Good Moanin' HealingWell V61

moaning everyone,

Jody- My girls are 10, 7 and 3 years old.  They are starting to understand what the RA is going to to our lives.  They are all stepping up and taking care of more things.  Rachel, my youngest, had even started giving me "soft hugs" instead of just jumping on me.

Every day is a little bit better.  I went ahead and took the darvacet (sp?) before really moving this morining, but now that I am up it doesn't seem to be too bad.  Yesterday I said  the same thing, and by 9:30 I was inflamed again.  I'm still going to take it easy.  maybe I can get through the day in short bursts of activity.

My husband works nights over the weekend, so he will be home soon and then go to bed for the day.  Weekends I am pretty much on my own with the kids.  Yesterday I called my parents (who live in town) to run to the store for some milk, eggs and bread.  They had no idea that I felt the way I did- and don't understand why I can't take this under control.

Mom, who is a 'health nut', suggests eating cherries, or spinich with blueberries, or taking special vitamens to help me feel better.  If I get my immune system 'more healthy' I might not have this problem.  She feels that if I would just loose weight and eat better I would be "OK".  I've tried to tell her that taking special vitemens to make my immune system "stronger" is just what I don't want to do. 

How do you deal with a person who want's to treat RA the  same way they would treat general aches/pains/fatigue from being overweight?  (Loose weight, jumpstart your immune system, Ice your joints)  She doesn't understand that the meds are designed to DECREASE the function of my immune system and would make me ill more often.  her answer- take something to strengthen the immune system while taking the med.

Here's to people who don't understand.

Well, the typing is starting to hurt my hands, so I hope all is well in your life and I will check back to read later today.

ok, let's try this again...had a nice post already, went to post it, and must have hit the wrong button, cuz it disappered into who know's where.

Raven!  So very glad to see your post, been wondering about you..write when you can, dear, have missed you.

Christina, sounds like your girls are little gems, what a blessing.  I'm the only girl in my house, we had four boys, but they are all grown now. Oh, I think we all have gone through the "have you tried this" stuff from well-meaning family and friends. I know that it comes out of genuine care and concern, so I just say "thanks, I'll look into that". Then I discuss it with my doc, and follow her instructions. People who don't have this don't really understand what's involved, it's all so complicated.  A while back we had a thread about helping or families understand our illness...if I get a chance I'll try and find it for you.

joan, you got published??  Must have been something else I missed...so sorry... but congrats to you!  is there anyway you could post here what your wrote?? Would LOVE to read it, I really miss it when you and Bear had the poetry thread going, you guys had such great stuff on there.

Well, it's a dreary drippy day in Florida...been running around doing my normal Saturday errands.  Stopped home to grab some lunch and see hubby for a bit...now it's time to hit the road again.  Tomorrow going to try and do some cooking to fill the freezer up( need something else in there besides cookies), with some dinners for him in case I do get to go away next week.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend...hugs...Jody

don't take this as a "dis" but i want to direct this post to christina, before i can't type no longer, so i hope you catch this!  i read your posts very caraefully & your days are very much like mine with the RA.

what i would suggest is finding adequate pain meds for relief, believe me, they won't do anything to actually help the RA...but after a while with proper dosage you CAN get to a point whrere the joint pain becomes very manageable.

a pain specialist MD who deals with long term chronic pain patiuents is best.

have you had a real heart to heart with your hubby?

i met my hunny 5 years ago when i was actually a patient of his! before him, every guy i was with did not handle me too well...too much of me being an inconvenience & they (along with my regular friends & girlfriends as well) couldn't understand why i couldn't just do things like normal.  there was just no comprehension no matter how much i explained it.

my joe though...God he's been a blessing.  i can believe how good he has been.

this is very rare especially when a man is fit, healthy & has never been ill; to have so much compassion & understanding.

he never pushes, never gets angry when i can't do something & is patient.

not knowing anything about your hubby i can't comment too much, but i would make sure he understands your RA completely, what if effects & how it manifests.

i'd also make sure he knows how HE makes you feel better (if he in fact does).  for me, just having him hold my hand or place a warm hand on my knee makes the pain better.

i'd tell your hubby the specifics he does that makes your dealing with RA easier.

now, if i'm totally not in the loop & your hubby makes your life totally NOT easier then go scratch all of what i wrote, LOL.

take it one day at a time dear.

erin