Comments on: Looking In The Mirror

By: Sunita

Sunita — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:51:00 +0000

“Throughout the day, is feels like two huge boulders are grinding down on each wrist”…I know this feeling. Without Diclofenac (every 12 hours) I wouldn’t be able to move.
I feel hopeful that the rheumatology team want me to start on one of the aTNF drugs. They are expensive (on the NHS) and its been a long haul. In the last year, I’ve watched my hands becoming more and more crooked and witch-like. I need to strengthen all my my muscles, so my joints will allow me to do normal every day tasks. I’ve become so thin with psoriatic arthritis…and I need to build up some muscle mass. I feel more optimistic that I can try some drugs that are specific immunosuppresants, as opposed to the old fashioned therapies that were so general… that all contagion was welcome. I was allowed to choose, and I hope to go on enbrel next week. Results can show in as little as 2 weeks! Tell me thats your experience…I need to go back to a meaningful career!!

By: Lynn Rivers

Lynn Rivers — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:21:48 +0000

“I don’t necessarily want to say the dealing with the ups and downs of living with rheumatoid arthritis becomes any easier…the pain is so intense, that not even my memories can accurately record how bad it can get. Each time my pain returns, I still continue to be surprised at how much it can hurt.”

Oh so true, so true!!! We forget don’t we. You have a couple of good weeks (or months) and your body starts to forget. I guess its a good thing in a way. I try to remind myself that it could be much worse so that if it happens again I’ll be more prepared.

I’ve been feeling okay since February and when I think that something could happen and I could end up back where I was before… I just shudder at the thought.

By: RA Guy

RA Guy — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:02:32 +0000

Julie – stay strong! Just realizing that you are currently going down a path that you do not want to be on is the first step towards moving back in the right direction. Living with RA can be overwhelming as we all know, give yourself some time to rest and to create some motivating thoughts to continue moving forward!

Millicent – I’m going to look into this book, thank you for sharing!

Miss Dazey, I’m smiling

Helen, I hope your Remicade treatment went well. Up until I started this blog I was very isolated myself, in terms of feeling alone. One of the best rewards of this blog has been being able to hear the stories of others, and know that I too am not alone. Thank you for your kind words.

korrysmum, hope the fatigue is manageable, and I wish you the best for your Orencia treatment next week!

Remicade Dream, seems like we’re in the same situation right now. I was really surprised that the symptoms returned to this severity so quickly in the midst of my current Prednisone taper, but there are so many factors that influence my RA that I just have to continue moving forward with all of them…can’t quit now, no? Hehe…

By: Remicade Dream

Remicade Dream — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:35:36 +0000

I really sympathize right now – I am also on a nice high prednisone taper, and for the first time ever, my RA does not seem to be responding to it. This is scaring me. Yet I am trying to learn to accept this in the way you describe, and focus on the things I can do instead of the things I can’t. I admit, though, my fear is getting bigger as this goes on.

By: korrysmum

korrysmum — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:49:30 +0000

Thanks everyone for letting me too know I am not alone. My IV orencia is due next week and I can feel the old fatigue returning, but it is wonderful to have these drugs!