Angel- I hope your treatment does it's job..It must be very tiring taking treatments every 5-6 weeks.
Well girls send me some motivation!
It has been a cool but pleasant weekend.. I hope you all had the same..Joanne

My whole post got erased by my lovely daughter.

Charlotte-I'm like you and worried that the RA is getting worse. I have more aches and pains everyday. It's becoming more frequent. I keep thinking about when the doctor had to take me off meds because of my liver count and it took me 10 min. to get to the bathroom. I had to shuffle my feet and lean on the wall to get there. I had to throw myself down on the toilet and rock and get up enough guts to handle the pain to get back off. It was excruciating. I'd be in a full-blown sweat by the time I got back to the bedroom. I couldn't grasp anything or lift my arms over my head. I could barely walk and it was just horrible. I had to be like that for over a month. I 'm so scared to end up like that again. I'm only 33 and sometimes it feels like my life is over. I keep wondering "WHY ME, LORD?" How does this all start anyhow? My daughter asked me that tonight. She wanted to know why I got arthritis. I told her that I didn't know but sure wished that I didn't have it at all. I'm scared that I won't be a good mom for long. I'm afraid I'll get to crippled up to do anything with them.

Well hope you are all feeling good today. My shoulder is a tad sore. It has that burning pain in it. The cleaning of my sister's house went well. She was so surprised and the kids love their bunkbeds. It's a great feeling. My sister is not the most 'exceptional' housekeeper. I think she let things go too far and then was just overwhelmed by it all and didn't know where to start. I hope it helps and she keeps up with it.

Hang in there, Chrily. I'm so sorry you're going through this mess. Especially at such a young age. I'm 55, & only had RA for a little over 2 yrs. But, I've had OA in my back since I was 36. A car wreck stopped me from working or going places & doing things with my kids. I was put on SS disability. It was embarrassing to me. Like RA, you can't see OA, & it always embarrassed me to let anyone know when I was sick or hurting.
Then 2 yrs ago my left, middle finger went to swelling & throbbing. I was sent to the Rheumotologist immediately. It's a good thing, too, because the RA advanced very rapidly through my whole body. While going from one med to another, I was doing as you said. Holding on, & barely getting around. Chrily, I get discouraged, also. There's so much I'd like to be doing. I don't know why we get it, but the Lord does. Remember, He doesn't cause these things. He does, though, help to see us through.
My DH loves me a lot, & is so afraid the Remicade is going to cause cancer. It's been on the news, lately. I don't think, either, that he remembers how bad I was before the treatments. Maybe he thinks I wouldn't be that bad, now. I don't know. But, I'm constantly hearing that he wants me off, & to try other things he's hearing advertised on the radio. People just don't always understand. After all, if we don't understand, how can we expect them to? To my knowledge, no one in our family had it before me. For now, I'm trusting my DR & the Remicade. I'm not holding on to walls, at least. ( Well, maybe in the mornings, for a little while. ) I'll pray you're/we're not getting worse. I keep forgetting how young you are. The same age as my daughters.
Glad your sister was pleasantly surprised. I have a sister, & unfortunately a daughter with the same housekeeping "interest" as your sister.

Hi Joanne...hope you're feeling well. I didn't get my treatment yesterday. They had made a mistake, & called a week too early. I'll make it.

It's my day off, so going to work on those Christmas albums!

I hope everyone has a good day. It's a beautiful sunshiny (cold) day, here!

Here's a link to a thread where I have pictures posted of some of my family, & my house under construction. There's two posts...both are near the bottom of the page.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...t=48313&page=3

Charlotte,
I saw your pictures on the other thread. You have a beautiful family, and adorable grandchildren...and your a very pretty grandma/wife/person. It's so funny because on the outside we look so normal but on the insides we are getting ravaged by pain and inflammation.

I'll have to figure out how to add some photos and send you some of me and my family so you can see who you've been talking to. Would be nice to put a face to the jabbering huh?

My shoulder feels better today. It just needed some rest and perhaps my little Nicole won't want to be held so much today. She's almost 40 lbs and she's only a few months over 2 yr. My big girl. She's not fat...just kind of tall.

I guess my sister lucked out. Her oven coil went out last night so now she has to call her landlord to look at it. She's all happy because her apt. is clean and she won't get in trouble. I don't know...I spent part of my growing up years at my dad's house where they are sticklers for cleanliness so I guess some of that rubbed off on me. They had the only house with 11 cats in it and no odor or cat hair to prove it. No clutter on the counters, no messes in the bedrooms, and totally dust free.

Well I better get to exercising before I don't feel like it. Check in with you all later.

~chris

Hi All,

Having a bad couple of days...pain has changed. It's weird....does anyone have a burning feeling? Don't know what it is...but every so often I get this burning sensation in my lower back near my hip. Scares me.

I'm going to try going to a chiropractor...have an appointment on friday. First time I've ever gone to one of those. Just hope it doesn't hurt...yeah, being a big baby today.

Hope everyone is doing well. Good job on your sister's place, Chirly. You can come clean my house anytime....and I promise, I won't shower you with towels...lol.

Deb

Hey Deb,
I get the burning pain that you're talking about. I'm not sure why it happens but I know I get mine in my shoulder joint where my rotator cuff is. It does feel like a different pain.

Sounds like we are all having difficulties lately. Maybe its the weather. Draw me a map and I'll come clean it anytime. I just have a hard time looking at mine. It's always funnier to do someone else's house. I know, I know. I'm a strange one.

Well since none of us seem to be pain-free. Here's to all of us having the best day possible.

~chris

Hello Everybody...I have had pain in one part of my body or another for over a month. Part was having surgery. The bottom of my right foot has been hurting for over a week. I can hardly step on it. I guess just OA. I was out today and walked a lot. I will take something tonight.
Grasshopper . I hope the chiro can help you. I have never been to one and probably won't ever.Some people like them.. I have always been afraid of them.My brother is going to one now..
Chrily..Too bad you don't live close.. Ofcourse getting through 52 years od collectables might not be so much fun.
Bye for now...Joanne

I feel so much for all of you. I'm new enought in my disease that the pain is not unbearable yet. I'm sure it's anything as bad as what most of you are going through. You are all so brave and I just want you to know how much I appreciate all of you.

Which bring me to my rant...There is a lady at our church that was just dx'ed with RA and immediately became an "invaliad". One week she was walking and doing okay, although I'm sure she was hurting, but the minute she got the RA dx she became the "poor sick Lady" It's lilke she is the only one in the world who has ever had RA, and now she has also been dx'ed with SjS and she is telling everyone who will listen, and a few who don't want to about this RARE auto-immune diseases she has. My point is that she is using her pain to get attention. One week after her dx, she started walking with a walker and suffling through the aisles, but when she was outside and thought no one could see her, she was just fine, walking without the walker and all. And of course everyone is thinking poor little Lady, her life is over, she has this death sentence. It just makes me so mad to see someone misusing (I can't even think of a word) but there are so many people out there with both RA,OA and SjS that are in pain, but keep up a positive attitude and are loving caring people and are blessings to be around. I want to go to her and shake her and tell her that her life is not over, that there is life after diagnosis, and so much of this is how you deal with it.

If I'm the one way off in my thinking and feeling, please let me know. I feel that my outlook on this is being very unchristian, but bottom like it I feel like she is taking advantage of her dx to get attention and symphaty. As I write this I'm getting very emotional and if I had tears, I think I'd be crying but I'd really like to hear from some of you who had had really bad times and know how you handled yourselves and if I'm the one really off base.

Barb,
I'm fairly young to have RA (33 yrs. old) but I know when I got dx'd (at 29 yr. old) that I felt awful and even when I was having a hard time, I was trying to hide it even from my family. I don't know. I know it feels unChristian like but when I see someone trying to get attention like that, it angers me too. I'm one of those that is still learning that life goes on even if you have a disease and you have to learn some adjustments but you keep on going. I do know that she is going to end up making herself feel worse with the self-induced pity party. My doctor tells me that how you feel has alot to do with your attitude. If you act sick and feel sorry for yourself...you're going to feel sick. Although I still have the days where I just want to roll over and die...

My hand and arm are acting up again today. I was back on the couch sleeping with my arm hanging over the side again last night. This is getting old. I'm just trying to hang on until February when my insurance will pay for treatment. I'm holding on....

Well the kids are late for school so I'm going to shove them out the door.... Mornings are so stressful.

~chris

Good afternoon Ladies just wanted to pop in and say Hi!!!!!!!!sorry to hear that some of you are having so much problems right now so you all will be on my prayer list I sure know howc you all are feeling as really been having all the aches and pain also and it sure does get you down at times but with all your help you lovely ladies I know that I am not alone and at least you will listen to me as you all know family at times just dont understand love all those graphic pictures that you ladies do well ladies hope you all have a good one Rita

Good morning Charlotte,
My hand feels much better this morning. I bought a splint last night to put on it. I actually got some sleep. It felt so good. This stuff keeps happening in my left arm so I'm not sure if it really is RA or if I have carpal tunnel. I'm leaning toward RA. It's hard to say because my job revolves around alot of repetitive motions which could aggrevate either of them

I know what you're saying about stress. I know that mine got worse after Nicole was born. I think post partem depression didn't help and it didn't go away for a long time... Then I got stressed when I wasn't feeling good and then it got worse and worse. Things have leveled off since they put me on anti-depressants. I had no idea stress and RA were connected until my doctor told me. I kind of wonder if that's how it all started in the first place. I was really worried about the Y2K and the Rapture after Kayla was born. Don't ask me why...but it consumed me. It was on New Year's Eve when my hand started hurting. Makes me wonder sometimes if I brought this all on myself. I know...Psycho Maniac...Naw, I'm just a major worrier. My husband says I'm a worst case scenario person. The glass is always half empty instead of half full. I'm working on that one....

Well I guess I'm going to check my other threads before I send my hand back to yesterday. I don't want to do that again. It's happened 4 times now in the last 3 months. I'm not liking it so much.

~chris

Hope I look better than I feel, this morning! Day after treatment!
Just taking it easy today! Treatment went ok....other than taking over 3 1/2 hrs this time! A lot went on. My nurse didn't want to start treatment meds after inserting IV, until Dr saw my thumb. Trying to not whine......I have a very bad thumb on my right hand. (yes, I'm right-handed) About 3 weeks ago, I thought I had something in it....maybe a tiny sliver of glass. But, about a week later, 2 more little raised spots appears (making 4) and my thumb is dark red, twice the size of the other, & VERY touchy.Now, there are several little spots! Dr says he thinks it's circulation problem, & that my thumb is dying! I'm on Prednisone for a week, but have to call him Thursday to report how it's doing. This has really scared me. After we get it taken care of, Dr wants to run tests to see what's causing it. He said it would be very rare for RA to be the cause of it, although it doesn't help that I have RA. My legs & feet are very easy to cramp, & my feet stay cold. If I'm in a cool place, my feet turn dark blue! Of course this has me concern...but, I'm really concerned with the fact that it could happen to my organs...lungs, kidneys, heart, etc. Dr said it was like having frostbite. Well, frostbite is when blood vessels form crystals, etc. I had a friend at the TV Station a few yrs ago with Lupus. She had crystals to form in her lungs & died. Just be patient with me, & let me rave a little, until I know more. I don't want to in front of anyone living around me.
My poor (just can't understand) DH. When I told him....the first thing he said...."Those Drs are going to kill you". He blames drs for everything. I suppose I wouldn't have RA, if it wasn't for them. Yes, we've had some bad dealings with some Drs, but they're not all bad.

I'm needing to lay back down. I'll post more later. Hope all of you are having a good day.

Oh my gosh! Charlotte, that sounds horrible. I hope they figure out what's happenind to you and be able to help it. Your thumb sounds so strange. I hope I never see anything like that on me...(no offense to you). Some of these things about RA scare me too. I too am worried about my other organs being infected. I'm bad enough now. I don't want to be worse. One question, why can't the DH's understand? My dh is always saying things like "taking another pill?", "ooh, I have another pain...gotta get some more pills in me!" He doesn't realize that comments like that hurt. And that what I have is very serious. I take the meds because I have to, not because I want to. Okay, I'm venting with you...
Well I have to go get Kayla from kindergarten. Thanks for the post on here. You're pictures always make me smile. I love the one today. Take it easy and rest. TTFN>
~chris