Posted , 19 users are following.
im fed up of being asked what is wrong with me and then being told 'oh, I've got that' then when you ask what meds they take, or what rheumatologist they go to, you find its not R A at all or they've diagnosed themselves. When I think of the misery and pain I've gone through in the last few years it's almost as though they are dismissing it as nothing.
2 likes, 69 replies
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stephen54311 mary76396
Posted
tami413 stephen54311
Posted
lyn1951 mary76396
Posted
If and when anybody comments to me, when using my giant pen usually brings a response, I say ''Oh I have a NASTY form of arthiritis'' and emphasize the NASTY.
If they insist on continuing to comment, I ask them to make a fist, then I show them my effort at making a fist, not possible, then they see for themselves the problem, that usually brings an end to the comments problem as they compare their own ability to close their hand up and grip something to my inability to do the same.
ann31981 mary76396
Posted
I agree with everyone else - nothing more annoying than the response of, "I have arthritis too!". Grrr. I've stopped talking much about it because of that.
And I'm in Canada, for those interested in our geographic dispersal! Feel very lucky to have this disease here, where I don't have to pay for any care. Much sympathy to the Americans here.
Justgettinby ann31981
Posted
I'm in the USA, don't feel bad for us. We can get in to see our drs and specialists within weeks, sometimes days, if urgent the same day. I hear you government healthcare folks have to wait months and months to see a rheumatologist sometimes. Oh, and they are trying to get that public healthcare going here, it's starting with Obama care and let me tell you, it's one messed up system! I pay for private healthcare due to being self employed and yes it's expensive with a high deductible. Although with this disease it doesn't take too much time to reach it and after that it pays 100%. I think every system has its flaws for sure. I'm happy tho to have a choice of who I see and where. Best to you all around the world! It's great that we can all help each other and understand what we all go through daily. Too bad this form of peace can't happen everywhere in the world. ????
tony09890 mary76396
Posted
When you tell peopl you have rheumatoid arthritis all they hear is 'arthritis' and as a good proportion of people have arthritis they can't see your proble. Not a lot different from people telling you they have the flu, when in fact they actually have a cold. There is a world of difference between the flu and the common cold; likewise, there is a world of difference between arthritis and reumatoid arthritis. I also have osteo arthritis, but if I had to choose one, OA wouldn't get alook in.
Light tony09890
Posted
We can't expect people to understand pain or rheumatoid arthritis. How could they if they have never known either?
See yourself as educating them. Tell them yours is an auto-immune disease. That sounds pretty awesome for starters. Then explain how it's different.
If you get impatient because they don't understand, they'll get turned off and think of you as whiny, and you'll just end up feeling frustrated and miserable.
mary76396 Light
Posted
Luckily I'm neither whiney nor impatient. I dislike talking about how much pain I'm in and try to make light of it as I'm a fairly upbeat person, which most probably why people think it's no big thing.
Light mary76396
Posted
That's perfect! It's the only way to be with this illness, otherwise we have extra misery to add to our already overdose of misery!
So think of these ignoramae as children who cannot understand without a patient detailed explanation, and start with the "auto-immune disease" thing, which is bound to discombobulate them!
(nice word, eh?)
ivan17274 Light
Posted
hi light.
hmmm. many hours I've poured over the word you used last Sunday. books I've ran through. all to no avail. useless. so...the only logical thing I could ask myself what does discombobulate mean? why would anyone care why Bob is late for the disco? no. sorry. anyway...
seeing as it's Sunday smiley club, all raise a glass, repeat after me and say 'i am NOT Spartacus'.
hi everybody!
mary76396 ivan17274
Posted
Ivan! You mean I'm not Spartacus! Damn I'll have to take this toga off and park up the chariot..........
shirlee86000 mary76396
Posted
Hi Mary
I was told that I had arthritis in my neck about 20 years ago as it was a bit stiff, it would come and go but no one suggested looking into it, cos everyone gets aches and pains from time to time, right? And then just out of the blue a year ago my shoulder started to hurt the pain was like nothing I had ever experienced, ( think I would rather of given birth) it was with me a whole night and then started to fade off the next day. It came back now and again until the doctor decided to give me a hydrocortisone injection, it worked like magic wow, now I could get on with my life as before.
That didn't last long before my other shoulder started then funny feelings in my hands, my wrists, waking up with swollen fingers, I will be honest with you it scared me as I was wondering what the hell was wrong with me, my imagination is serious and my mind was working mega overtime.
I eventually went to my doctors one day who sent me to a rheumatologist and I spent the morning there having tests to find out it was indeed rhematoid arthritis, I had no idea this condition was like this, as you always hear people say " oh I have a bit of arthritis there" it's rubbish it really is, rheumatoid arthritis is an alwful thing to have, I am on methotrexate 15 mg a week and thank goodness feel fine, I was so worried to go on it when I heard of side effects, but it's been a good couple of months now and I feel I have my life back, no pain since I started them, maybe coincidence and I could be having a remission who knows, I pray everyday that I don't feel that pain again
mary76396 shirlee86000
Posted
esther77657 mary76396
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Throughout my 20s and 30s I had endless "No, you can't have arthritis; you're too young." Funny, why am I in hospital having surgery to correct deformity from all the dmge done? Now, I'm in my late 40s, people say "Oh yes I've got that in my finger" and they shove a slightly swollen finger in your face! Suddenly the deformed body that I am sporting pales into insignificance because here we have a poorly finger to gaze at!! I give it everything! "oHhhh, that DOES look sore. How on earth do manage? Have you been to see your doctor? What can be done about it?" I derive a little bit of fun from this these days!
tony09890 mary76396
Posted
I've suffered widespread osteo arthritis for 20 years: both hips, lower back, neck, shoulder, thumb and elbows, I was medically discharged from the service because of it. It really affected me: walking, bending and so on. Twelve months ago I was diagnosed with RA, I can tell you now, OA is a walk in the park!