My Diagnosis of RA

In October, 2004, I went to the doctor, for what I thought was the flu.  I had been feeling extremely tired and very irritable for several weeks.  I was starting feel more and more achy all the time.  After doing some ex-rays, the doctor said it was Osteoarthritis.  He did some blood work, sent me home and said he would see me back in 6 weeks.  Two days later he called and told me blood tests showed it was actually Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I had no idea what it was, but knew it wasn’t good, he wanted to see me again the following week.

I spent weeks and weeks researching the disease, reading everything I could find on it.  It was depressing me more and more.  The more depressed I got, the more I hurt and the worse I got.  By January 2005, I was in so much pain, I couldn’t take anymore.  The doctor and I had originally discussed not to start me on RA meds. for a while, because I was too young and I would be on them for the rest of my life.  But, when I went this time, the blood work showed that the disease was progressing quickly and we had no choice but to start the meds. NOW!!!  We had to slow it down. 

At this point, I knew my life was about to change FOREVER!  I subscribed the The Arthritis Today magazine and read it from cover to cover every month.  I prayed like I had never prayed before.  And, I cried all the time.  I was losing control of everything I knew and had worked for.  The one thing that got me through this difficult time, somewhat, was to start a journal.  I hadn’t written in journal or diary since high school, so it was new to me.  I just started writing what came to my heart.