Wow - Not sure what I expected with my last post...I certainly didn't intend to create such bitterness. I had only hoped to encourage folks to try switching their focus away from the pain they suffer and instead focus on the good things in their lives. Regardless of your situation, every living person has something in their life that is important and brings joy in an otherwise not so wonderful situation.
I personally do not know any of you, but from the postings I believe that many of you do suffer horribly from this terrible disease Whether or not you believe me, I have seen first hand the devastation RA can have on a person, it's raging in my extended family. I have witnessed the lost hope and the losing fight to control the disease. I've stood by and watched one give up without a fight and let the RA control their life - constantly dwelling on the "bad things".
I'm sorry that many of you felt I posted just to get a reaction - not my intention at all. And as for not replying, I just don't have the time to be on the computer. I'm lucky to find time to log on to my personal email account. On occasion, I "lurk" here because, Yes, I am scared of what tomorrow may hold. I don't dwell on what could be but rather try to live each day to the fullest in the most positive light.
One last thing, It's a little bewildering to me how or why many of you would truly believe I received a diagnosis based on just my, what I thought was broken, finger alone. I just didn't go into the complete details of my history with you because that was not my purpose for posting. I simply wanted to remind everyone that sometimes things can be a little brighter if we can just find the courage to switch our focus to more positive things.
That's the way I took your post. I am really working hard on changing my attitude because it sucks. I am starting by keeping a gratitude journal again. I tend to forget the good stuff in my life, and I am also able to see some good that's come out of RA.
One positive of having RA is that I am starting to allow myself to just be. I now take naps or just sit and read without guilt. I was raised to "earn my keep" and that I must be productive at all times.
The other good thing about my RA is that I've gotten so much closer to my parents. They're in their 70s and our relationship now is really sweet. My dad and I have never been too close, but he's been so great.
Ari, I'm glad you posted what you did because I need the reminder to try to stay positive. Thanks for clarifying your intent.
ari33, It's for sure that some of the members went out of their way to spin a negative from your previous post. Very few people have the same mild symptoms of RA a year later. If you read through some of the older posts you will see that there is a "group" that beats up any member that posts what the "group" disagrees with. They seem to believe that this is their own personal forum. As one poster said to you, "We have found that here. if we don't MEET your standards....see ya, don't let the door hit you where the good lord split ya." The "we" in the above quote is used as "we the group" not we the forum or AI membership. Welcome to our forum.
I just read that whole earlier thread and could hardly believe what I was reading. I am so sorry about some of the awful things that were said to you. To paraphrase one - It was not their message but the way they said it. Wishing someone ill is never the way to be compassionate to a fellow RA sufferer. I would feel terrible if I had been the subject of that abuse. I have learned today to be VERY, VERY, VERY careful about what I say on this board.
Kathy
Welcome back. i do try to think about the good in life but as of now i can't cause the pain is so bad. RA has made me feel for others and i do know their pains.LIke I said in my post earlier, sometimes this is the only place we can let go with the negative stuff. We are here to support each other so we support be listening to the bad stuff, and offering a hand to help get up. Its not all dark and black but sometimes it seems that way. Darkness can take over for a time but usually by the end of a thread the light is starting to shine through. Thats how we help each other out of dark places.
Its a process.
Welcome to the process Ari33
I suspect Ari33 and MODR8R are the same person. A troll. If you don't know what an internet troll is, please look it up.
Lynk, why do you think they're the same person?Thank You for proving my point. This is the very reason that I left this board. Anybody who dares to express any opinion that is the least bit different is attacked, labeled a troll and trashed. Dear God in heaven, pity the poor person who does not express themselves perfectly, according to your standards. You overlook typos and goofy comments from YOUR GROUP but heaven forbid a newbie make a mistake! Grow up and get a life! And yes, I fully well expect to be trashed and judged and critized severly for this post. Oh Well it gives you something to do. Small minded people talk about other people. Large minded people talk about goals and ideas. RA does not steal our ideals UNLESS we allow it to. By the way, check my history here. You will see that I AM NOT A TROLL! I am a fellow ra sufferer who decided not to allow ra to consume my life. Further more, I AM DISABLED AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET MY DISABILITY YET EITHER. I am in pain on a daily basis. I take MTX, Enbrel, Predisone, Lexapro, Loracet, and Morphine. I have been diagnoised with sever ra and as which is not controled at this point. I have been diagnosed with joint damage. I lost my job and no longer have an income. I refuse to sit around and think on all I don't have all day long. I chose to think on what I do still have! Yes I have bad days, yes I vent, but then I pick myself up, dust myself off and get on with the business of living. Nobody has a perfect life, everybody has problems. It is how we deal with them that determines the quality of life we will have. I am sure I have PISSED you off, deal with it. You pissed me off long ago.
DEANNA-please know that I do not mean this toward you, I feel for you and your struggle, you have a good heart. If this hurt you, I am sorry.
Ari,
They certainly did attack you. It must have been pretty intimidating to read what was written? I think that many members wanted to stand up for you but were also intimidated and afraid of being attacked.
Anyway, I seem to find joy and pleasure in so many things now that I have RA. A loud baby used to be annoying. Now a loud baby is just a good singer and a pleasure to listen to. When I became sick, I realized that I was dying. Hey, I was dying before I became sick, I just didn't know it. Everything has more color now.
I am treated at the VA hospital. Everyone there is so very respectful and caring. Someday I will write a thank-you to all of them and hope that it is written in such a way that they can comprehend how deep the thank-you really is. Also spending so much time at the VA hospital is so humbling showing me how lucky I am to be only as sick as I am, so many others are so much worse than me and so many of them still smile. alfe, I certainly agree with you.
What a good thread this turned into and thanks to those that made it so.
LEV
I have RA and it really stinks!!!! But I do live like I am dying now... like I have a lot to do because I can do it still now.... it helps to figure out the medication thing and then relax and enjoy life... It is hard though and this support board can help get it through because others DO NOT get it when they think they know what RA feels like.. thanks for giving a nice wish to be happy and not worry so much
I didn't see your post the first time....so i went back and looked it up, and looked at the comments and i'm just put back. i've been on the site for a little while and i've never seen anyone on here post like that, and like that meaning wishing bad things to happen to you. i've seen people come on here and post some really not nice statements which in return got angry and negative replies but i didn't feel yours was that bad. i understand some of the points that were made (if you look past some of the "i hope *insert comment* happens to you). I'm glad that you came back and clarified.
-Jessica
WOW...Count me amoung the few that didn't originally see this and went back just now and found it. I guess now I'm slightly sorry I did....but in no way surprised.
I've been hanging out here and at other forums for about two years now. I too have noticed that when your point of view doesn't mesh with other there will always be a war on words. At least here anyway.
I'm a self proclaimed positive thinker and often throw my unwanted two cents worth in even when it's not the popular message. I do however stop short of beating anyone up; but I tend to hurt feelings at times as you all well know.
This person who started this thread.....and the other may very well be a "troll" as some of you may say. Why is she doing it? Solely because they didn't want to get beat up for saying something that wasn't popular. I hope that's why at least. We have seen many just hope to stir up trouble.....and it's very easily done here.
I personally didn't hear this person call anyone by name. She just said that some of what she reads hear sounds like a pity party. WELL IT DOES! For crying out loud; lets all be honest. At times there's been a hell of a lot of that going on. At the same time; some people just need to do that. I personally don't think that's productive; but it's not my life....it's yours. If you want to do that.....go at it.
If what this person said got your feathers so ruffled that you feel the need to attack, spout foul laungauge and wish disaster on this person you might want to ask yourself why. Do you feel this person was talking directly to you? If not then why on earth get yourself all worked up over it. It's hardly worth it. Now if you enjoy the fight......that's another story.
GO ahead. Many here....including myself at times enjoy the drama.
I for one appreciate the positive message.....although agree it might could have been worded in a different manner.
If you tell yourself all day long that your life is over.....life sucks, you can't do anything......THEN YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK AND SPEAK!!
I personally choose to think positive and will continue to try and spread that here. It doesn't make me well.....but it does make me happy!
"Many here....including myself at times enjoy the drama."
POPCORN!!!!
lmfao Who started that? And why was it so funny?? I'm so forgetful these days