Lurker coming out of the shadows

Hello Everyone,

I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks and felt it was time
I introduced myself. I came here, as many do I'm sure, looking for
knowledge. Having recently been diagnosed with RA, I have spent a lot of
time googling the disease. While the information I've found has been very
helpful, I still felt I needed to be able to connect with folks who would
understand not only the disease but the impact this thing has had on my life
and the emotional rollercoaster it has set me on. I'm not new to the
newsgroup scene, as there are a couple of others to which I belong. It
dawned on me one evening that there must be a newsgroup out there that dealt
with this disease and found this one. So I started lurking, selfishly I
might say, to see if this was a group into which I could fit. What I have
found seems to be a group of caring folks who have been where I am. This
gives me hope that I can fit in here.
So that you may know me better, let me tell you a little bit about
myself. Basic stats are, live in Battle Creek, MI, 52 years old, wife of
34 years, 3 grown children (1 girl, 2 boys), grandmother to a delightful 4
year old girl, have 2 dogs, a quarterhorse that we board, love being
creative (too many interests to list), work in an injection molding factory
and was positively diagnosed as having RA a month and a half ago.
My journey to this diagnosis was not a long one. Two years ago, I
left a job with a company that I had been working for almost 10 years.
District level management was changing, and the new DM was one of those
whose feelings were that if you weren't male, you belonged behind a cash
register or in the home decor department, not working on the recieving dock,
or any other area where women don't belong. Hard fighting that, so after a
stressful two years I left. I can't tell you how free I felt, my stress
level disappeared and life started being fun again. I went to a temp agency
and was placed in the factory I'm currently employed by. I love the work.
It's very physical and my co-workers are by and large a great group of
people. I have been there almost two years now. My problems started this
last March. I left work one evening with a bit of pain in my right arm
between the elbow and shoulder. I was having a bit of difficulty raising my
arm. I thought I had stressed it a bit too much at work. I suppose I
should let you know that by a bit of pain I mean the level was between 6 and
7. I know, but I'm one of those that if the pain doesn't drop me to my
knees, I'll be fine. I took an Aleve, applied some linament and went to bed
figuring all would be better in the morning. Not to be. By the next
morning I was nauseated, blacking out, could not move my arm at all and
getting worried. I called my doc who sent me to the emergency room. The
good news was not a heart attack! At my follow up with my doc, he noticed
the bones of my neck were not right and sent me to therapy and a
chiropracter. Seems I have bones in my neck that don't like to stay where
they belong. I was a good girl, did as I was told and soon enerything
seemed to be back on track. I was careful at work, as I didn't want to go
through all that again. Then in May and June I started having problems with
my wrists and hands. I thought I was working on another repetitive stress
injury, as I'd had one many, many years ago. I went out and got new braces
and wrist wraps and things seemed to be getting better. The pain and
swelling would go away then in a week or so be right back. I was to the
point by August where when my hands blew up, as I put it, all I could use
were my thumbs and baby fingers, with no strength or mobility in the rest of
the hands, and swelling in the wrists that made working difficult. I know
now I really should have gone to my doc, but I thought I knew what I was
dealing with. What finally sent me to my doc was in the first weekend of
September my right foot and ankle blew up as big as my foot in a shoe. Red,
hot and hurt something fierce. I thought maybe I had a stress fracture in
the foot or had somehow twisted my ankle, though I had done nothing that
could have caused it. X-rayed the ankle, all OK. X-rayed the foot, again,
all OK. A week of rest and things were back to normal, almost. Just a bit
of swelling left. By the end of the month, my hands were acting up again.
I was at a family gathering for my Dad's birthday and was having a bit of
difficulty. My hands were sore, a little swollen, fingers tight and such.
My older sister, who is a reitred nurse and retired as a commander from the
Navy, started in on me. I'm sure those of you who have been in the service
know what I mean when an officer starts in on you it's "yes, ma'am-no
ma'am". She was thinking one of the arthritis's or maybe lupus. I promised
I'd call my doc. I know, I know. I didn't. Denial is a very strong
emotion. Two weeks later I was back up north at my mom's to visit. One of
my other sisters was there, she runs the office for a neurologist in Ann
Arbor, MI. Wouldn't you know it my left foot decided to blow up and by that
night I couldn't walk. So, now I have her on my case, on the phone to my
older sister, and my mom all giving me heck, for not calling the doc. This
was the second weekend in October. So first thing the following Monday, I
called my doc. My older sister told me to specifically ask about RA, so I
did. My doc checked me over real well, ordered 4 tests, x-rays of my hands
and my left foot. The a few days later he called. I've never had a doc
call me personally, that was a bit scary. Of the blood work, the sed rate
test was three times over the normal rate and two of the other were twice
normal, the fourth test was negative. He had me into the office to explain
it all , started me on Lodine and sent me to the RD. It took a couple of
weeks to get into the RD, but once there he looked at my labs, gave me a
good going over and told me that I have RA. This doc has a great sense of
humor which really helped me, though he didn't sugar coat anything and was
very straight forward and open with me. He felt we were catching it early,
which he said was important. He ordered more blood work and an MRI. On the
upside, my joints are showing no damage so I'm encouraged by this. I am now
on prednisone, plaquenil, and the lodine. I have my hands back! There's
very minor acheiness, hardly noticible and I'm getting the dishes done as it
feels so good to soak them in the warm water. The downside is my stomach
is bothered by the meds but I'm learning what to do about that and am having
fewer problems each day.
I know this is a long post and for that I ask your forgiveness, but this
is me, where I'm at and how I got here. I'm still having days where I want
to cry and say someone has made a terrible mistake. I know that's
counterproductive and I chide myself for it but I get overwhelmed by the
uncertainty of it all. My husband has been a real blessing and support,
which helps alot. He lets me cry on his shoulder and reminds me we are
taking this one day at a time.
Well, I guess I'd better sign off now and hit the send button, or I'll
be tempted to go back into hiding. Thank you all for listening!
Toodles,
Carol Lee

"Mrs. QH" <CarLeeKin@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Wsidnb5AididpuranZ2dnUVZ_jSdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks and felt it was time
> I introduced myself. I came here, as many do I'm sure, looking for
> knowledge. Having recently been diagnosed with RA, I have spent a lot of
> time googling the disease. While the information I've found has been very
> helpful, I still felt I needed to be able to connect with folks who would
> understand not only the disease but the impact this thing has had on my
> life and the emotional rollercoaster it has set me on. I'm not new to the
> newsgroup scene, as there are a couple of others to which I belong. It
> dawned on me one evening that there must be a newsgroup out there that
> dealt with this disease and found this one. So I started lurking,
> selfishly I might say, to see if this was a group into which I could fit.
> What I have found seems to be a group of caring folks who have been where
> I am. This gives me hope that I can fit in here.
> So that you may know me better, let me tell you a little bit about
> myself. Basic stats are, live in Battle Creek, MI, 52 years old, wife of
> 34 years, 3 grown children (1 girl, 2 boys), grandmother to a delightful 4
> year old girl, have 2 dogs, a quarterhorse that we board, love being
> creative (too many interests to list), work in an injection molding
> factory and was positively diagnosed as having RA a month and a half ago.
> My journey to this diagnosis was not a long one. Two years ago, I
> left a job with a company that I had been working for almost 10 years.
> District level management was changing, and the new DM was one of those
> whose feelings were that if you weren't male, you belonged behind a cash
> register or in the home decor department, not working on the recieving
> dock, or any other area where women don't belong. Hard fighting that, so
> after a stressful two years I left. I can't tell you how free I felt, my
> stress level disappeared and life started being fun again. I went to a
> temp agency and was placed in the factory I'm currently employed by. I
> love the work. It's very physical and my co-workers are by and large a
> great group of people. I have been there almost two years now. My
> problems started this last March. I left work one evening with a bit of
> pain in my right arm between the elbow and shoulder. I was having a bit
> of difficulty raising my arm. I thought I had stressed it a bit too much
> at work. I suppose I should let you know that by a bit of pain I mean the
> level was between 6 and 7. I know, but I'm one of those that if the pain
> doesn't drop me to my knees, I'll be fine. I took an Aleve, applied some
> linament and went to bed figuring all would be better in the morning. Not
> to be. By the next morning I was nauseated, blacking out, could not move
> my arm at all and getting worried. I called my doc who sent me to the
> emergency room. The good news was not a heart attack! At my follow up
> with my doc, he noticed the bones of my neck were not right and sent me to
> therapy and a chiropracter. Seems I have bones in my neck that don't like
> to stay where they belong. I was a good girl, did as I was told and soon
> enerything seemed to be back on track. I was careful at work, as I didn't
> want to go through all that again. Then in May and June I started having
> problems with my wrists and hands. I thought I was working on another
> repetitive stress injury, as I'd had one many, many years ago. I went out
> and got new braces and wrist wraps and things seemed to be getting better.
> The pain and swelling would go away then in a week or so be right back. I
> was to the point by August where when my hands blew up, as I put it, all I
> could use were my thumbs and baby fingers, with no strength or mobility in
> the rest of the hands, and swelling in the wrists that made working
> difficult. I know now I really should have gone to my doc, but I thought
> I knew what I was dealing with. What finally sent me to my doc was in the
> first weekend of September my right foot and ankle blew up as big as my
> foot in a shoe. Red, hot and hurt something fierce. I thought maybe I
> had a stress fracture in the foot or had somehow twisted my ankle, though
> I had done nothing that could have caused it. X-rayed the ankle, all OK.
> X-rayed the foot, again, all OK. A week of rest and things were back to
> normal, almost. Just a bit of swelling left. By the end of the month, my
> hands were acting up again. I was at a family gathering for my Dad's
> birthday and was having a bit of difficulty. My hands were sore, a little
> swollen, fingers tight and such. My older sister, who is a reitred nurse
> and retired as a commander from the Navy, started in on me. I'm sure
> those of you who have been in the service know what I mean when an officer
> starts in on you it's "yes, ma'am-no ma'am". She was thinking one of the
> arthritis's or maybe lupus. I promised I'd call my doc. I know, I know.
> I didn't. Denial is a very strong emotion. Two weeks later I was back up
> north at my mom's to visit. One of my other sisters was there, she runs
> the office for a neurologist in Ann Arbor, MI. Wouldn't you know it my
> left foot decided to blow up and by that night I couldn't walk. So, now I
> have her on my case, on the phone to my older sister, and my mom all
> giving me heck, for not calling the doc. This was the second weekend in
> October. So first thing the following Monday, I called my doc. My older
> sister told me to specifically ask about RA, so I did. My doc checked me
> over real well, ordered 4 tests, x-rays of my hands and my left foot. The
> a few days later he called. I've never had a doc call me personally, that
> was a bit scary. Of the blood work, the sed rate test was three times
> over the normal rate and two of the other were twice normal, the fourth
> test was negative. He had me into the office to explain it all , started
> me on Lodine and sent me to the RD. It took a couple of weeks to get into
> the RD, but once there he looked at my labs, gave me a good going over and
> told me that I have RA. This doc has a great sense of humor which really
> helped me, though he didn't sugar coat anything and was very straight
> forward and open with me. He felt we were catching it early, which he
> said was important. He ordered more blood work and an MRI. On the upside,
> my joints are showing no damage so I'm encouraged by this. I am now on
> prednisone, plaquenil, and the lodine. I have my hands back! There's
> very minor acheiness, hardly noticible and I'm getting the dishes done as
> it feels so good to soak them in the warm water. The downside is my
> stomach is bothered by the meds but I'm learning what to do about that and
> am having fewer problems each day.
> I know this is a long post and for that I ask your forgiveness, but
> this is me, where I'm at and how I got here. I'm still having days where
> I want to cry and say someone has made a terrible mistake. I know that's
> counterproductive and I chide myself for it but I get overwhelmed by the
> uncertainty of it all. My husband has been a real blessing and support,
> which helps alot. He lets me cry on his shoulder and reminds me we are
> taking this one day at a time.
> Well, I guess I'd better sign off now and hit the send button, or I'll
> be tempted to go back into hiding. Thank you all for listening!
> Toodles,
> Carol Lee
>
Welcome to ASA and your story is very much like many stories that have been
told here. I know that your story is very personal to you and It was not to
long. Your doctor has started your medication just like many doctors do.
I hope you have good insurance as your system changes so will your medicine
and some of it is very expensive.
welcome
Harv

hi carol lee,

i'm glad you found us! you're definitely in the right place. since
you're familiar with newsgroups, i don't need to tell you to ignore
the trolls who have been dogging us lately. i worry they'll scare
newbies away.

i'm sorry you're going through all this. you have a great attitude.
i'm glad your husband is being so supportive. it's hard to adjust to
having a chronic, incurable illness. just about everybody here knows
what that's like. how much prednisone are you on? did your doctor tell
you that you can't stay on that forever? he has you on plaquenil,
which is a first line DMARD (disease modifying drug) and that's good.
you should have your eyes checked while on it. it takes time for it to
work--if it works. the good news is, there are many other drugs to try
and i wouldn't wait too too long to switch after you've given the
plaquenil a good try. you and your doc need to be aggressive to avoid
the damage so many of us old-timers sustained before the good drugs
came along.

hope that's helpful and welcome to the sandbox.

diane

Carol - You are VERY welcome here, although we're sorry you need to be, if
you get my meaning. I, too, have RA, but it took many years to get a
diagnosis. Stick around, we can always use new people in here. Happy New
Year!

DeeTee

"Mrs. QH" <CarLeeKin@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Wsidnb5AididpuranZ2dnUVZ_jSdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks and felt it was time
> I introduced myself. I came here, as many do I'm sure, looking for
> knowledge. Having recently been diagnosed with RA, I have spent a lot of
> time googling the disease. While the information I've found has been very
> helpful, I still felt I needed to be able to connect with folks who would
> understand not only the disease but the impact this thing has had on my
> life and the emotional rollercoaster it has set me on. I'm not new to the
> newsgroup scene, as there are a couple of others to which I belong. It
> dawned on me one evening that there must be a newsgroup out there that
> dealt with this disease and found this one. So I started lurking,
> selfishly I might say, to see if this was a group into which I could fit.
> What I have found seems to be a group of caring folks who have been where
> I am. This gives me hope that I can fit in here.
> So that you may know me better, let me tell you a little bit about
> myself. Basic stats are, live in Battle Creek, MI, 52 years old, wife of
> 34 years, 3 grown children (1 girl, 2 boys), grandmother to a delightful 4
> year old girl, have 2 dogs, a quarterhorse that we board, love being
> creative (too many interests to list), work in an injection molding
> factory and was positively diagnosed as having RA a month and a half ago.
> My journey to this diagnosis was not a long one. Two years ago, I
> left a job with a company that I had been working for almost 10 years.
> District level management was changing, and the new DM was one of those
> whose feelings were that if you weren't male, you belonged behind a cash
> register or in the home decor department, not working on the recieving
> dock, or any other area where women don't belong. Hard fighting that, so
> after a stressful two years I left. I can't tell you how free I felt, my
> stress level disappeared and life started being fun again. I went to a
> temp agency and was placed in the factory I'm currently employed by. I
> love the work. It's very physical and my co-workers are by and large a
> great group of people. I have been there almost two years now. My
> problems started this last March. I left work one evening with a bit of
> pain in my right arm between the elbow and shoulder. I was having a bit
> of difficulty raising my arm. I thought I had stressed it a bit too much
> at work. I suppose I should let you know that by a bit of pain I mean the
> level was between 6 and 7. I know, but I'm one of those that if the pain
> doesn't drop me to my knees, I'll be fine. I took an Aleve, applied some
> linament and went to bed figuring all would be better in the morning. Not
> to be. By the next morning I was nauseated, blacking out, could not move
> my arm at all and getting worried. I called my doc who sent me to the
> emergency room. The good news was not a heart attack! At my follow up
> with my doc, he noticed the bones of my neck were not right and sent me to
> therapy and a chiropracter. Seems I have bones in my neck that don't like
> to stay where they belong. I was a good girl, did as I was told and soon
> enerything seemed to be back on track. I was careful at work, as I didn't
> want to go through all that again. Then in May and June I started having
> problems with my wrists and hands. I thought I was working on another
> repetitive stress injury, as I'd had one many, many years ago. I went out
> and got new braces and wrist wraps and things seemed to be getting better.
> The pain and swelling would go away then in a week or so be right back. I
> was to the point by August where when my hands blew up, as I put it, all I
> could use were my thumbs and baby fingers, with no strength or mobility in
> the rest of the hands, and swelling in the wrists that made working
> difficult. I know now I really should have gone to my doc, but I thought
> I knew what I was dealing with. What finally sent me to my doc was in the
> first weekend of September my right foot and ankle blew up as big as my
> foot in a shoe. Red, hot and hurt something fierce. I thought maybe I
> had a stress fracture in the foot or had somehow twisted my ankle, though
> I had done nothing that could have caused it. X-rayed the ankle, all OK.
> X-rayed the foot, again, all OK. A week of rest and things were back to
> normal, almost. Just a bit of swelling left. By the end of the month, my
> hands were acting up again. I was at a family gathering for my Dad's
> birthday and was having a bit of difficulty. My hands were sore, a little
> swollen, fingers tight and such. My older sister, who is a reitred nurse
> and retired as a commander from the Navy, started in on me. I'm sure
> those of you who have been in the service know what I mean when an officer
> starts in on you it's "yes, ma'am-no ma'am". She was thinking one of the
> arthritis's or maybe lupus. I promised I'd call my doc. I know, I know.
> I didn't. Denial is a very strong emotion. Two weeks later I was back up
> north at my mom's to visit. One of my other sisters was there, she runs
> the office for a neurologist in Ann Arbor, MI. Wouldn't you know it my
> left foot decided to blow up and by that night I couldn't walk. So, now I
> have her on my case, on the phone to my older sister, and my mom all
> giving me heck, for not calling the doc. This was the second weekend in
> October. So first thing the following Monday, I called my doc. My older
> sister told me to specifically ask about RA, so I did. My doc checked me
> over real well, ordered 4 tests, x-rays of my hands and my left foot. The
> a few days later he called. I've never had a doc call me personally, that
> was a bit scary. Of the blood work, the sed rate test was three times
> over the normal rate and two of the other were twice normal, the fourth
> test was negative. He had me into the office to explain it all , started
> me on Lodine and sent me to the RD. It took a couple of weeks to get into
> the RD, but once there he looked at my labs, gave me a good going over and
> told me that I have RA. This doc has a great sense of humor which really
> helped me, though he didn't sugar coat anything and was very straight
> forward and open with me. He felt we were catching it early, which he
> said was important. He ordered more blood work and an MRI. On the upside,
> my joints are showing no damage so I'm encouraged by this. I am now on
> prednisone, plaquenil, and the lodine. I have my hands back! There's
> very minor acheiness, hardly noticible and I'm getting the dishes done as
> it feels so good to soak them in the warm water. The downside is my
> stomach is bothered by the meds but I'm learning what to do about that and
> am having fewer problems each day.
> I know this is a long post and for that I ask your forgiveness, but
> this is me, where I'm at and how I got here. I'm still having days where
> I want to cry and say someone has made a terrible mistake. I know that's
> counterproductive and I chide myself for it but I get overwhelmed by the
> uncertainty of it all. My husband has been a real blessing and support,
> which helps alot. He lets me cry on his shoulder and reminds me we are
> taking this one day at a time.
> Well, I guess I'd better sign off now and hit the send button, or I'll
> be tempted to go back into hiding. Thank you all for listening!
> Toodles,
> Carol Lee
>

Hi Carol,
Sorry you have to be here, but it's a good place to be. I don't know how
I would have gotten through the last few years of my life without all
the wonderful people here. This is a place where we laugh and cry, and
get hugs and support when we need them.

We also have a virtual sandbox (can't remember who is in charge of
what), but the only thing we ask is that you bring virtual chocolate
)) We are definitely a bunch of chocolate lovers ))

Hugs,
Carole


Mrs. QH wrote:

> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks and felt it was time
> I introduced myself. I came here, as many do I'm sure, looking for
> knowledge. Having recently been diagnosed with RA, I have spent a lot of
> time googling the disease. While the information I've found has been very
> helpful, I still felt I needed to be able to connect with folks who would
> understand not only the disease but the impact this thing has had on my life
> and the emotional rollercoaster it has set me on. I'm not new to the
> newsgroup scene, as there are a couple of others to which I belong. It
> dawned on me one evening that there must be a newsgroup out there that dealt
> with this disease and found this one. So I started lurking, selfishly I
> might say, to see if this was a group into which I could fit. What I have
> found seems to be a group of caring folks who have been where I am. This
> gives me hope that I can fit in here.
> So that you may know me better, let me tell you a little bit about
> myself. Basic stats are, live in Battle Creek, MI, 52 years old, wife of
> 34 years, 3 grown children (1 girl, 2 boys), grandmother to a delightful 4
> year old girl, have 2 dogs, a quarterhorse that we board, love being
> creative (too many interests to list), work in an injection molding factory
> and was positively diagnosed as having RA a month and a half ago.
> My journey to this diagnosis was not a long one. Two years ago, I
> left a job with a company that I had been working for almost 10 years.
> District level management was changing, and the new DM was one of those
> whose feelings were that if you weren't male, you belonged behind a cash
> register or in the home decor department, not working on the recieving dock,
> or any other area where women don't belong. Hard fighting that, so after a
> stressful two years I left. I can't tell you how free I felt, my stress
> level disappeared and life started being fun again. I went to a temp agency
> and was placed in the factory I'm currently employed by. I love the work.
> It's very physical and my co-workers are by and large a great group of
> people. I have been there almost two years now. My problems started this
> last March. I left work one evening with a bit of pain in my right arm
> between the elbow and shoulder. I was having a bit of difficulty raising my
> arm. I thought I had stressed it a bit too much at work. I suppose I
> should let you know that by a bit of pain I mean the level was between 6 and
> 7. I know, but I'm one of those that if the pain doesn't drop me to my
> knees, I'll be fine. I took an Aleve, applied some linament and went to bed
> figuring all would be better in the morning. Not to be. By the next
> morning I was nauseated, blacking out, could not move my arm at all and
> getting worried. I called my doc who sent me to the emergency room. The
> good news was not a heart attack! At my follow up with my doc, he noticed
> the bones of my neck were not right and sent me to therapy and a
> chiropracter. Seems I have bones in my neck that don't like to stay where
> they belong. I was a good girl, did as I was told and soon enerything
> seemed to be back on track. I was careful at work, as I didn't want to go
> through all that again. Then in May and June I started having problems with
> my wrists and hands. I thought I was working on another repetitive stress
> injury, as I'd had one many, many years ago. I went out and got new braces
> and wrist wraps and things seemed to be getting better. The pain and
> swelling would go away then in a week or so be right back. I was to the
> point by August where when my hands blew up, as I put it, all I could use
> were my thumbs and baby fingers, with no strength or mobility in the rest of
> the hands, and swelling in the wrists that made working difficult. I know
> now I really should have gone to my doc, but I thought I knew what I was
> dealing with. What finally sent me to my doc was in the first weekend of
> September my right foot and ankle blew up as big as my foot in a shoe. Red,
> hot and hurt something fierce. I thought maybe I had a stress fracture in
> the foot or had somehow twisted my ankle, though I had done nothing that
> could have caused it. X-rayed the ankle, all OK. X-rayed the foot, again,
> all OK. A week of rest and things were back to normal, almost. Just a bit
> of swelling left. By the end of the month, my hands were acting up again.
> I was at a family gathering for my Dad's birthday and was having a bit of
> difficulty. My hands were sore, a little swollen, fingers tight and such.
> My older sister, who is a reitred nurse and retired as a commander from the
> Navy, started in on me. I'm sure those of you who have been in the service
> know what I mean when an officer starts in on you it's "yes, ma'am-no
> ma'am". She was thinking one of the arthritis's or maybe lupus. I promised
> I'd call my doc. I know, I know. I didn't. Denial is a very strong
> emotion. Two weeks later I was back up north at my mom's to visit. One of
> my other sisters was there, she runs the office for a neurologist in Ann
> Arbor, MI. Wouldn't you know it my left foot decided to blow up and by that
> night I couldn't walk. So, now I have her on my case, on the phone to my
> older sister, and my mom all giving me heck, for not calling the doc. This
> was the second weekend in October. So first thing the following Monday, I
> called my doc. My older sister told me to specifically ask about RA, so I
> did. My doc checked me over real well, ordered 4 tests, x-rays of my hands
> and my left foot. The a few days later he called. I've never had a doc
> call me personally, that was a bit scary. Of the blood work, the sed rate
> test was three times over the normal rate and two of the other were twice
> normal, the fourth test was negative. He had me into the office to explain
> it all , started me on Lodine and sent me to the RD. It took a couple of
> weeks to get into the RD, but once there he looked at my labs, gave me a
> good going over and told me that I have RA. This doc has a great sense of
> humor which really helped me, though he didn't sugar coat anything and was
> very straight forward and open with me. He felt we were catching it early,
> which he said was important. He ordered more blood work and an MRI. On the
> upside, my joints are showing no damage so I'm encouraged by this. I am now
> on prednisone, plaquenil, and the lodine. I have my hands back! There's
> very minor acheiness, hardly noticible and I'm getting the dishes done as it
> feels so good to soak them in the warm water. The downside is my stomach
> is bothered by the meds but I'm learning what to do about that and am having
> fewer problems each day.
> I know this is a long post and for that I ask your forgiveness, but this
> is me, where I'm at and how I got here. I'm still having days where I want
> to cry and say someone has made a terrible mistake. I know that's
> counterproductive and I chide myself for it but I get overwhelmed by the
> uncertainty of it all. My husband has been a real blessing and support,
> which helps alot. He lets me cry on his shoulder and reminds me we are
> taking this one day at a time.
> Well, I guess I'd better sign off now and hit the send button, or I'll
> be tempted to go back into hiding. Thank you all for listening!
> Toodles,
> Carol Lee
>
>

Just want to add a quick welcome.

Jo
(The other one)
"Mrs. QH" <CarLeeKin@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Wsidnb5AididpuranZ2dnUVZ_jSdnZ2d@giganews.com ...
> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks and felt it was time
> I introduced myself. I came here, as many do I'm sure, looking for
> knowledge. Having recently been diagnosed with RA, I have spent a lot of
> time googling the disease. While the information I've found has been very
> helpful, I still felt I needed to be able to connect with folks who would
> understand not only the disease but the impact this thing has had on my
> life and the emotional rollercoaster it has set me on. I'm not new to the
> newsgroup scene, as there are a couple of others to which I belong. It
> dawned on me one evening that there must be a newsgroup out there that
> dealt with this disease and found this one. So I started lurking,
> selfishly I might say, to see if this was a group into which I could fit.
> What I have found seems to be a group of caring folks who have been where
> I am. This gives me hope that I can fit in here.
> So that you may know me better, let me tell you a little bit about
> myself. Basic stats are, live in Battle Creek, MI, 52 years old, wife of
> 34 years, 3 grown children (1 girl, 2 boys), grandmother to a delightful 4
> year old girl, have 2 dogs, a quarterhorse that we board, love being
> creative (too many interests to list), work in an injection molding
> factory and was positively diagnosed as having RA a month and a half ago.
> My journey to this diagnosis was not a long one. Two years ago, I
> left a job with a company that I had been working for almost 10 years.
> District level management was changing, and the new DM was one of those
> whose feelings were that if you weren't male, you belonged behind a cash
> register or in the home decor department, not working on the recieving
> dock, or any other area where women don't belong. Hard fighting that, so
> after a stressful two years I left. I can't tell you how free I felt, my
> stress level disappeared and life started being fun again. I went to a
> temp agency and was placed in the factory I'm currently employed by. I
> love the work. It's very physical and my co-workers are by and large a
> great group of people. I have been there almost two years now. My
> problems started this last March. I left work one evening with a bit of
> pain in my right arm between the elbow and shoulder. I was having a bit
> of difficulty raising my arm. I thought I had stressed it a bit too much
> at work. I suppose I should let you know that by a bit of pain I mean the
> level was between 6 and 7. I know, but I'm one of those that if the pain
> doesn't drop me to my knees, I'll be fine. I took an Aleve, applied some
> linament and went to bed figuring all would be better in the morning. Not
> to be. By the next morning I was nauseated, blacking out, could not move
> my arm at all and getting worried. I called my doc who sent me to the
> emergency room. The good news was not a heart attack! At my follow up
> with my doc, he noticed the bones of my neck were not right and sent me to
> therapy and a chiropracter. Seems I have bones in my neck that don't like
> to stay where they belong. I was a good girl, did as I was told and soon
> enerything seemed to be back on track. I was careful at work, as I didn't
> want to go through all that again. Then in May and June I started having
> problems with my wrists and hands. I thought I was working on another
> repetitive stress injury, as I'd had one many, many years ago. I went out
> and got new braces and wrist wraps and things seemed to be getting better.
> The pain and swelling would go away then in a week or so be right back. I
> was to the point by August where when my hands blew up, as I put it, all I
> could use were my thumbs and baby fingers, with no strength or mobility in
> the rest of the hands, and swelling in the wrists that made working
> difficult. I know now I really should have gone to my doc, but I thought
> I knew what I was dealing with. What finally sent me to my doc was in the
> first weekend of September my right foot and ankle blew up as big as my
> foot in a shoe. Red, hot and hurt something fierce. I thought maybe I
> had a stress fracture in the foot or had somehow twisted my ankle, though
> I had done nothing that could have caused it. X-rayed the ankle, all OK.
> X-rayed the foot, again, all OK. A week of rest and things were back to
> normal, almost. Just a bit of swelling left. By the end of the month, my
> hands were acting up again. I was at a family gathering for my Dad's
> birthday and was having a bit of difficulty. My hands were sore, a little
> swollen, fingers tight and such. My older sister, who is a reitred nurse
> and retired as a commander from the Navy, started in on me. I'm sure
> those of you who have been in the service know what I mean when an officer
> starts in on you it's "yes, ma'am-no ma'am". She was thinking one of the
> arthritis's or maybe lupus. I promised I'd call my doc. I know, I know.
> I didn't. Denial is a very strong emotion. Two weeks later I was back up
> north at my mom's to visit. One of my other sisters was there, she runs
> the office for a neurologist in Ann Arbor, MI. Wouldn't you know it my
> left foot decided to blow up and by that night I couldn't walk. So, now I
> have her on my case, on the phone to my older sister, and my mom all
> giving me heck, for not calling the doc. This was the second weekend in
> October. So first thing the following Monday, I called my doc. My older
> sister told me to specifically ask about RA, so I did. My doc checked me
> over real well, ordered 4 tests, x-rays of my hands and my left foot. The
> a few days later he called. I've never had a doc call me personally, that
> was a bit scary. Of the blood work, the sed rate test was three times
> over the normal rate and two of the other were twice normal, the fourth
> test was negative. He had me into the office to explain it all , started
> me on Lodine and sent me to the RD. It took a couple of weeks to get into
> the RD, but once there he looked at my labs, gave me a good going over and
> told me that I have RA. This doc has a great sense of humor which really
> helped me, though he didn't sugar coat anything and was very straight
> forward and open with me. He felt we were catching it early, which he
> said was important. He ordered more blood work and an MRI. On the upside,
> my joints are showing no damage so I'm encouraged by this. I am now on
> prednisone, plaquenil, and the lodine. I have my hands back! There's
> very minor acheiness, hardly noticible and I'm getting the dishes done as
> it feels so good to soak them in the warm water. The downside is my
> stomach is bothered by the meds but I'm learning what to do about that and
> am having fewer problems each day.
> I know this is a long post and for that I ask your forgiveness, but
> this is me, where I'm at and how I got here. I'm still having days where
> I want to cry and say someone has made a terrible mistake. I know that's
> counterproductive and I chide myself for it but I get overwhelmed by the
> uncertainty of it all. My husband has been a real blessing and support,
> which helps alot. He lets me cry on his shoulder and reminds me we are
> taking this one day at a time.
> Well, I guess I'd better sign off now and hit the send button, or I'll
> be tempted to go back into hiding. Thank you all for listening!
> Toodles,
> Carol Lee
>

Don't forget the whine that everybody brings at one time or another. LOL

--
Navy
Take out the FISH to email me.
"Carole" <SeattleCarole@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5tq6anF1ecjveU1@mid.individual.net...
> Hi Carol,
> Sorry you have to be here, but it's a good place to be. I don't know how I
> would have gotten through the last few years of my life without all the
> wonderful people here. This is a place where we laugh and cry, and get
> hugs and support when we need them.
>
> We also have a virtual sandbox (can't remember who is in charge of what),
> but the only thing we ask is that you bring virtual chocolate )) We are
> definitely a bunch of chocolate lovers ))
>
> Hugs,
> Carole
>
>
> Mrs. QH wrote:
>
>> Hello Everyone,
>>
>> I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks and felt it was
>> time I introduced myself. I came here, as many do I'm sure, looking for
>> knowledge. Having recently been diagnosed with RA, I have spent a lot of
>> time googling the disease. While the information I've found has been
>> very helpful, I still felt I needed to be able to connect with folks who
>> would understand not only the disease but the impact this thing has had
>> on my life and the emotional rollercoaster it has set me on. I'm not new
>> to the newsgroup scene, as there are a couple of others to which I
>> belong. It dawned on me one evening that there must be a newsgroup out
>> there that dealt with this disease and found this one. So I started
>> lurking, selfishly I might say, to see if this was a group into which I
>> could fit. What I have found seems to be a group of caring folks who
>> have been where I am. This gives me hope that I can fit in here.
>> So that you may know me better, let me tell you a little bit about
>> myself. Basic stats are, live in Battle Creek, MI, 52 years old, wife
>> of 34 years, 3 grown children (1 girl, 2 boys), grandmother to a
>> delightful 4 year old girl, have 2 dogs, a quarterhorse that we board,
>> love being creative (too many interests to list), work in an injection
>> molding factory and was positively diagnosed as having RA a month and a
>> half ago.
>> My journey to this diagnosis was not a long one. Two years ago, I
>> left a job with a company that I had been working for almost 10 years.
>> District level management was changing, and the new DM was one of those
>> whose feelings were that if you weren't male, you belonged behind a cash
>> register or in the home decor department, not working on the recieving
>> dock, or any other area where women don't belong. Hard fighting that, so
>> after a stressful two years I left. I can't tell you how free I felt, my
>> stress level disappeared and life started being fun again. I went to a
>> temp agency and was placed in the factory I'm currently employed by. I
>> love the work. It's very physical and my co-workers are by and large a
>> great group of people. I have been there almost two years now. My
>> problems started this last March. I left work one evening with a bit of
>> pain in my right arm between the elbow and shoulder. I was having a bit
>> of difficulty raising my arm. I thought I had stressed it a bit too much
>> at work. I suppose I should let you know that by a bit of pain I mean
>> the level was between 6 and 7. I know, but I'm one of those that if the
>> pain doesn't drop me to my knees, I'll be fine. I took an Aleve, applied
>> some linament and went to bed figuring all would be better in the
>> morning. Not to be. By the next morning I was nauseated, blacking out,
>> could not move my arm at all and getting worried. I called my doc who
>> sent me to the emergency room. The good news was not a heart attack! At
>> my follow up with my doc, he noticed the bones of my neck were not right
>> and sent me to therapy and a chiropracter. Seems I have bones in my neck
>> that don't like to stay where they belong. I was a good girl, did as I
>> was told and soon enerything seemed to be back on track. I was careful
>> at work, as I didn't want to go through all that again. Then in May and
>> June I started having problems with my wrists and hands. I thought I was
>> working on another repetitive stress injury, as I'd had one many, many
>> years ago. I went out and got new braces and wrist wraps and things
>> seemed to be getting better. The pain and swelling would go away then in
>> a week or so be right back. I was to the point by August where when my
>> hands blew up, as I put it, all I could use were my thumbs and baby
>> fingers, with no strength or mobility in the rest of the hands, and
>> swelling in the wrists that made working difficult. I know now I really
>> should have gone to my doc, but I thought I knew what I was dealing with.
>> What finally sent me to my doc was in the first weekend of September my
>> right foot and ankle blew up as big as my foot in a shoe. Red, hot and
>> hurt something fierce. I thought maybe I had a stress fracture in the
>> foot or had somehow twisted my ankle, though I had done nothing that
>> could have caused it. X-rayed the ankle, all OK. X-rayed the foot,
>> again, all OK. A week of rest and things were back to normal, almost.
>> Just a bit of swelling left. By the end of the month, my hands were
>> acting up again. I was at a family gathering for my Dad's birthday and
>> was having a bit of difficulty. My hands were sore, a little swollen,
>> fingers tight and such. My older sister, who is a reitred nurse and
>> retired as a commander from the Navy, started in on me. I'm sure those
>> of you who have been in the service know what I mean when an officer
>> starts in on you it's "yes, ma'am-no ma'am". She was thinking one of the
>> arthritis's or maybe lupus. I promised I'd call my doc. I know, I know.
>> I didn't. Denial is a very strong emotion. Two weeks later I was back
>> up north at my mom's to visit. One of my other sisters was there, she
>> runs the office for a neurologist in Ann Arbor, MI. Wouldn't you know it
>> my left foot decided to blow up and by that night I couldn't walk. So,
>> now I have her on my case, on the phone to my older sister, and my mom
>> all giving me heck, for not calling the doc. This was the second weekend
>> in October. So first thing the following Monday, I called my doc. My
>> older sister told me to specifically ask about RA, so I did. My doc
>> checked me over real well, ordered 4 tests, x-rays of my hands and my
>> left foot. The a few days later he called. I've never had a doc call me
>> personally, that was a bit scary. Of the blood work, the sed rate test
>> was three times over the normal rate and two of the other were twice
>> normal, the fourth test was negative. He had me into the office to
>> explain it all , started me on Lodine and sent me to the RD. It took a
>> couple of weeks to get into the RD, but once there he looked at my labs,
>> gave me a good going over and told me that I have RA. This doc has a
>> great sense of humor which really helped me, though he didn't sugar coat
>> anything and was very straight forward and open with me. He felt we were
>> catching it early, which he said was important. He ordered more blood
>> work and an MRI. On the upside, my joints are showing no damage so I'm
>> encouraged by this. I am now on prednisone, plaquenil, and the lodine.
>> I have my hands back! There's very minor acheiness, hardly noticible and
>> I'm getting the dishes done as it feels so good to soak them in the warm
>> water. The downside is my stomach is bothered by the meds but I'm
>> learning what to do about that and am having fewer problems each day.
>> I know this is a long post and for that I ask your forgiveness, but
>> this is me, where I'm at and how I got here. I'm still having days where
>> I want to cry and say someone has made a terrible mistake. I know that's
>> counterproductive and I chide myself for it but I get overwhelmed by the
>> uncertainty of it all. My husband has been a real blessing and support,
>> which helps alot. He lets me cry on his shoulder and reminds me we are
>> taking this one day at a time.
>> Well, I guess I'd better sign off now and hit the send button, or
>> I'll be tempted to go back into hiding. Thank you all for listening!
>> Toodles,
>> Carol Lee

Sorry, Carol Lee, you have to be here, but we are here to listen to "whine",
too. So if you need to sound off at that naughty guy Arthur, feel free to
come here and whimper or whine, whichever you want to do.

--
Navy
Take out the FISH to email me.
"Carole" <SeattleCarole@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5tq6anF1ecjveU1@mid.individual.net...
> Hi Carol,
> Sorry you have to be here, but it's a good place to be. I don't know how I
> would have gotten through the last few years of my life without all the
> wonderful people here. This is a place where we laugh and cry, and get
> hugs and support when we need them.
>
> We also have a virtual sandbox (can't remember who is in charge of what),
> but the only thing we ask is that you bring virtual chocolate )) We are
> definitely a bunch of chocolate lovers ))
>
> Hugs,
> Carole
>
>
> Mrs. QH wrote:
>
>> Hello Everyone,
>>
>> I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks and felt it was
>> time I introduced myself. I came here, as many do I'm sure, looking for
>> knowledge. Having recently been diagnosed with RA, I have spent a lot of
>> time googling the disease. While the information I've found has been
>> very helpful, I still felt I needed to be able to connect with folks who
>> would understand not only the disease but the impact this thing has had
>> on my life and the emotional rollercoaster it has set me on. I'm not new
>> to the newsgroup scene, as there are a couple of others to which I
>> belong. It dawned on me one evening that there must be a newsgroup out
>> there that dealt with this disease and found this one. So I started
>> lurking, selfishly I might say, to see if this was a group into which I
>> could fit. What I have found seems to be a group of caring folks who
>> have been where I am. This gives me hope that I can fit in here.
>> So that you may know me better, let me tell you a little bit about
>> myself. Basic stats are, live in Battle Creek, MI, 52 years old, wife
>> of 34 years, 3 grown children (1 girl, 2 boys), grandmother to a
>> delightful 4 year old girl, have 2 dogs, a quarterhorse that we board,
>> love being creative (too many interests to list), work in an injection
>> molding factory and was positively diagnosed as having RA a month and a
>> half ago.
>> My journey to this diagnosis was not a long one. Two years ago, I
>> left a job with a company that I had been working for almost 10 years.
>> District level management was changing, and the new DM was one of those
>> whose feelings were that if you weren't male, you belonged behind a cash
>> register or in the home decor department, not working on the recieving
>> dock, or any other area where women don't belong. Hard fighting that, so
>> after a stressful two years I left. I can't tell you how free I felt, my
>> stress level disappeared and life started being fun again. I went to a
>> temp agency and was placed in the factory I'm currently employed by. I
>> love the work. It's very physical and my co-workers are by and large a
>> great group of people. I have been there almost two years now. My
>> problems started this last March. I left work one evening with a bit of
>> pain in my right arm between the elbow and shoulder. I was having a bit
>> of difficulty raising my arm. I thought I had stressed it a bit too much
>> at work. I suppose I should let you know that by a bit of pain I mean
>> the level was between 6 and 7. I know, but I'm one of those that if the
>> pain doesn't drop me to my knees, I'll be fine. I took an Aleve, applied
>> some linament and went to bed figuring all would be better in the
>> morning. Not to be. By the next morning I was nauseated, blacking out,
>> could not move my arm at all and getting worried. I called my doc who
>> sent me to the emergency room. The good news was not a heart attack! At
>> my follow up with my doc, he noticed the bones of my neck were not right
>> and sent me to therapy and a chiropracter. Seems I have bones in my neck
>> that don't like to stay where they belong. I was a good girl, did as I
>> was told and soon enerything seemed to be back on track. I was careful
>> at work, as I didn't want to go through all that again. Then in May and
>> June I started having problems with my wrists and hands. I thought I was
>> working on another repetitive stress injury, as I'd had one many, many
>> years ago. I went out and got new braces and wrist wraps and things
>> seemed to be getting better. The pain and swelling would go away then in
>> a week or so be right back. I was to the point by August where when my
>> hands blew up, as I put it, all I could use were my thumbs and baby
>> fingers, with no strength or mobility in the rest of the hands, and
>> swelling in the wrists that made working difficult. I know now I really
>> should have gone to my doc, but I thought I knew what I was dealing with.
>> What finally sent me to my doc was in the first weekend of September my
>> right foot and ankle blew up as big as my foot in a shoe. Red, hot and
>> hurt something fierce. I thought maybe I had a stress fracture in the
>> foot or had somehow twisted my ankle, though I had done nothing that
>> could have caused it. X-rayed the ankle, all OK. X-rayed the foot,
>> again, all OK. A week of rest and things were back to normal, almost.
>> Just a bit of swelling left. By the end of the month, my hands were
>> acting up again. I was at a family gathering for my Dad's birthday and
>> was having a bit of difficulty. My hands were sore, a little swollen,
>> fingers tight and such. My older sister, who is a reitred nurse and
>> retired as a commander from the Navy, started in on me. I'm sure those
>> of you who have been in the service know what I mean when an officer
>> starts in on you it's "yes, ma'am-no ma'am". She was thinking one of the
>> arthritis's or maybe lupus. I promised I'd call my doc. I know, I know.
>> I didn't. Denial is a very strong emotion. Two weeks later I was back
>> up north at my mom's to visit. One of my other sisters was there, she
>> runs the office for a neurologist in Ann Arbor, MI. Wouldn't you know it
>> my left foot decided to blow up and by that night I couldn't walk. So,
>> now I have her on my case, on the phone to my older sister, and my mom
>> all giving me heck, for not calling the doc. This was the second weekend
>> in October. So first thing the following Monday, I called my doc. My
>> older sister told me to specifically ask about RA, so I did. My doc
>> checked me over real well, ordered 4 tests, x-rays of my hands and my
>> left foot. The a few days later he called. I've never had a doc call me
>> personally, that was a bit scary. Of the blood work, the sed rate test
>> was three times over the normal rate and two of the other were twice
>> normal, the fourth test was negative. He had me into the office to
>> explain it all , started me on Lodine and sent me to the RD. It took a
>> couple of weeks to get into the RD, but once there he looked at my labs,
>> gave me a good going over and told me that I have RA. This doc has a
>> great sense of humor which really helped me, though he didn't sugar coat
>> anything and was very straight forward and open with me. He felt we were
>> catching it early, which he said was important. He ordered more blood
>> work and an MRI. On the upside, my joints are showing no damage so I'm
>> encouraged by this. I am now on prednisone, plaquenil, and the lodine.
>> I have my hands back! There's very minor acheiness, hardly noticible and
>> I'm getting the dishes done as it feels so good to soak them in the warm
>> water. The downside is my stomach is bothered by the meds but I'm
>> learning what to do about that and am having fewer problems each day.
>> I know this is a long post and for that I ask your forgiveness, but
>> this is me, where I'm at and how I got here. I'm still having days where
>> I want to cry and say someone has made a terrible mistake. I know that's
>> counterproductive and I chide myself for it but I get overwhelmed by the
>> uncertainty of it all. My husband has been a real blessing and support,
>> which helps alot. He lets me cry on his shoulder and reminds me we are
>> taking this one day at a time.
>> Well, I guess I'd better sign off now and hit the send button, or
>> I'll be tempted to go back into hiding. Thank you all for listening!
>> Toodles,
>> Carol Lee

"Carole" <SeattleCarole@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5tq6anF1ecjveU1@mid.individual.net...
> Hi Carol,
> Sorry you have to be here, but it's a good place to be. I don't know how I
> would have gotten through the last few years of my life without all the
> wonderful people here. This is a place where we laugh and cry, and get
> hugs and support when we need them.
>
> We also have a virtual sandbox (can't remember who is in charge of what),
> but the only thing we ask is that you bring virtual chocolate )) We are
> definitely a bunch of chocolate lovers ))
>
> Hugs,
> Carole
>
>
Hi Carol Lee and Carol,

I'm the "official lawn chair tester" for the sand box. I can also make a
mean martini.
I don't have an R designation, I have an O designation. Trouble enough for
me though.
You have come upon a wonderful and supportive group of people. Stick around.
We need you
as much as you may need us ( ok maybe we need you more!)
Hang in there kiddo. We all find some way to cope (most of the time anyway.)
GaryZ

Carol Lee,

welcome to the group. I am sorry you have to be here.

I don't know any thing much about RA to help you with it. I have OA.

But wanted you to know we do welcome you and hope you can find some answers
to help you out. Stay around and join us. We do care.


--
Love and Hugs to all
Jo the squirrely one
I am nuts about you.

> Hello Everyone,
>
> I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks and felt it was time
> I introduced myself. I came here, as many do I'm sure, looking for
> knowledge. Having recently been diagnosed with RA, I have spent a lot of
> time googling the disease. While the information I've found has been very
> helpful, I still felt I needed to be able to connect with folks who would
> understand not only the disease but the impact this thing has had on my
> life and the emotional rollercoaster it has set me on. I'm not new to the
> newsgroup scene, as there are a couple of others to which I belong. It
> dawned on me one evening that there must be a newsgroup out there that
> dealt with this disease and found this one. So I started lurking,
> selfishly I might say, to see if this was a group into which I could fit.
> What I have found seems to be a group of caring folks who have been where
> I am. This gives me hope that I can fit in here.
> So that you may know me better, let me tell you a little bit about
> myself. Basic stats are, live in Battle Creek, MI, 52 years old, wife of
> 34 years, 3 grown children (1 girl, 2 boys), grandmother to a delightful 4
> year old girl, have 2 dogs, a quarterhorse that we board, love being
> creative (too many interests to list), work in an injection molding
> factory and was positively diagnosed as having RA a month and a half ago.
> My journey to this diagnosis was not a long one. Two years ago, I
> left a job with a company that I had been working for almost 10 years.
> District level management was changing, and the new DM was one of those
> whose feelings were that if you weren't male, you belonged behind a cash
> register or in the home decor department, not working on the recieving
> dock, or any other area where women don't belong. Hard fighting that, so
> after a stressful two years I left. I can't tell you how free I felt, my
> stress level disappeared and life started being fun again. I went to a
> temp agency and was placed in the factory I'm currently employed by. I
> love the work. It's very physical and my co-workers are by and large a
> great group of people. I have been there almost two years now. My
> problems started this last March. I left work one evening with a bit of
> pain in my right arm between the elbow and shoulder. I was having a bit
> of difficulty raising my arm. I thought I had stressed it a bit too much
> at work. I suppose I should let you know that by a bit of pain I mean the
> level was between 6 and 7. I know, but I'm one of those that if the pain
> doesn't drop me to my knees, I'll be fine. I took an Aleve, applied some
> linament and went to bed figuring all would be better in the morning. Not
> to be. By the next morning I was nauseated, blacking out, could not move
> my arm at all and getting worried. I called my doc who sent me to the
> emergency room. The good news was not a heart attack! At my follow up
> with my doc, he noticed the bones of my neck were not right and sent me to
> therapy and a chiropracter. Seems I have bones in my neck that don't like
> to stay where they belong. I was a good girl, did as I was told and soon
> enerything seemed to be back on track. I was careful at work, as I didn't
> want to go through all that again. Then in May and June I started having
> problems with my wrists and hands. I thought I was working on another
> repetitive stress injury, as I'd had one many, many years ago. I went out
> and got new braces and wrist wraps and things seemed to be getting better.
> The pain and swelling would go away then in a week or so be right back. I
> was to the point by August where when my hands blew up, as I put it, all I
> could use were my thumbs and baby fingers, with no strength or mobility in
> the rest of the hands, and swelling in the wrists that made working
> difficult. I know now I really should have gone to my doc, but I thought
> I knew what I was dealing with. What finally sent me to my doc was in the
> first weekend of September my right foot and ankle blew up as big as my
> foot in a shoe. Red, hot and hurt something fierce. I thought maybe I
> had a stress fracture in the foot or had somehow twisted my ankle, though
> I had done nothing that could have caused it. X-rayed the ankle, all OK.
> X-rayed the foot, again, all OK. A week of rest and things were back to
> normal, almost. Just a bit of swelling left. By the end of the month, my
> hands were acting up again. I was at a family gathering for my Dad's
> birthday and was having a bit of difficulty. My hands were sore, a little
> swollen, fingers tight and such. My older sister, who is a reitred nurse
> and retired as a commander from the Navy, started in on me. I'm sure
> those of you who have been in the service know what I mean when an officer
> starts in on you it's "yes, ma'am-no ma'am". She was thinking one of the
> arthritis's or maybe lupus. I promised I'd call my doc. I know, I know.
> I didn't. Denial is a very strong emotion. Two weeks later I was back up
> north at my mom's to visit. One of my other sisters was there, she runs
> the office for a neurologist in Ann Arbor, MI. Wouldn't you know it my
> left foot decided to blow up and by that night I couldn't walk. So, now I
> have her on my case, on the phone to my older sister, and my mom all
> giving me heck, for not calling the doc. This was the second weekend in
> October. So first thing the following Monday, I called my doc. My older
> sister told me to specifically ask about RA, so I did. My doc checked me
> over real well, ordered 4 tests, x-rays of my hands and my left foot. The
> a few days later he called. I've never had a doc call me personally, that
> was a bit scary. Of the blood work, the sed rate test was three times
> over the normal rate and two of the other were twice normal, the fourth
> test was negative. He had me into the office to explain it all , started
> me on Lodine and sent me to the RD. It took a couple of weeks to get into
> the RD, but once there he looked at my labs, gave me a good going over and
> told me that I have RA. This doc has a great sense of humor which really
> helped me, though he didn't sugar coat anything and was very straight
> forward and open with me. He felt we were catching it early, which he
> said was important. He ordered more blood work and an MRI. On the upside,
> my joints are showing no damage so I'm encouraged by this. I am now on
> prednisone, plaquenil, and the lodine. I have my hands back! There's
> very minor acheiness, hardly noticible and I'm getting the dishes done as
> it feels so good to soak them in the warm water. The downside is my
> stomach is bothered by the meds but I'm learning what to do about that and
> am having fewer problems each day.
> I know this is a long post and for that I ask your forgiveness, but
> this is me, where I'm at and how I got here. I'm still having days where
> I want to cry and say someone has made a terrible mistake. I know that's
> counterproductive and I chide myself for it but I get overwhelmed by the
> uncertainty of it all. My husband has been a real blessing and support,
> which helps alot. He lets me cry on his shoulder and reminds me we are
> taking this one day at a time.
> Well, I guess I'd better sign off now and hit the send button, or I'll
> be tempted to go back into hiding. Thank you all for listening!
> Toodles,
> Carol Lee
>

Hi Carol Lee!

I've been off visiting family and aking care of other stuff over the
holidays, but simply must add my belated welcome. Diane pretty well covered
the RA basics. I don't have RA, but psoriatic arthritis (PA). For now, the
two are treated much the same.

I hope you are able to continue with your physical job for some time. Being
active, especially at something you like as much as you say you like this job
makes a big difference in managing the disease. Also, a supportive and
understanding spouse is beyond value. Many of us are so blessed, but enough
folks on the other side are around to remind us of our blessedness.

But, my need to welcome you is more particular as I live in Hillman, MI, 25
miles west of Alpena. You know, the "mild" northern part of the state that
has been spared the severe storms you southerners have had the past year or
so. strange weather patterns, eh? My DH & I periodically go to Chicago,
driving to Battle Creek and catching Amtrak from there. But it looks like we
may be moving before we do that again. But welcome to our sandbox and please
stay out of the bushes. The more, the merrier!

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare