God Bless you for sharing this with us all !

Tracy

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS. MY WIFE HAS RA AND JUST UNTIL RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO BECOME EVEN CLOSE TO UNDERSTANDING THE PAIN AND EXHAUSTION THAT SHE GOES THROUGH DAILY. I WILL PROBABLY NEVER FULLY UNDERSTAND BUT THE MORE I HEAR ABOUT IT AND ITS EFFECTS THE MORE I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT MY WIFES NEEDS ARE. I SOMETIMES FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN SO SELFISH IN NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS DISEASE DOES. IT BECOMES SO EASY TO JUST IGNORE IT BUT IT IS SO EVIDENT THAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY SO THAT I CAN HELP MY WIFE WHOM I LOVE SO DEARLY DEAL WITH HER DISEASE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING AND GOD BLESS YOU.

PAUL

Just to let you know ...Paul who wrote those last comments ..is my husband !  He joined this site because he comes on here every day and reads my blogs and he actually goes through and reads others too ...I didnt ask him to ...he just knew I was writing in here ,my blogs and I had told him how happy I was to have all of you in my life.. he has seen the change in me since I have been writing blogs and talking about all the beautiful people in here and all they go through too..so he took the time and started reading ...he has been so touched and moved by all of this and his eyes have been fully opened to our situations...He has always been there for me but he just wasnt fully aware of all we go through ...and the best part is that he wants to be fully aware and then try even harder to help me through...I have seen a big change in him too since he started reading all these blogs and comments...He truely is my hero ! I truely hope that others will also share with there loved ones some of these posts , comments ,topics and blogs  and especially this letter you posted. I really believe it can help our loved ones understand better also ! Thanks so much for your kind and loving words Chris

I keep you ,and all ,in my prayers !

Blessings ,Tracy

Mandy -- diagnosed w/ JRA at 5yrs, went into remission after a few months. / diagnosed later in early 20's. Much more aggressive and "angry" condition 2nd time around.  26 yrs old now.

Once I started on MTX and Enbrel, things have gotten better, but I am no where near where I was before my diognosis and peope just don't get that. I constantly get the comment at work "wow you look so much better and are getting around better". I know that it is better, but they have no idea what it takes for me to get going in the morning and give all the energy in my body all day long and then crash when I get home (my poor family, I don't have much left after work). I have felt badly about being anoyed at people for their comments, I know the are trying to be supportive and kind, but it has bothered me so much when they say how "well" I look I scream inside my head "if you only knew what it takes for me to come into work on some days!".  I don't wear my pain on my sleeve and they don't see how much I struggle after I take the MTX and give myself the Enbrel injection (I hate shots and still am not used to it after two and a half months).

I am thankful that I found this board and read that letter!

Laurie

Today is just one of those days where the depression is really hitting me on top of everything else.  This reminds me I'm not alone in the process.  thanks again sharon

I can't tell you how sorry I am for your pain.  It really is so very hard to make others understand what we go through all day every day.

This letter can help if you just print it out or have others read it.   The first time I read it, I copied it, pasted to an email and sent it to everyone in my address book.  I was so surprised at the replies - "I didn't know, Chris.  I'm sorry." or "I thought I had pain until I read this."  even my Grand Daughter who I see almost everyday and is very observant, told me, "Grandmama I had no idea!  Why didn't you tell me this before?"

There are so many people love us and want to help but they just can't know what its like.  One of my nephews told me to "put some WD40 on it"!  Another nephew said, "Oh rheumatoid arthritis is the disease of choice now days.  Everybody has it"!

I wish you the very best and sincerely hope you'll find a good rheumy that you can trust and talk to and that your mobility and fatigue improve every day.

Please do post often and let us all know what progress you're making or, just to vent and get your feelings out in the open.  This is one place where you'll be understood.

Hugs and blessings to you.

Chris

 

Friends are just angels who have forgotten how to fly

Lana K

All the best,

Chris

Friends are just angels who have forgotten how to fly