part, she has received some very good advice...from everyone...but I  think we could excercise a little more patience in understanding "where she is" vs. where "we" have evolved to.  When I was diagnosed some 12 years ago, I thought my life was over, too.  I had an RD that I trusted because I didn't know enough "YET" about my own disease to question him....I followed his instructions...but I worked on educating myself, and once I did, I left him for a much better doctor, who valued my input, and treated the "whole" me, and not just my joints.  Buckeye, there was nothing you said that wasn't true, but your method of support, in my opinion, was a bit harsh and lacking of compassion.  I don't think I would have received your advice too well the first month or so of being newly diagnosed either.  Now, Washcloth...take a deeeeep breath.  It sounds to me like you are having a very typical first reaction to your disease, and so are your friends/family.  Every one of you will evolve to a point where you are accepting of your new limitations, and knowing when to help and whne not to help.  Yours is the first step....educate yourself....but also, VERY importantly, educate your family and friends.  Let them knwo that sympathy is not what you need.  You also don't need people to assume you need help with EVERYTHING....but at the same time, you have to learn to ask for help when you do need it.  If your friends/family think you are into what I call "martyr syndrome" because you refuse to admit when you need help, they will lose patience with you....and there will be stress that is totally unnecessary for everyone.  Not to mention that you will only harm yourself physically in the process. There are lots of little things that you will learn on your own, to adapt to new ways of doing common tasks that are now more difficult.  Don't be afraid to ask your RD for some sessions with a hand therapist, for instance, if your fingers or wrist joints are affected.  Learn from others who have been there.  Make sure your doctor is willing to treat your disease aggressively from the start...that's the only way to stop the progression of joint damage.  Never be afraid to ask questions.  Pose the same questions to lots of sources...there's not always just one right answer. And remember...nobody is in charge of you...here, or anywhere, when it comes to managing your health.  You are free to ask, laugh, cry, vent, offer advice of your own, and anything else that is helpful to you or someone else.  Welcome....I hope that you and those you care about will be at peace with your new 'you' soon, and that you find comfort.I thankyou bizz for sayng all you did. The thing is, if someone has to point it out to members of the group, to notice that this was a shock for me, to inform others to remember when they were intially dx....then what am I doing here?

Bizzalou, I apologized for hurting her feelings.  I will not apologize for the statements that you agreed were true.  I'm sorry I'm no good at prettying up the words.  I also remember getting diagnosed but just because I have a different perspective does not mean my views or words are any less valid support than those people who offered sympathy.  I just have a different way of expressing it. 

I have read this thread from the begining (again) and did not see anywhere
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