August 2015

Month

RA – Mending The Gap Between Lonliness and Support While Fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis

Having support is an important factor in our journey with rheumatoid arthritis but we still find there is a big lack of understanding, so that brings about less support for some of us. Having support can help us in so many ways. It is wonderful to have someone who you can turn to when you need to talk, or you just want to cry or even vent too. Without having this type of support we find ourselves slipping into depression.

Feeling isolated, lonely and afraid is never a good place to be. It is vital for us to find support with family, friends, blogs or support groups. The main thing is finding some type of support because this can definitely help to keep down the stress and depression which can have a negative effect on us. It can surely cause us to have flares and this can set us back in our fight to live better with this disease. Continue reading “RA – Mending The Gap Between Lonliness and Support While Fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis” →

August 17, 2015 2

RA – Rheumatoid Arthritis and Depression – How it Affects Us and How We Deal With It

Being a person with rheumatoid arthritis is a place where I never imagined I would be and really where I don’t want to be but here I am. How do I deal with it? In many different ways. I find myself sometimes trying to ignore it but that’s hard except for those rare days when I hardly feel any pain. Other times I try not to think about it and then there’s the majority of the time, reality.

I have it, it’s here, I can’t change it so I deal with it and so goes the story. Can it be depressing? Yes it can. I don’t get depressed often but I do have my days. I sometimes wake up and I feel depressed for what I think is no reason but of course there is a reason. I think about myself and this disease and I find that I feel overwhelmed at how often the pain can be there or for the simple fact that I have RA. I cry sometimes and I want to reach out to others but I don’t want to upset anyone else or have them feel bad for me or worry about me. I know the support and understanding is there but dealing with this at times is more than that. We have to go through our own thing whether is to cry or to swear just to make us feel better. Then after that I realize I needed that time for myself and I settle down and further realize, I’m not so bad. This is how I deal with my depression. Continue reading “RA – Rheumatoid Arthritis and Depression – How it Affects Us and How We Deal With It” →

August 15, 2015 2

To The Warriors of Rheumatoid Arthritis – Be Encouraged

RA AND THE FAMILY FIT

This is just to encourage each of you to keep your head up in your fight against rheumatoid arthritis and look for strength within yourself and know that no matter what, you’re never alone. Together we shall all stand but know that you are your bravest warrior and for that you should be proud.

Here’s to wishing that each one of you have a wonderful, pain-free, loving and above all Blessed day/evening/week.

photo credit: p.a. mirabela/freeimages.com

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August 14, 2015 0

RA – My Prayer – My Hope – My Struggle – My Victory

In my day-to-day life my rheumatoid arthritis has not been as bad as RA can be. I have been Blessed to be a person that was able to get mine diagnosed early which has definitely been beneficial for me. Early detection has enabled me to live my life in a way that I am so grateful for. For those that have to struggle so much harder day-to-day than I do, I pray for you.

I sit and wonder how did I get this disease. It is genetic? I’m not sure. I haven’t been able to determine that fact. I do have a sister that has a more progressed form than I do and I know what she has gone through and how much she has suffered to reach the point where this disease has brought her. I look at her and I feel for her. To know the pain she has suffered and those like her is a part of my struggle. I hurt emotionally for her and I feel pain physically for myself. Continue reading “RA – My Prayer – My Hope – My Struggle – My Victory” →

August 13, 2015 6

Why Do I Blog About Rheumatoid Arthritis – My Own Personal Thoughts – A Sense of Purpose

For me having rheumatoid arthritis is never really knowing what my day is going to be like. When I lay down at night I hope that my morning will be a good one with no pain or minimal pain.

I’ve been one of the Blessed ones to say that I don’t have any deformities that are very noticeable and have been fortunate to catch my disease early but I often wonder when I’m in pain “Is this the feeling that does all of the damage”. Though I have had my share of issues, I do still feel that I caught my disease in its early stages and prevented the damage.

Of course I have pain and some days it’s pretty bad but I find for me night is my enemy. I notice that my hand and foot (right side) seem to be playing games with each other to see who can aggravate me the most while my shoulder keeps score, well the hand wins. I try finding ways to make it better like putting it under my pillow, which actually is very comforting but it lingers. I try to fight back with Advil but that doesn’t get the job done completely but it helps a little bit. Eventually, relief does come and that’s super. Continue reading “Why Do I Blog About Rheumatoid Arthritis – My Own Personal Thoughts – A Sense of Purpose” →

August 12, 2015 4

Rheumatoid Arthritis – Facing Challenges and Loving Yourself Through Them

Rheumatoid arthritis can really take a toll on our bodies in so many ways. It can change your appearance little by little or in an aggressive fashion.

It does this by causing deformities in your hands, fingers, wrists, feet, knees, elbows and in some cases your back. But there is still the case with so many the chance of losing your teeth and your hair. Which is worst for you? I don’t know. Is it your smile, is it that little balding spot in your head, maybe. It’s all overwhelming when it happens but we reach out to others asking questions to see if there are things we can do to help with these issues. We get feedback, we get supporting words and we get understanding. All of this is great and exactly what we need but how do we feel about ourselves when we look in the mirror. Do we feel pity or sadness, probably. Do we think why is this happening to me. Do we just wish this disease would just go away, yes of course we do, but it won’t. Continue reading “Rheumatoid Arthritis – Facing Challenges and Loving Yourself Through Them” →

August 10, 2015 0

RA – Encouraging Words For the Week – For My RA Warriors

Don’t let anyone tell you that you are weak; You are so much stronger than you realize.

Be proud of yourself for the strength that you have; It is the one sure thing you know you can count on;

Never, ever give up on yourself; You are your fiercest warrior.

For every step down RA takes you; You can always find your way back up;

Fight for yourself and all that you need; Because no one knows what you need better than you do.

Still some days we will surely find difficult; We also know in our hearts we are RA Warriors.

So be strong, keep the faith and keep your fight for yourself going. We are Warriors forever.

Be Blessed

Photo Credit: Plang Image/FreeImages.com

August 9, 2015 0

Rheumatoid Arthritis – The Unpredictable Disease and Its Challenge

Having rheumatoid arthritis as you know can be very challenging. There is never a day that goes by that we know how we’re going to feel. It is unpredictable and it is a challenge for us.

There can be days when we are surprised there are no symptoms and we are actually overjoyed because for the majority of us that hardly ever happens. Still most of us expect to have pain every day even though it is the level of pain that we can’t predict. We can’t predict what joint will hurt or how long the pain will last. We can’t predict if our present medication will take care of the pain or if we have to prepare ourselves for another new bout of meds and if those will work. We can’t predict if there will be side effects whether mild or severe from our medication. We can’t predict if there will be permanent damage done to us in any form either from our meds or the disease itself. Continue reading “Rheumatoid Arthritis – The Unpredictable Disease and Its Challenge” →

August 7, 2015 2

RA – Having Rheumatoid Arthritis Are You Ashamed, No You Shouldn’t Be

I know for all of us this is a very difficult disease. It does so many things to us physically and emotionally, so I ask the question, does that make you ashamed?

There are many reasons why we might feel ashamed. Some of us change physically and the looks we might get from people makes us ashamed, another because the medicines we take might affect our memory (me for sure), and of course we’re emotional and these things can make us feel less secure in ourselves which brings on shame. But the biggest thing I think a lot of us deal with is the lack of understanding and the feedback we get from others who think that our disease isn’t as bad as it is and that we’re making more of it for our own selfish reasons. So we find ourselves hiding what we’re going through for fear of being called lazy or being called a complainer and to be called these things makes us ashamed of expressing exactly what feel. Continue reading “RA – Having Rheumatoid Arthritis Are You Ashamed, No You Shouldn’t Be” →

August 5, 2015 1

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