Hi, I have been lurking for a couple of years, so this is my first time posting. I am married and have two teenagers. I was diagnosed first with sero-neg. RA 3 yrs ago, then came Sjogrens and raynauds, etc etc. It was overwhelming at first, but I researched and found sites like this one and RASushi, which has been a blessing. There seem to be a lot more supportive and loving people here than negative ones and am able to take in and learn from the good and ignore the rest. I hope I will be able to offer insight and continue to learn from you all.
I've learned to enjoy the little things in life. Some days I am able to go, go, go... (then inevitably over-do it) and other days I am barely able to shower and dress. Some days I don't even try... In the end, I have my family, friends, hobbies, and pain meds when my pain is at it's worst.
I am very lucky to have a team of specialists. The best suggestion I have is to keep a notebook with appts, meds., refills left/needed, pain levels, and any questions I have for the doc. that I take to every appt. It makes my time with my docs conscise and productive. I also ask that each dr. forward his office notes to all my other docs. Also, I asked that Rheumy be in charge of prescribing all my meds (yikes 16 of 'em). Some were ordered by my Neuro, and others by my Gastro, but having Rheumy write the scripts for all of them decreases confusion.
WWOOOOHOOOO!! After HOW LONG of trying, you FINALLY got to join!?!??! LOLWELCOME,WELCOME just watch out for the scratching and hair pulling!!
momof3
Welcome! Nice to have some fresh ideas here.
Nini
I am so glad to see someone new post!!!!! Yes, I love your ideas. Please keep posting it took me 4 years to start posting regularly ( felt out of the loop and when I did hmm never got much response )LOL!!!!!! Please share your ideas and opinions, there is always someone that can identify. Please ask questions too no matter how silly, that way I won''t feel so silly, LOL!!!!
Karen
Hi owiedeb. The notebook suggestion is great. I started mine at the begining of symptoms and would be lost without it. I also have only 1 Dr do all of my Rx'ing, my PCP. These meds are just too scary to have a mix up or to accidently get one that reacts badly to another.
Take care.
Welcome to AI!Hi Deb,...welcome!kelstev - I love your kitty!
Welcome to AI, owiedeb.
Like your idea about the notebook, but I seem to have a hard time keeping up with notebooks or anything for that matter. One... my kids like to take off with my notebooks and two... I misplace them or just plain forget where I left them.
At one time I had 11 notebooks and now I have none. I have found a majority of them over the years, most of them have a page or 2 written in them and then crayon scribbles on the remainder of the pages
sarah
Just wanted to add my welcome as well.