arthritis meds aren't just for people with grey hair

some of my family is here from Michigan!  I love visitors.  after a few days in Yellowstone National Park, we are back in Billings just doing life together.  I just love it.  I've mentioned before that my sister has been experiencing joint pain and inflammation (she's awaiting her doctor's appointment where we hope and pray there's an answer other than RA).  the altitude and physical strain of the park's activities didn't exactly help our situation, but we were bound and determined to have a good time despite the pain and weakness.  mission accomplished, but we're definitely paying the price now.  completely exhausted.  

we joke that this is our advertisement for Celebrex.  we won't let rheumatoid arthritis slow us down!

your words have blessed me

RA is a difficult thing for anyone.  not only the person with the disease, but also those in the RA patient's life.  I've heard a fair share of offensive and hurtful things regarding my diagnosis, mostly people just not being educated and knowing appropriate ways to address the subject with me.  but I have also been asked some of the most thoughtful questions and have been supported in really beautiful ways.  so here's a little list I made.  maybe someone will read this and be better able to support the person with RA in their life.

how's your health? - this is great because it acknowledges the fact that RA is a health issue, not just a weakness issue or something that will clear up.  a person with RA has a lot going on health-wise (medications, struggles, victories, treatment options, frustrations), so you may get a really detailed answer, or a short and simple one.  but rest assured, it feels great to have someone care enough to ask.
you look great. - well this may sound shallow, but it's such a wonderful compliment for someone with RA (or anyone, for that matter!).  RA makes you feel really ugly sometimes.  red/purple, giant, painful joints for one.  I can no longer wear any rings other than my engagement ring and wedding band because of the size of my knuckles, but I wouldn't want to draw attention to my hands anyways.  my fingers are kinda nasty, even with well treated RA.  then there's the weight gain from the meds and a lessened ability to work out, poofy face from the steroids, bad skin from the meds and increased sensitivity to meds, random hair growth - yeah, RA and the pills we pop because of it are pretty messed up.  being told that I'm looking better than I feel is a huge morale booster.  keep it coming, I don't care how shallow it sounds.
this must be very difficult. - yes!  it is!  thank you for acknowledging it.  I understand that RA is extremely hard to understand unless you have it, but let me tell you - it's really, really difficult.  life with RA is hard, emotional, frustrating, confusing.  
how are you holding up? - thanks for being so thoughtful.  sorry if I cry when you ask me.
anything I can do to help? - on second thought, maybe you should ask my husband this, because he's the one listening to me whine and worry, going to doctor's appointments with me, paying for my meds, buying me expensive shoes because I need lots of support and cushion when I walk, opening ziplock bags and jars for me, and much MUCH more.  

go and support the ones you love!  healthy or ill, we all need love, encouragement, and a helping hand.

let the games begin.

after being told that even my skin is being effected by my RA, I've been thinking a lot about the medications I'm on, their pros, their cons, and what my future holds as far as treatment goes.  at the same time, my sister started experiencing inflammation, stiffness, and pain in her joints.  she hasn't been diagnosed with anything, but when your body starts betraying you, the first thing on your mind is how to make it stop.  and so, my sister and I have started thinking about the paleo diet.  yikes!  it's definitely not the most extreme diet out there, but it does involve cutting out things that I really enjoy (bread!).

I've never been very good at limiting myself or putting restrictions on myself.  except for the dedication I put into training for a 25k race a year ago, I've really just let myself go with the flow as far as diet and exercise goes.  everything in moderation; some days better than others.  but then RA happened and I started gaining weight, looking poofy, struggling to get in and out of a car, not lasting more than 20 minutes on the elliptical..... and I've come to the realization that this body of mine is going to start taking some work.  no more going with the flow, but instead I need to be proactive, thinking about what I put in my body, and getting committed to managing this disease without medication.

oh yeah, did I mention I'd like to go med free?  a big goal, but one that is obtainable with a lot of hard work.  can I do it?  let the games begin.

the product of surprise

you can only be surprised so many times by rheumatoid arthritis before you start saying "I need to start a blog. people need to know about this stuff."

earlier this week I was told by my dermatologist that I had acquired a skin condition as yet another side effect of my RA meds.  my rheumotologist and the internet never told me anything about skin conditions.  weight gain, check.  stomach pain, check.  lethargy, check.  skin conditions, what the heck.

so that's where this blog is coming from.  a place to share information, be brutally honest, and hopefully raise some awareness.  I know I'm not the only one experiencing these growing pains.

above all, I want to bring glory to my God.  RA isn't the only thing stretching me, teaching me, causing me to run into the arms of my Father.  above all, I want to bring glory to my faithful, sovereign God.