Diagnosis
A couple of years ago, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. My family practitioner took a good look at my swollen right hand and promptly sent me to the rheumatologist. I already knew I was getting stiffer, particularly in the morning. My hands were aching, my knuckles were swollen and reddened and I was fatigued all the time. Recognizing this disease was easy, since my maternal grandmother suffered from it for years, but the confirmation filled me with dread.
The Fear
Would I be crippled? Would this shorten my life? These were valid concerns considering the effects RA can have your body:
- Swollen, inflamed joints with developing deformities can indeed cripple some.
- Eyes can develop problems as well, including inflammations and even glaucoma. In my case, a common disease that sometimes goes along with RA–Sjogren’s Syndrome–leaves me with dry eyes, dry mouth, dry nose–all mucous membranes dry out.
- Rashes, and rheumatoid nodules under the skin.
- Heart–scary, but true. Since RA is an inflammatory process, it can cause inflammation in the heart and other organs!
- Scarring of the lung tissue due to inflammation is called pulmonary fibrosis–not good.
- Stomach, Kidneys and liver: many of the great drugs that treat RA, and all of the NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti inflammatory) can cause damage to these organs, which is why it is necessary to have frequent blood tests.
- Not only does the RA itself cause fatigue, but many of the medications used to treat it also have this side effect. Speaking from personal experience, depression, fatigue and just not feeling well (flu-like symptoms) make living with RA challenging at times.
So, at the very least, I was worried about being somewhat “crippled”–I vividly remember my grandmother being barely able to get out of her chair and walk–and at the worst? Well, with so many effects on so many organs, who knows the consequences for my life expectancy? All I can do for now is work with my physician, work at staying healthy and active and pray a lot!
Treatment
My rheumatologist is wonderful—she immediately ran tests, took x-rays and then sat me down with an aggressive plan to halt the diseases’ progress as much as possible. She has worked with me on more than one front to fight this disease, and I appreciate her so much! From giving me a tip on how to make a sock into a heating pad to explaining how the newest medication I am taking works, she is always there.
We have been through quite a few medications so far, but the last one seems to be working well. Actually, three different RA drugs are now working in my body and they are working well together. I am keeping my fingers crossed (not a pretty picture—they are likely to cramp up!). I will share on this blog and this page articles and information about living with this disease.
Please share your RA journey and any tips you have…..