Ive got it (My Experience of Arthritis)

Member Name: sheshe

Product:	My Experience of Arthritis
Date:	27/04/02 (174 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: none

Disadvantages: endles if you let it rue your life

I SUFFER FROM RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS!!!!
God it feels so good to be able to say that.
Now you are probably thinking that I have flipped my lid to find joy in saying that, but I havent.
Let me explain...........

About 18 months ago I went to bed, nothing strange in that, most people go to bed. During the night I woke up cold and realised hubby had nicked all the duvet (nothing new there either ;D). The trouble was when I tried to retrieve the cover I couldnt. My elbows screamed at me everytime I tried to move them. Okay, I must be having a nightmare, you know, the one where when you try to move you cant. I tried again, same thing, excruciating pain. I started to sweat. Me, the woman who had given birth to 4 children reduced to tears by the pain in my elbows. I kicked hubby awake and told him to cover me up, he did, and then started to snore again.
I however lay there wide awake trying to figure out what was happening to me. Had I banged my joints recently? Had I been over vigourous with the housework? Highly unlikely!!!

The next day apart from a bit of stiffness I was fine. I put it down to it just being 'one of those things'. However over the next few weeks different part of my body started to swell. Wrists, fingers,shoulder, jaw, and then finally my feet. God they looked ugly, like over blown pink balloons with 5 fat sausages stuck on to them.
During this time a made several trips to see my GP. I was given pain killers and anti inflammatories. nothing seemed to help much. I had so many blood tests done that I swear they were using me to stock up the nations blood banks on the quiet. But everything came back negative.I started to think that it was all in my mind. One day I even tried to make myself walk and fell flat on my face. (pretty damn stupid thing to do really LOL)

Finally after 6 months I was referred to the hospital to see a rheumatologist. What a waste of time. After two visits she discharged me saying
I didnt have arthritis and she couldnt help me.

I was told to go home take my tablets and hope it would all go away,apparently these things often do as quickly as they appear. Yeah right!!

Now over this period of time I had put up with days when I needed help to dress, my bra being a particular problem, as were the flies on jeans (which meant trips to the loo were a pain in every sense). I learned to peel loads of spuds on a good day and then mash and freeze them for when I couldnt do it. I broke countless items of crockery because I tried to carry things and found that they just fell to the floor as my grip was to week.
I got to know my neighbours really well from asking them to open lids from me and cans. Oh cans, the worst invention ever made if you cant use a can opener.

Things finally came to a head when I couldnt walk properly, It took me almost an hour to get out of bed, along the landing and down the stairs (on my bottom) to the phone so that I could call my GP for help. As a result I was put on a high dose of steroids. the change was dramatic. I was pain free. I could look after my family, drive my car. The only trouble is high doses of steroids are not good for you. I had to come off them and use them only when I was desperate for a few months at a time.

Then after a particular bad time at the end of last year when I saw a different doctor I was referred to a bigger hospital in the city. I had to wait 5 months for the appointment but oh it was worth it.

This guy new his stuff. He didnt try to shake my hand, he just touched it gently.Saying he could tell from its appearance that anything else would cause me pain. He explained to my husband how I felt in a way that I couldnt, He gave me permission to be angry, cry, throw things (if I could pick them up LOL). He gave me a name for what I have......... God I love that man. After months of pain, being unable to live my life as I wanted to or care for my family a
s they deserved I had a reason for it.

I have had more x rays taken and more blood test done to see if I am suitable to start on a drug called methotrexate.. I get the results in 10 days. With any luck I will be able to take it and have the hope that in 6 months or so I may be able to go out to work when my youngest son starts school.

Either way I have a name for my problem and I have hope. I know it wont be easy and that there is no miracle cure but now when I am shuffling along like an old lady or swaying like a drunk I will be able to say I have rheumatoid arthritis.
I can laugh again even when the pain is bad.

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