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Home Community Member Stories Karen Choate

Karen's Story

k.j.choate@att.net
IM id kjcatty on aol  

Like many others here, I am not sure exactly sure where to start. The true starting point of my arthritis  is somewhat elusive. Let's just say I am a "veteran." I am 47 and having been "managing" rheumatoid arthritis - or some form of "inflammatory"/collagen disease since at least 1974. My first memory of symptoms was as a second semester college sophomore. I was dancing in a community theatre production of "Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd..." and all of a sudden that darn raked stage we were using was becoming more and more difficult for me. Consulted my doctor regarding that and was put on a drug many here may not be familiar with - butisolidin( sp.?)...that is unless your a veterinarian. It is an antiinflamatory often used for race horses. When the acute phase was over - I was directed to use coated aspirin. My family doctor and a friend of his spent a couple of years trying to diagnose me. They suspected RA or an arthralgia but nothing was conclusive. I had had a bad bout with a mono type infection followed by a prolonged bout with "Hong Kong" flu - that seemed to trigger things - back in high school. They thought perhaps I had had rheumatic fever. Things quieted down my last two years of college... and then came law school. (Yes I am one of those...)
 
I attended law school at Saint Louis University and just before first year first semester's end I began to have major joint pain and one uti after another. Just before finals some enterprising young resident called me with the "good" news...it was probably lupus - worst case scenario- or a vascular/circulatory problem. I had never heard of lupus...looked it up and... panicked. Called my family doctor who saw that my care was transferred to a rheumatologist and he and a wonderful guy named Dr. Terry Moore - SLU medical school -got me through law school and graduate school ( joint degree with a masters in urban studies) without too much incident ...and without a specific diagnosis. Drug of choice was coated aspirin and anything that would treat the various viruses and infections I seemed to attract.
 
That was pretty much my life with the elusive "inflammatory problem" until 1988.I had periodic flares of something - which were treated with indocin and muscle relaxants. My dad and a favorite uncle of mine died within months of one another that year - 88- and the flares became more prevalent and symptoms more regular. In October of 1988- my blood test showed - finally- a positive ( very elevated) rheumatoid factor. I began seeing my current rheumatologist about the same time and she felt confident in diagnosing the RA then. The x-ray studies and other blood work in combo - pointed to the same diagnosis. My doc began treating me with almost every NSAID and DMARD known to man. We finally settled on a plaquenil, prednisone and methotrexate combo that seems to work with varying success. I have been on all 3 drugs for about ten years. I can honestly say I have had more problems with the drug side effects and the drugs that take care of the side effects than the RA. I have some joint damage and some mild osteoporosis - but all told - my joints don't look too bad- my hands are a little "rheumy" for someone who has had the illness this long. I refuse to become my illness and so far my stubbornness has won out. Most of my theater work is back stage now - as my dancing isn't quite as graceful - am no longer able to make the "Loretta Young" entrance down a flight of stairs  - hard to do when you do stairs one at a time because of balance problems. LOL But I am more the Carol Burnett type anyway.
 
Last year was probably my roughest "medical" year. I had been suffering from anemia for several years - big time - and the fatigue that comes with it. After checking out GI sources (long story) docs finally decided that it was a combo of "female" problems and RA. My doctor prescribed, at my suggestion - it had worked before- an estrogen based OC to control blood loss. It worked - But - I developed a deep vein thrombosis which quickly became two pulmonary embolisms- one in each lung. (Scary part was that it was almost diagnosed as pneumonia. I told my doc  I was short of breath. I forgot to mention the leg pain -thought it was flare. ) I spent 10 days in hospital - 3 in CCU. Found out that anemia was caused by major uterine fibroids. Problem - how to safely do hysterectomy - when I might have clotting disorder and so soon after the PEs. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN provided some clues - and confirmed that there was no clotting disorder. With their consult , the hysterectomy was performed safely -and I am on my way to a much healthier and less anemic me.
 
Enough of the negative - on to the personal. I am a practicing attorney - I am the Directing Attorney of a three county office (Saginaw)mid Michigan legal aid program. I carry a caseload in education, family law, and currently public benefits - and supervise 15 employees. I love the work and have told Ron Griffin I would try to do a focused chat on SSI and ADA sometime in August. Don't expect a Chuck Ryan level of expertise (I read his stuff here - he is great)- but if I can make the process seem a little less scary to some folks here - I will have accomplished my goal.
 
Other stuff about me. I am one of a set of identical twins- my sister does not have RA. I am a major animal lover- have two wonderful kitties ( will post pictures- if anyone is interested -even if you aren't - try to stop me)- a black Persian (Clancy) and a tabby Wisconsin -stray- state of Origin- (Riley) - their purebred rescue mix balances my karma Lol. Have been "mom" to numerous other creatures - including dogs.  I am single - with even more dating experience than RA experience. I have considered offering to do a "Tales from the front" type piece for this site - or anyone else who willl listen to me whine- on dating with chronic illness - probably have more expertise (what not to do) with that than with SSI issues. ( Seriously, what made last year even more difficult was the break up of a serious relationship I was in - due at least in part to my medical problems. Ironically, the guy I was seeing - was diagnosed with RA/Lupus - this past January. The universe is an odd and serendipitous place at times. ) I have managed to more than survive the arthritis issues by developing a somewhat dry and wicked, albeit twisted, sense of humor.  My faith in God also helps me over the rough spots. 
 
Sorry about the novel. Please feel free to write. Will try to make it into the chat room and get to know folks on an informal basis. Have had the pleasure of e-mailing and Instant Messaging with Ron Griffin and he assures me this will be fun. Was pleased to see another lawyer on the site. I look forward to getting to know people here.
 
Hugs- Karen