Good Questions...How would you answer? | Arthritis Information

1. How many other diagnoses (co-morbidities) do you have?
   OA, Vasculitis, GERD, Peripheral Neuropathy, Vesico Ureteral Reflux.
2. When were you diagnosed?
    In the fall of 2005.
3. How many Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments have you tried?
   4.
4. What kind of a reward do you give yourself after taking any medicine that you hate?
   I come on here to check the forum.
5. Who helps you open doors or jars when you need it?
   DH is my hero.
6. What would your ultimate good rheum doc do?
   Oh, I have a fabulous Rheumy at the U of Colo but his hands are tied in treating me due to severe bladder infections (for over 2 years) that won't clear up.
7. What’s your favorite comfort for RA?
   Me and my black toy poodle in bed reading.
8. What was the hardest thing you have done since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
   Giving up doing things that I absolutely loved doing.
9. What’s your biggest RA-related fear?
   That my son will get it.
10. How many pills do you swallow every day?
    Yikes, I don't feel like counting them up right now.
11. Something surprising that you wish insurance would cover for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients?
    In home help.
12. What do you wish people knew about Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    That one day we may feel OK and the next be down for the count.  
13. What would you like to say to your RA? I am not going to give up!

1. How many other diagnoses (co-morbidities) do you have?

Peripheral Neuropathy, Sjogrens Syndrome

2. When were you diagnosed?

First time at age 10 w/ JRA..  All my adult life no one would give me an RA dx, until  I flared in my 40’s.  Ergo a bone on bone knee needing replacement.

3. How many Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments have you tried?

Methotrexate alone and then MTX and enbrel which is working pretty well

4. What kind of a reward do you give yourself after taking any medicine that you hate?

On MTX nights, I treat myself with ice cream or something else when I have the take the “ugly”

5. Who helps you open doors or jars when you need it?

I have a gizmo that opens anything.. or, I call my DH or middle son

6. What would your ultimate good rheum doc do?

He would listen.. He would answer all questions.. I think my RD is a good RD for those reasons mentioned but also because he teaches and still keeps on the cutting edge of the new things.

7. What’s your favorite comfort for RA?  Tea, and some good rest.

8. What was the hardest thing you have done since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis?  Gardening.  I miss it terribly.  I haven’t had the energies for it until recently, but then my hips developed bursitis and I still have weeds!!!

9. What’s your biggest RA-related fear?  Being completely crippled and unable to do any of the things I enjoy.

10. How many pills do you swallow every day?

Vitamins.. mega vitamins.  Extra Calcium and D.. Nsaids when needed. MTX weekly (8) and I’ve recently added glucosamine.  

11. Something surprising that you wish insurance would cover for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients?   I wish that ALL RA patients could have the meds they need regardless of ability to pay.

12. What do you wish people knew about Rheumatoid Arthritis?  I wish they weren’t confused when you say the disease and think it’s the “one for old people”… that non-RA’ers could comprehend how it affects ALL of us.. not just our joints.

13. What would you like to say to your RA?

Get lost.

1. How many other diagnoses (co-morbidities) do you have?
   Psoriasis, PA, RA, OA, Migraine, IBS, post-op Gastric bypass, reactive hypoglycemia, Ulcers, bowel obstuction, hemorriods, reactive airway disease, macular degenaration
2. When were you diagnosed?
   1997
3. How many Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments have you tried?
   Too many to count, most are listed in my signature  although not everything fit due to the signiture character limitations.
4. What kind of a reward do you give yourself after taking any medicine that you hate?
   no rewards, meds are just a fact of life
5. Who helps you open doors or jars when you need it?
   no one, if I can't open it, it doesn't happen
6. What would your ultimate good rheum doc do?
   I love my Rheum doc! 
7. What’s your favorite comfort for RA?
   Hot pad and prednisone
8. What was the hardest thing you have done since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
   going back to college and trying to get my Masters in Curriculum and instruction.
9. What’s your biggest RA-related fear?
   that it will stop me from realizing my dream to become an elemetary teacher
10. How many pills do you swallow every day?
    40 (this includes the many vitamin and mineral supplements i have to take as a result of the Weight Loss Surgery)
11. Something surprising that you wish insurance would cover for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients?
    home renovations (widening doorways and replacing carpet with hardwood to make it easier to get around in the wheel chair)
12. What do you wish people knew about Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    That one day we may feel OK and the next be down for the count.  
13. What would you like to say to your RA? get the BLEEP out and stay out!!!

Rosacea, dermatitis, hypothyroid w/Hashimoto's, RA and OA (all seem to be under the same autoimmune umbrella - one led to the other).

2.When were you diagnosed?

RA diagnosis, gee 15 years ago?  But the skin issues then thyroid issues started in my late 20's.

3.How many Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments have you tried?

In latter days: Daypro, Plaquenil, Sulfasalazine, Prednisone, Depomedrol injections, Enbrel, Humira, Cimzia; currently Methotrexate (first pills now injections), Leucovorin Calcium, Voltarin, Prednisone, awaiting approval for Actemra.  For homeopathic remedies I use high dose fish oil, DHEA, cucurmin supplement, a special form of folic acid for people who don't metabolize it and rhus toxis, along with a gluten free, bovine dairy free and nightshade free diet.  5,000 mg. Vit. D, 1,000 mg. calcium citrate, multi-vitamin pack.

4.What kind of a reward do you give yourself after taking any medicine that you hate?

I'm grateful enough for my meds that I don't need a reward.

5.Who helps you open doors or jars when you need it?

My husband and I love when he acts like it is hard for him to do, too.  These past couple years I don't know what I would have done w/o him.  He drives me to the emergency room at 2:00 in the morning.

6.What would your ultimate good rheum doc do?

Listen to me and be up to date on current matters.  He would also be more holistic, like my former RD.  My present guy treats arthritis only, it's up to you to figure out if your Vit. D is low or your bones are rotting away from Prednisone.

7.What’s your favorite comfort for RA?

Svaroopa yoga, hot baths, walking outdoors.  You have to stop and smell the roses - notice a smiling child, a wildflower, a singing bird.  Stop and absorb it.

8.What was the hardest thing you have done since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis?

At first, having to give up heavy weight training and power yoga was severely depressing.  At this point, continuing to work full time while trying to hide the fact that I'm an injured member of the herd.

9.What’s your biggest RA-related fear?

Losing my job, therefore my insurance, and becoming disabled.   I support health care reform - it is needed in this country.

10.How many pills do you swallow every day?

More than I care to count.

11.Something surprising that you wish insurance would cover for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients?

I wish it would offer some assistance with holistic things that help RA such as massage therapy and my naturopath.

12.What do you wish people knew about Rheumatoid Arthritis?

That it's not an old people disease.  That it effects more and more people every day.  That we are still valuable members of society.

13.What would you like to say to your RA?

Look asshole, I know you think you are helping me but we need to co-exist.  Can you turn it down, lay low and just go to sleep?  You've worked hard for 15 years, why don't you take a vacation.

1. How many other diagnoses (co-morbidities) do you have?
   Raynaud's and possibly fibromyalgia (lot of fibromyalgia type pain these past 2 weeks)
2. When were you diagnosed?
    No diagnosis yet, however, I'm pretty sure its nearing 
3. How many Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments have you tried?
   Just plaquenil 
4. What kind of a reward do you give yourself after taking any medicine that you hate?  N/A
5. Who helps you open doors or jars when you need it?
   My Husband
6. What would your ultimate good rheum doc do?
   Give me a diagnosis 
7. What’s your favorite comfort for RA?
   Hot bath
8. What was the hardest think you have done since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis?
   N/A (NO dx yet)
9. What’s your biggest RA-related fear?
   Becoming disabled (I'm only 39 yrs old) 
10. How many pills do you swallow every day?
    5 = Plaquenil, Vitamin D3 2000 IU's & Cymbalta 
11. Something surprising that you wish insurance would cover for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients?
    I'm not sure 
12. What do you wish people knew about Rheumatoid Arthritis?
    That it isn't just about joint pain.  That it can effect major organs.  And that just because you don't look sick doesn't mean your not sick.
13. What would you like to say to your RA? Please quit harrassing me lately. 

1. How many other diagnoses (co-morbidities) do you have? RA, a auto-immune kidney disease called Minimal Change Disease and IBD
2. When were you diagnosed? Sept 2008 -- I was 26 and had just had my first (currently only) child... the pregnancy also started the kidney disease above - I got the kidney disease first (during pregnancy) and then the RA after pregnancy
   
3. How many Rheumatoid Arthritis treatments have you tried? 3 so far but I am very limited on meds because of the kidney diseases I can not take any NSAIDS so basically for flares I can only take roids and pain meds which sucks
   
4. What kind of a reward do you give yourself after taking any medicine that you hate? a pain pill and nap usually but otherwise its a few guilt free hours of rest or relaxation
   
5. Who helps you open doors or jars when you need it? husband or I don't open it
   
6. What would your ultimate good rheum doc do? I have a really good doc but I am moving and scared to death I am going to get a bad doc now... a good doc would be up to date on the latest meds and technology and who wouldn't rush me through appts and understand the pain and intensity of my RA and actively work with me to get a good outcome
   
7. What’s your favorite comfort for RA? a pain pill and a nap - occasionally a happy movie (usually childrens movie because it doesn't require much thought process and is easy to fall asleep to without guilt)
   
8. What was the hardest thing you have done since being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis? admitting I could not do the same work or have the exact same life, goals and dreams as I used to (at least not without some new modifications) --- I have had to
   
9. What’s your biggest RA-related fear? complete immobility and/or dependence on someone and  that my child(ren) will develop it from me
   
10. How many pills do you swallow every day? anywhere from 3-10+ a day depending on what maladies I have raging
    
11. Something surprising that you wish insurance would cover for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients? I like the idea of home modification because I am at the point where I notice somethings around my house that make it harder but in a PERFECT world I would like my insurance to cover more of my doc visits and meds since I have SO many of them including radiology and labwork and ER visits for when I can't move anymore
    
12. What do you wish people knew about Rheumatoid Arthritis? that the fatigue that comes with arthritis is like living everyday with the flu.... imagine cleaning the house, going shopping, to work or playing with your children with a feeling of a flow-blown flu raging in your body.... also that everyday with RA is unpredictable and I may be fine one day, have pneumonia the next or be bedridden for a week... it's ALWAYS changing
    
13. What would you like to say to your RA? what brought you on and what would make you go away? what pisses you off and what makes you happier!??!