Arthritis Insight-Member Stories-Pic

Pic's Story

Hi...this is Pic...I first want to introduce myself to those of you who don't know me....I am the Friday night chat co-host...I am married to a wonderful man, John, and have two grown children, Shawn & Shannon, and 2 beautiful grandchildren, Nicholas who is 4 and Tyler who is 9 months.(the light of grama's life)
I live in lower Michigan (brrrrrr), and was diagnosed with RA in 1994, and have also added Fibro and Osteo to the list..and last but not least, Sjogrens Syndrome.....what a mess huh? Actually I don't want to talk about the bad side of all of this, we all know the bad side....I just want to let others know how I have coped and continue to cope with it!
My brother was Dx'd exactly one year before me, so when it came my turn I was in shock...this couldn't happen to me....yeah, right!
It started in my right knee, and I thought it was an orthopedic problem, went to a ortho specialist, and she said she couldn't help, it was an arthritis problem, I was in so much pain that day that I broke down in her office and cried, what do I do now! God was looking over me that day..just so happened that above her office was a RD, and she just happened to have a cancellation that day...and I thank God everyday for that! She took me in, took blood, x-rays, a medical history, and within a few hours had the blood work in, and the x-rays to read..she has a lab in her office....When she said the word "Rhuematiod" I broke down again, as I saw what my brother had been going through.
And was told that day that if we didn't fight this aggresively I would be in a wheelchair in 5 years....that didn't set to well, and I had so much to do, that I made up my mind right there...NO WAY! So, we started on a drug regimen that could have choked a horse....but by gosh it worked! MTX, Plaq, Prednison (20mg at that time), Axid, Demedex, ect...it took a couple months to get things going well....and have had to add and subtract drugs along the way...some for sleeping, some for Restless Leg Syndrom, ect.....but I am so thankful for all of these medictions, they have kept me going....and with a strong will, that was the right combination for me!
I have had 6 surgeries on my right knee, ending with a TKR...took a quack 3 to mess it up, and 2 other specialists another 3 to fix it right..
but all through that, I just kept telling myself...this is all happening for a reason, and it will get better....it took 3 years, but it did get better...I kept looking ahead at what I wanted to do, and made that my goal...I had a grandson that I wanted to run and play with...I made it...as soon as I got the release from my doctor...Nick and I headed for the park..what a wonderful day that was.....he was so happy that grama didn't have to say "Sorry honey, Grama can't do that!!!!
Since then I have had a left wrist fusion...and now am waiting for a left hip replacement.....but through all this, I had only one thing in mind...what I was going to do when it was fixed....
I have had many ups and downs, like all of us have, but I just keep pushing ahead, keep going when it hurts, keep smiling when I want to cry, keep doing as much as I can, and replace what I can't with other things.....I mourned my losses, but celebrate my new found activities!
I have made many friends because of RA, and I wouldn't have had the chance had I not been Dx'd with it.....these friends will be a part of my life forever......and the thing that brought me out of the "poor me" syndrome was the first wonderful site...and now this one continues to keep me going...although I don't spend as much time as I used to....I think about everyone always....and I wish everyone the best!
I try to look ahead when something goes wrong.....try to look down the road to see where I want to be...and not dwell on where I'm at....and it works for me!
PS: I got my brother in to see my RD, and she now has him in remission...he roofed his house....plays softball, and swims, and works full time.....God does answer prayers!
The best to you all.....and I know that we will find a cure.....