How long has it been since you were diagnosed?

I was diagnosed with RA in 2007 right after the birth of my son. My life was in total turmoil. I was in my last year of College, and my marriage was failing whether I was ready to admit it or not. I felt unsupported and unloved. I never felt like I was enough in any aspect of my life. Pain encompassed my body- inside and out every waking moment. I felt like a phony, like I was living someone else's life. My former husband and I didn't agree on much, but I constantly stuffed my thoughts and feelings to keep the peace. The doc who diagnosed me started to give me steroid injections, even though I told him I didn't want them, because I was worried it would cause weight gain and make my issues worse. He said it wouldn't do that. A few months and 30 pounds later I decided to take my life back. I stopped seeing the doc and started to research anything I could find about RA. I wanted to live again. I drank all kinds of detox teas from Yerba Mate to Green to Oolong. I bought a ionic foot-bath, and used it 4 times a week. I watched what I ate and started an exercise program. I meditated and practiced self affirmations of positive thought and how I wanted my life to look. A year later I gathered my courage and left my toxic marriage. My former husband said the most he could ever offer me was a bus ticket. I took his offer- minus the ticket. I am in full remission now. Through my journey I have learned that there are many things that affect chronic illness, and that toxicity comes from our physical AND emotional environment. Every now and then I feel tingles in my joints if I have been slacking on nutrition or painting a lot, and I start to detox again. More than anything the tingles remind me of the power of our thoughts and beliefs. We are stronger than we know. This makes me grateful.

Just when I got used to things something else starts…I guess Murphy's law is still on the books.