Welcome to Rheumatoid Connect! Share your RA story.

I have lived with RA for a long time. From watching my dad deal with it as a young girl to finally going to dr for myself. I for years was terrified just thinking about the possibility of getting RA and fought the pain in my late 20s to early 30s. Once it started getting real bad started going to the dr but did not get tested for RA until six years ago. Talk about living a nightmare!!! Am being treated. You would have to know my dad's history( a very long history) with RA to understand the terror I have felt. Some days the only thing that keeps me going is the knowledge that treatments have improved. I will battle Ra like my father did, never giving up. Knowledge will be the key to getting ahead and staying ahead in this game so that is why I look for places like this. With all the support I can confront my terror and fight better.

I had been hurting and improperly diagnosed by my GP some 1 1/2 or 2 years before switching doctors and discovering (on the first visit) that it was RA. That was 9 years ago and it has been a constant learning process ever since. I went through the normal denial, had a short bout with depression but decided early on that I need to make this as easy on myself as possible. This includes maintaining a positive attitude, taking my medications as prescribed, eating better, working out on days that I can and getting plenty of rest. I have had to modify my lifestyle to accommodate some of these but it has been worth it. In spite of having to give up some things, I still maintain a fairly active lifestyle for living with RA. Like Lana, my RA is pretty well managed but I still have flare ups and hurt everyday.

Hello,
My name is Tangela Mckinnon and I have lived with RA since 2005. It has really changed my life. Some days have been bad, real bad and others have been wonderful. The most positive thing I have learned from having RA is to rest when I first start to feel bad. It usually helps me get back into things pretty quickly. The parts of my life that have been affected are working outside of the home. I enjoy my job but, last year RA hit me hard and my doctor took me out of work for 6 months. I felt devastated and saddened because this was not the first time I had been out of work because of this disease. It has been like that since I was diagnosed but, I continue to work and enjoy life to the fullest. I am in control and have learned techniques to ease the pain and take medicine. My family is very supportive and know that I dislike anyone feeling sorry for me. I am very independent and my children often argue because they say, "Mom takes care of everyone except herself", she always puts herself last! My joy is taking care of others and seeing them happy. That is the one thing in my life that drives and motivates me. Caring for others. Today I am doing fine and very happy with the life that I lead. I still feel the pain and I am reminded everyday of this disease but, I consider myself most truly blessed…