Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Went to the Rheumy on Friday. Had to stop taking Arava due to severe stomach pain. Told him my fingers were so painful that holding my steering wheel was hard, typing hurts, well all of you already know the pain and how it works. My shoulders and hips hurt so bad I can't lay down to sleep. He gave me injections in each shoulder and took more blood plus tested for TB. He said this had to be done before he changed meds again. I am to go back next Thursday for the results and the Monthly RX for the pain patch. I hate having to go in twice this month due to cost. But as I told him there is more fear of not having the releif from the RA meds than the pain meds. He is working to find one that will not make me so sick. My fear is that by the time find one that works more damage will be done.

Starting a new job within my agency. This one will require loads of walking which scares me. The upside is there will no longer be a caseload or field visits which has brutal. The heat in Texas has been so hot and with 90 percent humidity has been brutal. By the time I get home my body is overheated, then so sick for two days. I will get the shakes all over my body then feel so cold my teeth chatter. The job change is my last effort to continue to work and have insurance. Doc told me to start getting my paperwork in order. Don't now if I am being stubborn and destructive to my body or if it is a good thing to continue to fight to work until retirement in three years.

Even after intensive research I have discovered that my being so naive about RA leaves me so confused. Who new that trying to avoid stress could be so stressful. Trying to work in an atmosphere that is not willing to work with disabilities is having to hide the best possible way the fact that you can't do the work. STRESSFUL. I am rambling. Sorry

My vision is not doing well and seems to have a glare all the time which makes seeing mistakes hard. So please forgive my errors in typing as I really can't see the words well.

For a person who is a natural optimist RA is changeing the way I see the world. Working to find my joy again. Who knew that would ever be my journey.

kjv1956

Dejavu~ I bet I'm not the only othewr person who could have written your letter (well except for the work parts). This disease is so confusing, it confuses us our friends and, even our Drs.

Hope good things come to you...

Cj

CJ, Thanks for the reply. Have been running a fever for two days that has wiped me out. Took a long nap today but still feel tired. Hopefully I will have some energy tomorrow to clean the house some and wash some clothes. The injections seem to have helped the shoulder pain some but still can't raise my arms above my head.

kjv1956

Just a little thing, but maybe it'll help...

When my shoulder pain was so bad, I was exhausted and fell asleep easily. Every time I rolled over onto my side, the pain would wake me. I got some relief by sleeping on the couch. I'd sort of wedge myself at an angle between the back and the seat so I wasn'treally sleeping on my back or on my side but kind of at an angle. It kept me from rolling. I slept.

I hope it might help you.

Thanks JoLoBa, I have been trying to rest this way. The injections have helped but then caused the flush face many women over 50 get with steroids. For several days I just flat burned up from the inside out. Face, arms, and chest were cherry red with a temp of 100. This is very high for me as my normal temp is 97.3. With the temp outside @ 105 and 100 within felt like living in a furnace. Finally today there has been releif from the heat. Was able to walk with my dog on the beach and watch the sunrise. Love it.

kjv1956

So happy that you got some relief. It is the little things that we appreciate with RAD.