Hello all,
Since it is finals week at the college I teach at I am reminded of how I was feeling last year at this time. Last at this time I was getting ready for Rotator Cuff surgery, was abruptly taken off of anti depressants (my drs. thought I might be allergic to "blue" dye) and was having severe pain in my eyes (corneal abrasions due to sudden lack of tears) and joints. My ESR had been very high for several months, but the docs assumed it was due to the rotator cuff injury.
After a horrendous week of pain and stiffness I had to get a wheelchair to take our family trip to Yellowstone. When I went yet again to the doc, she was exasperated with me and told the reason I couldn't walk was that it was OA, after all I was getting older (I was 45 and could walk, run and skip the month before).
I slept through our entire week of vacation, don't remember much of it all and had shoulder surgery the day after I got back. The week after surgery wasn't bad, I could stay in my recliner, sleep and got heavy duty pain pills. Finally, I got the DX of RA.
Looking back over the year I am thankful for many things. A relatively quick diagnosis and aggressive treatment. A great GP (new) who helps me with all my other problems and pain/fatigue management. No more wheelchair since I can walk without feeling like I am barefoot on a pile of sharp rocks. A family who is supportive and helpful and lots of new friends here. I work with an incredibly supportive group who are always willing to help.
Not that I would wish this disease on anyone, but I am in good company. I teach courses in pathophysiology and had a working knowledge of RA, but my true education has been from all of you.
thanks
Awwww...you are welcome!!! Sometimes there is no better education than life experience. And that is what all of us bring to the board.
Ahhh Mary how sweet you are.
Peace & Love...Neasy
Mary - you are wonderful and your contributions to this Board are most welcome. 6.26 is my one year diagnosis anniversary so maybe June is the month they reserve to diagnosis arthritic conditions. I unfortunately, took six years to diagnosis. But in the past three months I have found a terrific primary who is taking excellent care of me and honestly does care about me. A miracle. Take care CathyYea, love that bedside manner. If 45 is old then I'm in trouble. I hope you have a relaxing summer Mary. And I've enjoyed your contributions to this board very much!Thats wonderful, I love hearing that people are getting better and going on with their lives. I am so glad you are feeling better! Thanks everyone for the kind words.
I was feeling a bit sorry for
myself today, the fatigue and pain were taking their toll on me at
work. I was on my way to give another final and one of my
students came up to me with a gift. It was a collapsible
plastic crate on wheels with a telescopic handle.
She
is only about 19 years old but she was concerned about me and saw the
difficulty I had sometimes carrying books and walking to class. She was in one of my classes before I had RA and knew me when I was normal (well as normal as I ever was). I almost
stated crying. It made me feel so good. Plus, it is really cool, from Staples store and breaks down so easy and would be great in the car too.
Hi Mary, thanks for the great post. It shows we have this disease and it's changed our lives but sometimes the changes have been positive. My first year was so horrible, misdiagnosis, herniated L5/S1, back surgery, life threatening reaction to Vioxx and all of the mental anguish to go with it. I don't remember a lot of that first year. That's a good thing.
People have been very kind and your present today was so uplifting. I'm glad you shared. Lindy