Hi, I am 33 y.o. female from Arizona. I have a 7 y.o. daughter,
and I am raising her alone. I am waiting for my bloodwork to come
back, but my mother has this, and I am quite certain I have it. I
had a sudden and severe onset at the beginning of this year. Her
onset was at a much older age and less painful -- but still
difficult. I am 33 and feel like I am 100. I can't walk in
the morning for about an hour or two. It is so painful, I have
mornings I wish to die. Pain is all over, and the acute pain rotates
from area to area.
Mentally has been my hardest coping challenge. I understand what
it is and what it does. I am working but do not have health
insurance. I am applying and waiting to find out if I can have
assisted insurance through my state. I have had to pay cash, but
I can't afford all the initial x-rays. I am a court reporter and
need my hands. I just finished my first year after years of
schooling. I am terrified of losing my job.
I am taking loads and loads of supplements and they have helped a lot,
also healthy diet habits. I do all I can for an anti-inflammatory
diet.
How do you cope with this? I can't wear regular shoes anymore, I
have only found that Merrell's are the only shoe I can stand. Do
you have any other brands that are good?
I am sorry if my first post is loaded with complaints, I do work hard
at trying to remain positive, but I have been feeling this kind of pain
for near two months and it gets harder to ever feel "okay".
I feel so old and can barely lift a hair brush in the mornings to do my
hair. I have so much exhaustion, I can't even believe it.
Thanks for listening and for any advice you may share.
Arizona, I think we can all relate to your post and the onset. YOU NEVER have to apologize for venting on here. It is good to get it out. I hope you do not have RA but it sure sounds like you do.
Health insurance is going to be a tough one. You rheumatologist (rd)probably won't start you out on biologics but you may need them down the road. There are programs for all the pharmaceutical companies that you can possibly get your meds for a discount or even free. Ask your rd when you get your bloodwork back. Do you have any possibility of getting health insurance where you work?
The good news is once you are on the meds you will start feeling better. I have a job that I also struggled through school to finally be able to do - as a single mother. I totally relate to how important that is to you.
Let us know what your bloodwork tells you and keep us posted. There is a lot of support and good advice here on the board. I know you are scared now, it is scary, but when you read about people that eventually got their lives pretty much back to normal or at least better than they ever expected - you can be encouraged.
I have had a lot of bad luck since I was diagnosed last May with illness, but I am still soooooooooo much better than those first few months. They were the worst !
Welcome to the board and know we all know how you feel.
You know what _ I was 33 when my daughter was seven
Once again, welcome and dont ever consider your self a complainer here....We all just call it THERAPY!!!
Thanks for the warm welcome. I am feeling quite a bit better
tonight. I have found a rheumatologist that will accept me.
I have found a way to budget atleast the initial visits and
x-rays. I am soooooo glad about that. It is going to be
hard, but it is going to happen. I still have to wait for the
bloodwork.
My work got quotes for insurance, but it was over 500 a month, which
may end up happening if I don't qualify. I didn't make a lot this
year because it was my first year. It is hard your first
year, and I am an indpendent contractor.
I have worked less with my pain lately, so that is hard for money
reasons, but my mom is so supportive of me knowing what I am going
through. That has helped a lot. I am just going to try to
take it one day at a time and have hope that I will feel good
again. I can't wait to be at work without pain.
You guys are awesome. Thanks.
The worst part is the pain and I take so much Advil that they should make me a shareholder in the company!
Shoes for me are a problem as I have wide feet with toes that aren't straight.
I know what's it like to have to pay for the RA doc out of your pocket. To just put my foot in the RA doc's door it was over 5. Then to pay for all the other things too. Finally got some insurance, however they don't cover everything but what they do cover helps cut my out of pocket costs.
Arizonara don't worry about complaining too much. We're here to support each other and to bounce information and ideas around. We all know how hard it's to deal with RA. So feel free to ask questions and complain.
MarisaHey Roxy, I have never tried UGHs but I do know a lot of nurses who swear by Birkenstocks. I guess the key is width, not just side to side but roomy accross the top. I cant wear shoes that lace up for long periods either b/c I have eczema on the tops of my feet at the bend of my ankle and shoes that come up that high like traditional sneakers rub and flare it up.
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