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Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis driving me into depression

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Posted 3/7/2008 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
OK, Last year at this time I had a major meltdown.  I was diagnosed with major depression.  By May it was changed to Bipolar Disorder.  We messed with medication till finally in late January I finally felt "stable".

February 21 I received a phone call that the Rheumatoid Factor in my blood was "way high" and I was sent to a rheumatologist.

I hurt all over.  It hurts to type.  It hurts to stand, lift, get up, sit too long, lay down too long- all day long.  Some days are better then others, but all days are uncomfortable now.

I am in college, and have to re-think my career.  I was supposed to go into nursing, but if I have to take immunosuppressant medications, I can't do that.

I feel like the RA (arthritis) has stolen my future, and is making my days nearly unbearable.

I want to get better, but i don't know how.  I'm afraid the pain will just get worse.

I go to the pdoc tomorrow morning.  I'm gonna be OK till then- but I need hope.  Maybe today was just a bad day.

Posted 3/7/2008 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear about the RA. It is a tremendous thing to be diagnosed with and will undoubtedly change your life in all kinds of ways. It's going to take a while until you can think it through clearly and find the positive in those changes. You will, ultimately, but give yourself a break for feeling down right now -- you're allowed a grieving period. Perhaps nursing is out of the picture now, which is hugely disappointing so you don't want to think about other options, but I'm sure there are many ways you can be involved in the medical field without needing to be so vulnerable as a nurse would be. Your future is still there, as huge as it ever was, you just don't know what it holds right now, and that's a little scary. But give yourself a break and then you can start re-imagining what you can do instead. Hopefully you'll find something you'll love just as much as you would have loved nursing, but which will be easier on your body.

It's good you're off to the pdoc tomorrow. Good luck.
I wish you less pain.

serafena
Posted 3/14/2008 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
I know how you are feeling. I was just diagnosed with Lupus, possible RA and more. It has sent me into a downward spiral.  When my body hurts my bipolar issues get out of control. The only thing that helps me through any of the emotional part is Seroquel. I know how you feel. I have been going through the pain episodes the last 2 years and am just now starting to realize hat when the pain starts, my mind will start in too. So I try to remind myself of these things when it comes around. I know how you feel. You are not alone in any way on this. I often feel that I am but these forums help alot. Write back when u can
Posted 3/15/2008 5:10 AM (GMT 0)

i heard a story once that put this into persspective for me.

i wanted to be rich so that i could give.  God made me poor so that i could learn to receive.  i wanted to be strong so that i could p[erform great feats of stgrength.  God made we weak so that i could learn patience.  I wanted to be healthy so that I could inspire others.  I am ill and inspire the world with the way God has made me handle it.

No door closes without anothere one opening.  Once, many years ago, I was at the hauptbahnhoff in Frankfort, Germany with only a few dollars in my pocket.  My German, but I could only really "get by" in the language.  I dislike the French, even though I could speak that language a bit better.  My wife decided that we should go to England because "they speak English over there" (how wrong we were.  Churchil once said that ngland and America are two nations separaed by a common language.  He was right).  t any rate, with few prospects and virtually no money, we went to England, neaarly penniless.  We survived and propered beyond our dreams.  We never would  have believed it when were were in Frankfort.

mysterious ways and all of that.  Keep the faith.  There are no mistakes or coincidences.  There are only events that we haven't yet fathomed and cosmic cyncronizations.

warren

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