Denied

I’m so bitter about health care right now. I’m so bitter that my worth as a human being and the amount of treatment available to me is based on the amount of paper in my wallet.
My feet are really bad because of the years my legs were messed up. Now I can’t stand more than a few [...]

Another Battle

My life has changed so drastically in the last few months. Sometimes I go an entire week without even thinking about this blog. And when I do, I never have time to update anyway.
I have found it both thrilling and challenging to adjust back into the “real world”. The last few years were all about [...]

Hallelujah

I can take showers now. Honest to God, standing up, fifteen minute long normal showers.
It’s been so long since I’ve been able to do that. I’m always on a shower seat or in a bath. I know its a very small thing, but it made me feel human again. It must be close to four [...]

Back to school

I’ve been out of the loop due to a dodgy Internet card, but I’ve finally gotten a new one.
Things have improved alot since I last wrote. My hip pain has decreased. A mixture of physical therapy and drugs are finally giving me some relief.
I have been getting out alot lately. It still feels odd to [...]

Ups and down

Its amazing how you can be on top of the world one week, and the next week, R.A. can bring you so far down.
The initial relief I felt from my meds have slowly stopped working and Im in the midst of a hard core flare. The last few of my joints that haven’t been affected [...]

Who says stuff like that?

I had a bit of a setback these past couple of weeks. Both physically and emotionally. I’ve been trying to stay upbeat, but am still a bit down.
The hip pain that I’ve mentioned seems to only get worse and worse. The option of another replacement has even been tentatively put on the table. It’s something [...]

Physical Therapy-Guest Post

Why Physical Therapy is Important
There’s nothing more painful than an injury that requires a surgery, except the actual surgery and the recovery process of course. My brother-in-law met with a really bad accident a year ago; his hip bone was crushed and he had to have a series of reconstructive surgeries in order to be [...]

The Next Knee

I had my follow up appointment with my surgeon. My knee is looking great. I’ve been getting around without the walker and now I’m back to my trusty cane.
I looked like a complete goob today but couldn’t make myself care less. I got the usual stares that seem to accompany me wherever I go, but [...]

Reflections IV

So I have this voice in the back of my mind whispering that the worst is almost over.
But if four years of battling rheumatoid arthritis has taught me anything it’s that I shouldn’t let my hopes get too high too quickly. Isn’t that a terrible way to view the world? I know it is. But [...]

The beginning

Well there is less than twelve hours left until my surgery. I think I have everything taken care of. My bed is still too low, but other than that, my apartment is completely ready for me.
I haven’t had to do much to prepare.
The surgeon prescribed me two different medications for today and I’ve had to [...]

Now we wait

I dropped my medical records and X-rays off to another doctor. He wants to look them over to see if he even wants to bother seeing me.
If afraid he’s going to take one look at that file, see I’m 24, and say no.
I don’t like the feeling of having the course of my life and [...]

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Jail-Discrimination in Action

I believe I was detained in unnecessarily cruel conditions as a result of being discriminated against because of my physical disabilities.
Thursday, I turned myself in because I had two old minor traffic violation tickets. I decided to take care of it and scheduled an appointment to turn myself in because I could not afford to [...]

And the results are?

I wont know for another two to three months.
I can not help but laugh. After over two years, I finally had my court date. It went really well. There is really no way they can not rule in my favor. There was a vocational specialist in the room. By the end of the session, they [...]

Disabilty

I am so nervous. I am so unbelievable scared.
I just spent an hour on the phone with my lawyer. My case is Monday, and my entire life is dependant on it.
I know I should not have anything to worry about. I have always been honest about everything I’ve written and said to the social security administration.
But [...]

One week….

OK, now I feel bad for the last post. I don’t like complaining. I am very lucky in many ways. I have loads of people who care about me. I need to just get over myself. It’s amazing how feeling better physically can change your outlook on things.
Anyways, one more week! One more week until my [...]