Rheumatoid Arthritis

Stress and Rheumatoid Arthritis are not a good combination. I have a stressful office job routing out tech's route. However, the job doesn't stress me out to the point it affects my health. I actually enjoy my work and look forward to learning and figuring out problems. However some of life's other stresses can really be a pain, really a big pain. Stress can affect even healthy people. Stress can cause stomach problems, sleepless nights, headaches, and depression. When you have Rheumatoid Arthritis you get to have the added fun of RA flares, mussels cramps, and exhaustion.  When life is stressful there are things you can do to help reduce your stress level. Water can be a huge help. One day I hope to have a hot tub, but taking a nice hot bath will work as well. A hot bath or using a hot tub is a great way to use heat to loosen up your mussels and give you time to just relax. Swimming is also a good way to ease mussels because the water takes the pressure off your bo...

I was working on filling out new paper work for the new Rheumatologist. I find the paperwork completely stupid. Why? The doctor is in the same building that my family doctor is in and the same office of the last Rheumatogist, who is leaving. I hate writing things out on paper, if I could type the info it would be faster and easier. Writing with pen and paper just hurts. Not to mention all of these questions are already in their files. They gave me one little line and ask me to list treatments. I really want to write "Sorry long list won't fit here!" and then I get to the question that ask "Last day you felt well?" Okay, I couldn't help myself anymore. I wrote "Good Question, This affects my life everyday."  I'm mean gee lets see I was diagnosed when I was 20 (I'm going to be 34 in June) and it does affect every single day of my life. It just something we have to live with. The next question wasn't much better. "List all med...

Now I have to say this was much less of a pain then I thought it would be. May 13th is my appointment with my new doctor. I was even able to switch days at work so I won't have to use personal time to see him. Hopefully this will last awhile. I like to stick with one doctor for awhile so we don't have to keep changing things. My husband, Richard, is start physical therapy tomorrow. There is something wrong with his back again. They are going to schedule MRI to get more information and he is being sent to an orthopedic. Sound like it may be time for another back surgery. This is a little scary but it worked out best last time. It just put a lot of stress on me, as I'm the only one working. We have heard from four doctors now that he needs disability, hopefully that will come through soon. We have been waiting almost six months now for an answer. Stress is a very interesting thing. I do my best to ignore and deal with it but I find it leave my shoulders feeling very tig...