Hey everybody, Im new to the boards but not to arthritis. Ive had JRA since i was 8 and im now 18. Ive been on too many nsaids to list, plaquenel-didnt do anything, prednisone, Methotrexate and I just started enbrel. Im in college and boy its much harder to deal with this then it was in high school! In HS most of my friends new about the jra i just joked that i was the one with all the medical stuff, and its true. Somtimes i walked like an old lady to class-a lot of the time. But still compared to a college campus the school was VERY small. But here most people dont know, and I dont like to tell cause i hate the pity stuff. Everyone stays up so late though Im always the one who cant come cause im too tired. The energy thing is a big thing for me, im always sleepy no matter how much sleep I get!
I dont want my friends to think im just lazy I really do need a lot of sleep, otherwise ill be sick in a second! Well i know that was all over the place. How do you guys in college deal with this wonderfull stuff? How do you tell new friends about the arthritis without getting all the pity?
Welcome to the club! I wish I could help you wth the college
stuff, but I was lucky and didn't have many problems in college.
I actually had a sorority sister with JRA and fibromyalgia. Now,
it's back to the pain and fatigue I remember from my younger
days. It is still hard after you get out of college. My coworkers
had a hard time understanding and thought I was just being
lazy. I never advertised the fact that I had JRA, but if I could tell
someone really cared, I would let them in. There is no point
wasting your breath explaining it to some people. Anyway,
there are lots of great people here. Hope you like it!
Does your campus have an advice center or couselling services?
I was dx with JRA in 1970, at 18mths. I tell people I have arthritis - if they ask, I'll explain in depth - if not, eh. If I do get into it, after the initial "shock and awe"
And by the way, littlemermaid, just wanted to say that I love that FDR quote at the bottom of your post. Never heard that one before.
Take care,
Jesse
Yeah, Well I dont mind telling people accept that they dont really get it, like my readlly good friends, are like soo do you hurt? And of course I do, most of the time but I dont want to complain about it to them so I just keep it to myself...haha I wait until I talk to my mom, then i can complain Its not a huge deal for me, most of the time you cant tell, unless i was sitting for a awhile and got stiff or am just having a bad day I walk normally....my mom can tell by how i move if im hurting a ton a lot or not, but i dont think others can. I agree with the kids part though, playing with my little cousins-its so hard to explain why I dont feel like running and playing ball somtimes....ussually i just say im to tired.I know how you feel with the energy thing- I'm in college myself and with work and school- my social life is put on the back burner because I run out of energy. When I'm tired- I"M TIRED. can't move, can't do anything, and most people don't understand. They call me a party pooper and a baby because I sleep too much. Idon't let it bother me- just brush it off. we understand!
When I tell new friends about JRA- I start slow. I explain that it is in my joints- I let them feel my knees. They pop almost every time I move them. They start to understand when I tell them its kinda like the arthritis old people have- they laugh. I tell them that I have a kid's verson and explain it as best as I can. They understand to a point and I answer any questions they have.
I remember bio lab my 2nd year of college- good luck!
Hey Little Mermaid,
We meet again! This is my first year in university as well, I'm currently on Methotrexate and Naproxen... and a sh*t load of vitamins. I confide my JRA in people I trust and that will keep an open mind and are willing to try understand. I'm living in rez right now and I am always really tired, I go to bed at like 930 or 10 every night.. according to rez life 1 or 2 am is early . Lol everybody just thinks I like to sleep. I never have any energy right now, but i'm working on that.
I have a chem lab right now that i'm in thats 4 hours long as well... there is absolutely no chairs in the damn room!!! I managed to ask for a chair, woot i'm special... everyone now is just jealous because I get to sit down!!!
Good Luck
I have a stool but I find it hard to do the lab sitting....its a 4 hour chem lab also, bah after that lab even my back is hurting and my back doesnt ussually bother me....i hobble out of that class like an old ladyI feel the same way after my chem lab... but i try to stand up and keep active while i do the lab and then rest while i do the calculations... I hear ya in that it sucks to be in the dreaded chem lab... keep strong in the struggle!they are so tiring...but im a bio major, so i better get used to it, next year i will have 2 labsMaybe the stool will have cushion next year!!!! HAHAHA! You could bring one of those cushions things with the back; the ones that they use for the bleechers, if they would let you!!! It might look a bit funny, but who cares, HAHA!!hey, little mermaid!!
If it makes you feel any better at all, i hobble everywhere like an old lady!!! i have a small job in a hairdressers and when the old ladies see me tottering around they can tell straight away, and ive had many a chat with them. Sure does help build the bridge between them and us... of course, the sympathy greatly affects my tips pot...
Hobbling is the new gliding!!! Staggering is the new prancing!! you wait, everyone will be doing it soon.
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