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 [...]

Dreams Deferred

Im going to have to drop my drawing class. Im so crushed. I feel like a part of me just died.
I just keep picturing myself when I was eight years old and drawing Disney characters. I wanted to be an animator when I grew up. And my parents used to tell me I could do anything I [...]

Cowboy Up

I had a follow up with my surgeon this  week.
So, we decided that the hip definitely needs to come out. He says it’s at the end of its life, and I agree. It’s also problematic in that it is keeping my new knee from getting straight.
The only thing is that now that Im finally back [...]

Is it finally over?

I finished my post surgery physical therapy.
I’ve been doing physical therapy now for almost fourteen months. Almost continuously. So it feels good to be done for now. 
My right knee never did get much straighter though. It’s still about ten degrees from straight while I’m standing. It’s frustrating, but it looks like something I’m just going to have [...]

Small setback

My R.A. is making my drawing class very difficult. While drawing, you need to use your whole arm. Not just your wrist. My professor keeps saying “Draw with your shoulder.” My shoulder wants to yell back “Leave me out of this!”
Even the thirty second drawings have been hard for me. I’m trying to grin and [...]

My new life

So many little things have been happening lately.
I can make it to the living room in time to answer the phone when it rings. I had gotten to the point where I never even bothered attempting it.
I’ve stopped watching and monitoring every drop of liquid I drink in fear of needing too many trips to [...]

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 [...]

New Knees for Lisa

I just got this link from Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy’s Blog
http://newkneesforlisa.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-07-06T21%3A15%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=4
This is from Lisa’s Blog:
     After 12 years of living with rheumatoid arthritis, I need total knee replacements I can’t afford. So I decided  to throw myself at the mercy of the internet. Can the kindness of friends, friends of friends, and total strangers raise $7,600 and [...]

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 [...]

Where did the pain go?

My knee is healing so quickly! It was so stubborn at first so I thought it was going to be more difficult than the right knee. But some of the exercises I wasn’t even able to do with my right knee until week five, I’ve been able to do with the left within the first [...]

The Joys of Medication

Its been almost two weeks since I have been allowed to start taking my R.A. meds again. Namely methotrexate and Humira. I’ve had two doses of Methotrexate and one of Humira. This is my first attempt at Humira though. But I’m already loving the fact that I only have to have the injection every two [...]

Back On

Today I was finally able to start all my R.A. meds again. After fifteen weeks without anything but Prednisone, I am thrilled.
I had to stop everything before my first surgery. And since everything kept getting delayed, it meant more time without my meds. It was still worth it. My two most painful joints have been [...]