Saturday, April 16, 2011

Living with Rheumotoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a royal pain to live with.  I am working with my doctor to try to find the right meds.  Humira, a shot you take every other week, did not work as we hoped it would.  I am now on Simponi.  It is a once a month injection.  It seems to be working better than the Humira did.  I have only had 3 shots so we will see what the next few months bring. I thank God everyday that I have a great insurance company helping me.

God gives us gifts everyday.  My gift is this condition and I am thankful for it.  I do believe it is making me a better person.  I refuse to ask why...He knows why and I just have to do what I have to do to make it through each day.

Even though I have RA I refuse to just sit and moan about pain.  Some mornings when I get up, I can barely walk because my knees hurt so bad.  I make myself walk around the house and after a while they start to feel better.  It is a strange condition.  On some days I am almost pain free and on some days I have so much pain that I can hardly walk. I try not to cry and feel sorry for myself.   Sometimes I do cry but I shake it off and keep going.  Keeping busy helps me so much.   I love taking care of my 2 year old grandbabies.   When they are around it seems the pain is almost gone. I guess I am too busy to think about it!  I love them so much and I need to have them with me as often as possible.  Sewing also takes my mind off the pain.  My hands are swollen all the time.  I can not even slip on a size 10 ring!  I am unable to make a tight fist.  But!!!! I keep on with my sewing projects.  I am able to hold the rotary cutter tight enough to cut my fabric.  I also can use my machine to quilt the tops I make.  I have made about a dozen quilts in the past 12 months.  I allow my self time in my sewing room an hour at a time.  I keep praying I will wake up and the pain will be gone.  One day that will happen.  It would be so easy to just sit and be sorry for myself but I am not going to do that.  If you know anyone with RA please be patient with them.  It may seem they are not hurting but believe me they are.
Today is a good day, hardly any pain at all.  Thank you Lord!  My hands are swollen but that's normal for me.
I pray all of you have a wonderful weekend. 

2 comments:

  1. Beebee, you are an inspiration in dealing with this. We all have troubles, but how we deal with them makes all the difference in the world! If every day we look at the "half full" rather than the "half empty" we will have the strength necessary to get through that day.

    I'm so jealous you take an hour to sew daily. Maybe when I retire I'll have that too! By the way-love your African women blocks!

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  2. Thanks San-Dee I try to stay positive about life and all that is thrown at you. I hope you have been well. I know you must miss spending time with your daughters. I do not know how I would handle being so far away from my children. I am only 25 minutes away so I see them quite often!
    I hope Lou is doing better these days. Are you still having cold weather up there. Our days here have been beautiful...50s in the am and highs of about 75 later in the day. I am looking forward to our 90 degree summer days. I hope to be able to spend a good bit of time in the pool. It helps take the pressure off my knees! Did you do your african block yet. That was some great fabric! I even made a block from the little triangles you had to cut off!
    well I have to go get ready for church this evening. take care and keep in touch.

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