Today I feel a really down. I am in a great deal of pain, I know it is because I have overdone things with the wedding and the company.( i just took a vicodin about 20 minutes ago) The pain is gripping me, and a feeling of sorrow is setting in my gut. I can't put my finger on anything. I think my second visit to my Rheumy got my attention, he made statement that got to me, he personalized RA for me when he said you are ill, And things like YOUR RA... up to this point I haven't dealt with RA being a part of me. I am also learning what over doing it means...OMG...I am in a bad way.
I think I might get that predisone filled. I was sort of waiting until I have the MRI of my wrist. I know this sounds strange, but if I take the predisone and the swelling goes down does that mean nothing will show on the mri? Will it be a waste of time?
Also, I have a secret.....I smoke....I am not proud of it...I want to quit...I don't smoke in our home, I go to the garage, but I am laying here puffing a cig...I need to kick myself in the butt.
I think I am drawn here, because I do not discuss my illness or problems with family or friends. Thanks for listening and sorry if I am rambling.... it that kinda day for me I guess.
Tink is causing a Stink!What you are feeling is very normal. You are in a tough adjustment period. RA is like a rollercoaster ride. Best thing to do is let the blues take their short course and then go back to bucking up and doing what you have to do. I have only had this for a little over a year and I still go through the cycle of grief over and over.
Don't hold off on the prednisone because of the MRI- it's looking for damage not inflammation. If you can feel less pain go for it.
I come here for the same reasons. No one truly understands if they don't have RA anyway.
Hope you feel better soon.
Hey Tink, sorry you are feeling so bad. Trying to deal with RA mentally and it getting you down happens even after long years of having the disease. It is a battle for life, I am thinking! But then that goes away and you get your mind straight and life goes on.
My advice on how to quit smoking? You have to be ready to do so and determined to do so. It is no easy task no matter what 'stop-smoking aids' you use... they WILL NOT work if you are not determined to quit!!!! Set a date, talk to you family, ask for support from friends, (we will all help you here) and have all your stop-smoking aids in place. A journal helps to figure what your triggers are and to help you write your way through an urge to smoke "just one". One is all it takes to get back on the hack!
Quit, Tink. Your RA body will thank-you for it and you will be shocked at how much better you feel, think, smell (for your nose and to others!) and move!
I hope you feeling better soon. Hey Tink.. sorry you are so down today.
i remember my second or third appt. with my RD he said that I had to be more honest about my disease. That is the only thing I remember from that appt, because it felt like a punch in the gut. MY disease. i think he was trying cut through my denial, but I just kept thinking MY disease...MY disease....who said i wanted a disease? The feeling was so hard to explain to my husband and i didn't even bother trying to explain it to friends. I'm like you, i don't want to complain to anyone. I don't want them to see me as anything other than the capable person i've always been.
Last night my son and i were making fun of a show on the disney channel. I tried to move my arms back in a dramatic way... to mock a dance move...and my shoulders hurt so much it took my breath away. My son said 'oh, mom, your arthrits! I guess you won't be able to mock teen actors anymore" Which was kind of funny...but also kind of sad. i had my mind off the RA for just a little while, but you always come back to it.
Anyway Tink... im sorry. i hope the pred. helpsHope you feel better soon Tink. We have all been there at some point. Hiking_galThe MRI DOES show swelling and inflammation. Just had one.Tink I used the nicotine gum and the patch to quit. It has taken lots of tries but currently I am not smoking. It's really hard to break a 40 year habit.
Please stop. It appears that smoking and RA are correlated like smoking and lung cancer.
In any case One thing for sure is true, it is a horribly expensive habit.
Hi - Hope the rest of your day went better. You probably overdid it for the wedding and your feeling down may be related as well. I sometimes think that when your emotions are so high when wonderful things are happening that when it's all over, you kind of feel like you've lost something as that mood is gone, so a little depression sets in.
I'm a former smoker. Or, at least kind of a non-smoker as I still smoke a few times a year with girlfriends, but even my doctor says that isn't smoking. When I did quit the fulltime habit about 15 years ago, it was cold turkey and just did it. I agree though that until you're ready to quit, it's going to be difficult. For every day you don't smoke, toss some money in a jar and watch it grow. Maybe a visual will help.
Cathy
Thanks guys. I adjusted my attitude a bit and feel better.
Cathy, you made a bull’s-eye....a little blue after all the hype of the past weekend.
I do desperately want to quit smoking. I don't smoke in social situations, I am a complete closet smoker.....literally, I would hide in a closet to smoke so you wouldn’t see me..lol
I was feeling like a rebel today and smoked in my Family Room..... I FEBREEZED the heck out of the room this afternoon..
Ok, thanks my little boohoo crisis is over...So glad for the support..
Hi Tink,
Might be worth it to ask your doc about the prednisone and MRI combo. I saw my RD yesterday and she wants an MRI for diagnostic purposes but says it's not worth it if I'm not swollen. MRIs show both deteriorations and swelling of the synovium. I'm awfully depressed because my doc has me stopping the prednisone and "trying to swell up" so that we can get a good MRI that should have been done a month ago. Feel like crying that I am supposed to go back to pain and swelling after I was feeling so good.
As for the prednisone, I LOVED it. It took away the swelling and the pain, and it gave me life again. I actually lost weight on it. My doc warned me to stay away from sugar, salt, and carbs/starches, which really did abate the cravings.
Good luck with that and quitting smoking.
They have a new quit smoking commercial. They cut open a brain and show you what a minor stroke looks like. Very gross and scary. That kind of reality will probably get better results than past adds. Hope that helps.
I understand your logic about waiting for the MRI to start the prednisone. But are you looking for bone damage or swelling on the MRI? Because the prednisone will not change any damage that you have. Good Luck with everything.
Hi Tinks, sorry to hear you were in pain and down, but look at you now, you are learning to deal with it, so just remember if and when there is a next time, as there surely will be, you do know how to deal with it and you do know it will get better.
Well done for getting through it. Please also bear in mind that there is nothing wrong with feeling down it wouldn't be normal if you didn't while coping with this life that has been thrust on you unexpectedly, and remember to confide in your GP, they really are our first port of call and go an awful long way to helping us manage this dreaded disease. If the down times get too much, don't be afraid to get some help from your Dr. A lot of us on here are on anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication, it is nothing to be ashamed of - best of luck from Janie.
I did it Tink! You can do it too!
36 years of smoking. Not a light smoker either; 1-2 packs a day! 1 to 1 1/2 packs normally, 2 packs when really stressed or out with friends.
I asked my doctor for help (primary) I was put on Welbutrin 150 mg. I also got a perscription for the patch. I used both together.
I took the pills for 3 weeks before the day I had set to quit. I was puffing away at 11:30 pm, making sure I smoked right up to 11:59. One right after the other. Well, by 11:45 I had enough! That was my last smoke!
That was January 27th, 2006. I have NEVER touched one since.
Now, I did have a horrible time that week end. I live with smokers, but we stopped smoking in the house years ago. Still, eveytime they went out to smoke it KILLED me!
I saved one butt. I never lit it, but did go out a few times and puffed on it. It really did help. After the first week, it was getting easier. I did take about 3 months before I was pretty sure I would not light up again. Now, 3 years plus, I am so darn proud of myself!!
You can do it...we will be her to help you.
Hi Tink ....... I smoked really heavy ...... decided enough was enough ...... made sure i had my baccy in (smoked roll ups) and changed my whole routine .... it was hoover lounge then ciggy ...... didnt hoover for two weeks ...... have coffee and ciggy ..... had a coffee while doing something else but not sat down ...... didnt make any phone calls (big cig time )two weeks later my baccy untouched (I still have it ten years later )my house was so needing a hoover but my brain was retrained ........ all my friends smoke but sniff it and love it but will never smoke again ...... this was just my way and it worked for me ....... goodluck Tink you will do it ... love sue xxxxx
Well, I haven't told any friends or family, but I will tell you all (my internet friends) I have picked a date to quit .....
Drum roll please........................................March 1 st.........................................
I go to the drug store to pick up my Methotrexate tomorrow and I will check on the new nicotine gum that comes with the bonus of whitening your teeth!
Thanks for all the encouragement this last week. It means so much to me.
Really you guys are the best!
Tink
Good luck Tinks, come on, knock over one problem at a time, you are going great guns, you can do it. Cheering for you, Janie.
March 1 st right around the corner. ( my quit date ) I am getting pumped up to quit. I didn't get my gum yet. I will go today. Good luck, TB!
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