Home Community Member Stories Ellen aka Gaia

Ellen aka Gaia's Story

I want to share my story with you. My problems started in 1996. I began to have pain in my feet. They thought it was plantar facistis? I was sent to a sport medicine doctor--who was a BIG JERK and he was
useless!They gave my injections and all that stuff and nothing worked.
THEN.. I started getting achey and VERY, VERY TIRED!! I was feeling bad all over. I went to my new family doctor and she sent me directly to a Rheumatologist who said it would be a long haul and it has been.

At first they thought I had fibromyalgia as I have achey muscles and
that was what we thought until 1998--then I began to have pain in my
joints and really felt awful-- I had headaches, redness and swelling
around a few joints and had low grade fevers, extreme fatigue, and just generally felt bad! I was put on NSAIDS--but they damaged my stomach and after several of those-- I had to stop--then I started plaquenil . Then I started on Sulphasaliazine. We tried prednisone--but it had bad side effects for me. In 1999 after all the tests and all my continuing symptoms it was determined that I had some form of arthritis--not sure what kind. Then in 2000 my rheumy thought that it was RA. I was not happy with this! I was scared and I still am! Everyday takes courage to get out of bed and go to work-- I may have to consider stopping work at some point but right now I need the health benefits. What amazes me is the lack of understanding that people have about arthritis--it is MUCH MORE than aches and pains--it effects your whole body and and makes you very ill. We may appear to be felling well- but in fact we are in pain most of the time. My mini-crusade is to inform as many people as I can about the reality of arthritis. So many people simply do not understand what it really is !

I am currently on Methotrexate, plaquenil, Sulphasalazine and oxycontin for my severe pain. If this course doesn't work then its on to Remicade and Enbrel to fight this horrible disease. Arthritis Insight has been a blessing and a place for me to get support and now and then some humor and lots of love! I look forward to getting to know everyone and wish for you all a low pain day with lots of blessings.

Sincerely,

Ellen aka Gaia