Name: Tammy H.
Chatroom nickname: phoenix
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Location: Kentucky
Type of Arthritis: Rheumatoid
Medications: celebrax, sulfasalazin
Surgeries: knee replacements
Hobbies: what I can do... gardening
Email address: phoenix32770@aol.com
Other Stuff: Hi, My name is Tammy but I like to go by Phoenix, because it's about what I feel like anymore.
I'm 32 years old and everyday is another fight!
The fun stuff started in Feb. of 1998. Pain like I've never had before. First my wrist and then it would go to one place to another. Well by the time I got to see a RA Doctor it had destroyed both knees, and both wrists, Well the good news is I've still got some hips left. We finally found a Doctor who would replace my knee's. other Doctors would'nt do it because I was to young. Last year both of my knees where replaced. It was hard and painful but worth it. Now I can walk again. Before I could'nt walk, it was bone on bone!! O yes, fun fun fun pain!
Well, I was lucky with both wrists they were frozen straight. But it's in the hands, it so hard to type right now. Yes it's in the ankle, neck, jaws, yes it's bad when you can't eat, but I guess it's not to bad, I do need to lose some weight ha ha ha....
Doctor said in a couple of years I'll need hip replacement's and shoulder replacement's and then later get the replacement's replaced. Yes the joy ride never ends.
The worst of it is I'll never be who I use to be. It seem like a life time ago. I have two beautiful kids one is 7 and the other is 6 and A very loving husband. I thank God every day for them. I don't think I would still be around if they weren't here. Because I know I would have end the pain a lone time ago. O the best thing about this RA is this awful stuff is in my eyes now so when it hit's me hard I can't even cry now.
No one understand the pain, embarrassment and the depression that goes alone with this. I mean it's embarrassing when you have to ask for help on things you would have never have dream of asking help for. It kills me that I can't even brush my little girls hair some times. Or if they get hurt I can't even pick them up.. Sometimes I can't help but wonder why God, why what have I done or why does good people have to suffer when nothing happens to bad people.
I miss who I used to be. I miss being strong, happy, pain free,(wow!! I've forgotten what that was like), and do the things I used to love to do, walking in mountains, running, dancing, gardening, and dreaming!
But you must remember, that with having this disease and still waking up every morning knowing what faces you and you still want to fight another day again,well then there is a hero in you. because it takes very strong and brave person to fight this disease. Don't give up because your not alone.
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