World Arthritis Day

(Note: OH.MY.GOODNESS.  Auto post failed me  today.  This was supposed to post at midnight last night.)

So it’s World Arthritis Day today, Amanda.  What would you like?

I’d really like to NOT have arthritis but apparently that doesn’t seem to be an option nowadays so let’s see…

I would like…(rubs chin)

-a massage

-CARBS

-my way with James Franco

Hmmmm.

I’d also like an easy button.

I realize I will probably only get the first two things on my list this year.  But I’d like to think that we’re approaching my ‘easy button.’

You see, an easy button to me would not just be hitting the big red buzzer and immediately being Rheumatoid Arthritis free.

For me, an easy button could involve never having a lay person scratch their head and inquire if I have tried ASPIRIN yet.  Well geez.  I have a rheumatologist, a nutritionist, at times a physical therapist, and at times a shrink.  You know, Mr. Lay Person, I think you’re on to something there.  I don’t think that those four very well educated minds have ever thought of seeing if they could control my symptoms with Aspirin.  Nope, they just skipped straight to low grade CHEMO for shits and giggles.  FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

An easy button could involve never having someone attempt to commiserate with me by offering up the stiffness they have in their elbow from all that tennis.  Yep, that’s how my pointer fingers hurt.  From all that tennis.  The best part is when I go on a short run and come home to immediately have my right jaw start aching.  I’ll spend the whole next day resting my jaw.  Then my right knee will hurt for a couple hours. No reason. Just because.

Damn tennis.

An easy button would make it to where I never have to explain to someone that it is INDEED possible to sleep 12 hours straight and still be exhausted.  Mind numbing, bone crushing, can’t put sentences together exhausted.  Tips hat to methotrexate.  Unless you’ve been there, you have no clue how tired I can be at times.

Please note that I’m trying to make a point.  I’m doing ok right now.

But we have made progress.  Just last month, the Arthritis Act passed the House of Representatives.  Companies are taking a more active interest in both marketing to our specific patient population as well as taking time to make sure they are accurately portraying us in the media.  Important steps certainly but not yet enough.

In honor of World Arthritis Day, please help me move closer to creating my easy button by participating in IAAM’s global awareness event.

IAAM, the 1st nonprofit in history that focuses exclusively on the 7 Autoimmune Arthritis diseases, is asking you to participate in this global awareness event by forwarding and posting this newsletter and, if possible, purchasing one of the 3 awareness designs shown on the publication.  These items can be purchased by visiting the IAAM website at www.IAAMovement.org.   (The awareness designs range from $5-15 with 100% of the proceeds donated to IAAM to create future awareness programs).

 

I need to feel my age again!

There are so many things I’d rather be doing this summer.  SO MANY.  Like traveling, drinking and chatting it up with hot guys while scantily clad on boats, briefly wearing killer heels outside a club before I switch them for the flip flops in my purse, and that whole acting like I’m 30 instead of 90 kind of thing.

But no.  Nope.  Instead I’m recovering from the flare I am now calling How To Spend A Ridiculous Amount Of Money Very Quickly And Have Absolutely Nothing Whatsoever Tangible To Show For It At All To Include Incriminating Pictures Or Embarrassing Stories: Part III.

NO BOAT DANCING HERE.

Sigh.

Ok, so maybe I’m a little bitter.  I’ve been really tired the past few days.  And then last night, my friend and I went to get yogurt at a place up the street from me.  And we saw these three girls walk by, dressed to impress, and one of them dared to give both of us a judgemental look.

OH HECK NO.

Sure, it was a Saturday night and sure, we were out in public with both of us wearing gym shorts and tank tops but you know what?  WE DIDN’T LOOK LIKE B LIST STRIPPERS.  (If you’re interested in a concise definition of a B-List Stripper, it is a stripper who is scheduled to work daytime hours.  Just sayin.)

But after I got over how angry it made me and after I successfully used Austin Powers moves to navigate my car out of the itsy bitsy parking space that was made more complicated thanks to the brand new Mercedes on the right that only gave me 7 inches for margin of error, I realized that part of the reason I was so angry was because I miss being that girl who gets dressed up every Saturday night.

I hate resting.  I hate taking medication.  I hate that my friends invite me to things and then react with complete and utter shock when I actually show up.

I don’t necessarily want to be wild and crazy.  For the record, I got the bulk of my demons out in early college.  But you know what…I would just like the OPTION of being wild and crazy if I felt like it.  Hey Amanda, want to conduct some extensive experimentation with illicit drugs?  Why yes, I’d love to. Not really.  Not ever actually.  But you know what?  If someone were to ask me that, I’d like to at least feel that I had the choice to say YES. Maybe I’m weird. 🙂 But feeling like I don’t even have the option…sucks.

I feel like I’m missing out on so much. I moved here a year ago and while I have wonderful friends here so far, there are big chunks of time where I don’t do anything with them.  I’m terrified: out of sight, out of mind, right? And I don’t even add those periods of time to the period of time I spent when I was newly diagnosed- isolating myself from everyone and just being pissed off at the world.  It was QUITE healthy.

I miss being myself.  I miss feeling like myself.  I miss looking like myself.

Except I never looked like a stripper. Thank you very much.

One lovely blog…

I’m kinda embarrassed because there is most certainly a delay in me getting to this.  Bad blogger, stupid flare, bad blogger!

I was nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award by both KirBir over at  Not Standing Still’s Disease and by Nessie at Lipstick, Perfume, and Too Many Pills.  You all need to go check out both blogs- KirBir is a twenty something with Still’s Disease/JRA and Nessie is a twenty something reporter with psoriatic arthritis.  Both are fantastic reads!  Thank you so much- I’m sorry I’m such a slacker!

And now I will be passing the nomination on to….

Joan at Notes From Oklahoma

Tricia at The Sarcastic Soprano

Jo-ann at LivingRheum

Morgan at Small Town Girl In A Big City

Jennifer at Project Jennifer

Wonky Warrior at My body might be wonky but that’s not the most interesting thing about me! (by the way, I LOVE your title!)

Cari at My Bum Thumb

Mallen at Making Lemonade

Beth at Pain, Pain, Go Away

Jules at An Attitude of Gratitude

GO. READ. LOVE. 🙂

A Day in The Life

6:45 AM:  Alarm starts buzzing and gets a swift (albeit soft due to RA fingers) whack to the snooze button.

6:55 AM:  Alarm buzzes again.  Swift soft whack repeated.

6:59AM:  Cat slinks into room, jumps on bed, and meows to say “for real, already, I NEED FOOD.”

7:05AM:   Combination of alarm and needy cat avert whack to snooze button and I groggily rise and assess cat bowl situation. I catch myself walking gingerly because I’m not sure how my feet feel yet to see that there is plenty but she demands a top off.  Occasionally, opening the lid of the container hurts. But what can I say…she’s a little diva.

7:10AM: Shower – problems opening shampoo and conditioner bottles which has influenced brands that I buy. Initial daily assessment of my aches and pains. 10 fingers, only 2 or 3 sore  = success. 10 fingers, 8-10 hurting = bad mood. Same with toes, knees, shoulders,wrists although I only have 2 of the last three mentioned.  Having 10 of the last three would not be bad mood but rather inevitable reality show stardom.

7:15AM: Hair drying, makeup application, clothing selection, longing glances back at the bed.  Minor difficulties with sharpening eyeliner with little pencil sharpener, sometimes picking a different pair of pants or shirt depending on condition of fingers and tightness of buttons.  Occasional difficulties on bad mood days with opening and squirting out toothpaste.  On really really bad days, it hurts running my fingers through wet tangled hair.  Thankfully, that hasn’t happened in quite awhile. Knock on wood.

7:30AM:  Breakfast time.  Usually soy yogurt.  No difficulties here unless you consider the lack of variety of soy yogurt available in the Charlotte metro area a difficulty.  (I would like flavors other than strawberry and blueberry and I hate fruit on the bottom.  But that’s all I can ever find.  In 3 different grocery stores.)

7:45AM: Time to head to work.  Minor difficulties in locking both front and back door.  When it’s cold, I can’t lock the deadbolt on the back so I lock the switch on the outer back door (which is actually more secure- found this out the day I locked myself out and a locksmith couldn’t get it open) and always difficult to turn the key in the deadbolt on the front.

7:55 8:05AM:  Arrive at work.  If I’m the first person there, opening this lock is always difficult.  Luckily, I’m never the first one there. 

8:00AM – 12:00PM: Meetings with clients, sales calls, admin work, conference calls.  Occasional problems on bad mood days with the following: typing, assembling presentation handouts, sending emails on Blackberry, fatigue, walking long distances on client site tours.  Minor difficulties every day with pulling and putting files up into tightly packed file cabinets, discomfort caused in knees by sitting in same position for too long, aching shoulders from sitting at desk.

12:00PM – 1PM: LUNCH.  No difficulties here.

1PM- 5PM:  Meetings with clients, sales calls, admin work, conference calls.  Occasional problems on bad mood days with the following: typing, assembling presentation handouts, sending emails on Blackberry, fatigue, walking long distances on client site tours.  Minor difficulties every day with pulling and putting files up into tightly packed file cabinets, discomfort caused in knees by sitting in same position for too long, aching shoulders from sitting at desk.

5PM- 6PM:  End of day meetings/conference calls/ occasional networking events/ drive home.  Occasional problems on bad mood days with peeling and sticking name tags on myself at networking events and also fatigue.  Minor difficulties every day with unlocking front door.

6PM- 10PM:  Dinner with friends, Happy Hour, dinner at home, gym, and other miscellaneous events.  A lot of times, the gym gets cut.  I’m most comfortable on the elliptical- good range of motion exercise for joints if you take it easy on resistance.  Difficulties with grasping free weights- I’m learning how to use the machines. Still afraid to try classes. Minor difficulties with cooking- it’s uncomfortable to grasp a knife to cut, inability to exert force to open jars, nervous to lift heavy baking dishes in and out of oven with hot pad due to not feeling like I’m able to grasp baking pan as well with hot pad. Fatigue is an occasional problem with all above except Happy Hour.  There is no fatigue in Happy Hour.  (Said with same intonation that Tom Hanks uses in A League of Their Own when he says ‘there’s no crying in baseball.”)

10:15PM: Wash face, take meds.  Minor difficulties opening pill bottles. 

10PM:  TV time in bed with feline.  Occasional problems getting comfortable with shoulders and wrists depending on if/where cat chooses to lay on me.  Occasionally discomfort caused by this makes sleeping impossible.  End of day assessment of aches and pains. 

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I’m a little sad that I can’t remember any other way now…

But I still feel very blessed.

Advocates for Arthritis

Wow. Wow. WOW.

I don’t even know how to catch you all up on everything that’s going on.   I’m exhausted but in a good way. So bear with me if this seems a bit scattered…I have so much to talk about that there is no way I can do it justice.

I really truly feel that the only control I have over my RA is my reaction to it.  I can be negative about it and let it hold me back (and exascerbate my  symptoms) or I can try my hardest to keep my life as close as possible to how it was pre RA.  The second choice is clearly the one that works for me although sometimes I do still have a really hard time with it.  Every once in awhile, I’ll have these identity crises- I know who I was before RA and who I was on track to being without it….so what does this mean to who I am now? 

The easy answer is the same person.  The hard answer is the same person.

I continually search for outlets to mesh the “pre” and the “post” me and I just got back from one of the best RA specific experiences I’ve had to date.

This past Monday and Tuesday, I had the privilege of being a part of the American College of Rheumatology’s Advocates for Arthritis Capitol Hill Fly In.  For those of you who are not familiar with this, it is a non-partisan (ie the only way I was comfortable participating) yearly event where a group of rheumatologists and patient advocates from all over the country jet in to discuss legislative issues that affect rheumatology with their local members of Congress. 

The trip had been on the books for quite some time and it was an absolute circus to be doing this in the midst of “current legislative events.”  Literally, the phones in the offices didn’t stop ringing, people were running in the halls at times, media was everywhere, and it seems like every major health organization was represented up there that day.

Issues that we discussed:  (I’ve linked these to the issue briefs for those interested)

• Supporting the enactment of The Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2009
• Support Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease Research
• Support Preventive Health Care: Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing
• Support Fair Physician Reimbursement: Permanently Fix The SGR
• Ensure Patient Access To Specialty Care: Reinstate Consultation Codes (looking for the link on this one)

Prior to our meetings to prepare us for our Capitol Hill meetings, they had a patient advocate reception.  I wasn’t sure what to expect and was a little nervous at walking into a room full of other patients I didn’t know.  I’ve never been accused of being shy but still, it’s a little intimidating. Also, when I’m nervous I either a. turn in to Rain Man b. chatter and giggle incessantly or c. curse like a sailor.  Please God, do not let me do any of the above.

I did not.

What a diverse group of wonderful people all the patients advocates were!  It was amazing- all ages and many varying levels of disability were represented.  (Not that levels of disability matter at all but coming into this, I was worried that I’d have fatigue issues/feet issues but decided the proper response was to NOT verbalize this fear when I saw that several of the people who were so excited to walk all around the Capitol had walkers…THAT is impressive.)  I love that so many people affected by this are so involved!

By luck, I wound up sitting at a table with Melinda Winner, another RA patient whose website I love to stalk.  She is hysterical and truly inspiring- while dealing with multiple types of arthritis, she still manages to write and promote her cookbook, Cooking With Arthritis, and travel the world doing all sorts of fun things like appearing on the Food Network! 

The rest of the day was spent brainstorming with our teams (generally a patient and several rheumatologists), discussing the issues, and dinner.  I was 100% exhausted but excited for the day to come when I hit the sack at the ripe old hour of 9PM. I’m so young and fun.

Our meetings on Tuesday with members of Congress were eye-opening. There were so many things I hadn’t realized about how our country works.  First, we were prepared ahead of time that most of the staff in these offices would be young, REALLY young.  Knowing that, I still wondered if the gentleman who greeted us in the first office was old enough to drive. (No, I didn’t ask.)  In spite of being so young, they are remarkably well informed and well spoken.  Everyone listened attentively, asked a few questions, and agreed to review the issues we spoke of. 

We were also prepared ahead of time to realize that we weren’t going to change the world in a day.  Meaning that getting them to review the issues or, on a more basic level, understand what rheumatology is, is still a success.  Given that criteria, I feel like our team did a very good job.

Highlights of the day?  Hmmmmmm…..three highlights. 

• First, the made to order pasta bar in the dining room.  FANTASTIC although I did have to tell them to take it easy on the garlic. That could potentially be bad for business!  
• Second, one of our meetings was with the legislative aide for one of our NC Representatives…who just happens to be a childhood friend of mine.  Who I also was on dance team with for years- so someone who knows what I used to be capable of and may understand just a little bit more of what this diagnosis means to me and to other people diagnosed.  I hope I didn’t scare her….
• And third, meeting yet another Representative who has Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I feel good that RA (and other types of arthritis) are beginning to have a “face” where it matters.

So.  What now?

I realize now more than ever how important it is for us to have an accurate image out there- in the media, in magazines, in society, and in government- regardless of what side of the fence that you sit.  I’m still floored and greatly inspired by the number of patients I met who are doing just this.

I plan on keeping in touch with the people I met up there as well as attending next year (if they’ll have me!)  I plan on continuing to volunteer and finding other ways to get involved.

I’m enjoying feeling like the same old me.  Albeit me who is still exhausted and whose feet still really hurt.

I needed to see someone who looked like me.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

“Your x-rays still show no new bone growth on either foot so we can rule out a stress fracture.  Your bloodwork, however, was much more revealing.  Your rheumatoid factor is a 68; it should be less than 20. Your CRP and ESR are also elevated.  These results, in conjunction with symmetrical joint swelling in your feet and hands all point strongly to rheumatoid arthritis.”

Blink.

“I’m going to start you on several medications today.  Celebrex for pain. Prednisone is a steroid that we’re going to start you on a high level and taper you down.  This will reduce the inflammation while the other medications start to work.  Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug.  It can have some pretty nasty side effects so we’re going to start you low and build you up to 8 a week.  I’m also giving you a combination folic acid and vitamin B to help combat the side effects.”

Blink.  Chemo???

“We’re going to do this for two months and then re-evaluate to see if you need a biologic.  How do you feel about giving yourself shots?”

Blink.  Giving myself shots?  For what?  I don’t even know what it is that I have. Please just let me get out of here.   

I’d never even heard of rheumatoid arthritis.  When I thought about any sort of arthritis, all I could picture were the elderly folks my church youth group would visit with at the holidays and my great grandmother.  I mean, think about it: that’s generally what’s shown in advertising. At the time, I had no clue that there were many types and that they could affect people my age.  

To make matters worse, after getting home from the doctor that day, I decided to “educate” myself on rheumatoid arthritis.  How, you ask?  By using the END ALL BE ALL most reliable and authentic source of all information in the entire universe: ye merry olde interwebs.  Needless to say, I was much better off “uneducated.” I had no idea at the time that there was such a general misconception of what RA is.  To this day, I see pharmaceutical ads on TV and in magazines that are just wrong.  Hello Enbrel ad from 2009- I shall never forget you. But at the time, I took them as fact.

So I cried for hours and then took my raccoon eyed self to the mall where I dropped $200 on the cutest pair of incredibly fugly orthopedic dress shoes.  I remember thinking ‘so, I guess this is life now. So long running.’ Then I decided my best course of action was to hide this from everyone and would continue to do this for over 2 years.

Let’s just say this was the worst decision I could’ve ever made a decision that made everything harder and based on my own uninformed ideas and leave it at that, ok?  

So, what does Rheumatoid Arthritis look like?

Specifically, Rheumatoid Arthritis was 26 on that day.  A friend, a daughter, a sister, a coworker.  Loves running, kickboxing, reading, dancing. Very reluctant to let go of any of these things. Very sensitive and self conscious when she received  a diagnosis that she didn’t think she was representative of thanks to horrible misconceptions.

Except that she was.  Right on the money actually.

Demographically, RA is 20 – 40 at onset and two to three times more likely female than male.  Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks joints.  It is chronic yet also very treatable through combinations of very strong medications with many patients (yours truly included) able to eventually return to almost normal.

Yet the arthritis the public generally attributes to ALL autoimmune arthritis conditions is osteoarthritis- the condition caused by wear and tear  from aging or overuse and the ONLY one where “just go take a Tylenol” may yield positive results. 

That’s frightening.

“Buckle Me Up!” International Autoimmune Arthritis Movement is an up and coming non-profit dedicated to helping those suffering from autoimmune arthritis conditions by increasing understanding and awareness through education, partnerships, and support.  We are trying to raise money to finance legal fees and startup costs associated with filing 501(c)(3) paperwork.  

I can’t imagine how much this would’ve helped me when I was newly diagnosed.  Having information and support and people to talk to would’ve made everything so much easier and less scary.  And believe you me, it was a very scary and lonely time.  

It would mean the world to me if you would visit www.bucklemeupmovement.com/donate to read more about this and to donate $1.

Happy New Years!!!

I think we’d all agree that 2009 has been a tough year for everyone.  Whether it’s dealing with RA or dealing with the financial crisis or just dealing with life…the stars just didn’t seem to align themselves properly this past year.I mean seriously, last New Year’s Eve, I got food poisoning.  That should’ve given me a heads up…

In my own personal group of friends, we’ve had trying times.  Financial muck, divorces, illnesses, breakups, mother in laws that just need to leave well enough alone, job losses. Nobody seems to be immune. I had a nice long chat with a good friend last night and she mentioned that she felt as though she was in the ocean being dragged by currents and beat up by waves and that she just couldn’t seem to keep her head above water.  She told her mother this and her mother’s response was “but you’re still floating…and the waves will eventually push you back to shore although it might be a little further down the shore from where you started.”  (To which she told me, “yes, until the sharks start attacking.  We really are friends for a reason!!!)

I’ve been mulling it over and I think her analogy and her mother’s comment are the best way to sum up my year too.  I have: sold a house, lost health insurance, had to leave a job because of health insurance, moved, started a new job, been on lots of medicine, been on not much medicine, been back on even more medicine, got promoted, had friend drama, lost several good friends, gained a few new ones, dealt with family issues, started running again, started having problems with my hands again.  Quite an extensive laundry list. Sigh.  And she’s right- everything is different now but different is ok.

I read earlier today that this New Year’s Eve is a blue moon.  A blue moon typically happens every two years- it’s simply two full moons in one month.  But a blue moon on New Year’s Eve is very rare- probably won’t happen again for 20 years.  So, I’m setting my sights on making 2010 awesome in every way possible and am thinking, just maybe, that this is a sign that the stars are finally aligned.  For starters, today I am NOT eating anything that could possibly be undercooked or cross-contaminated.  A tad bit superstitious of me perhaps!

Happy New Year’s to you all- I hope that this new year (and new DECADE) brings you everything you’re looking for!

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It’s almost that time again….

So, every year from Thanksgiving on, I focus on how much fun I’ve had that year, how sad I am to leave that year, and a very specific list of things I want to accomplish in the upcoming year. 

This time last year, I had just predicted (accurately I might add) my company was going to tank and had decided that I wanted to move.  I’ll  be honest a year later that the move was more about a desperately needed change of scenery to get my head on straight again than a job.  Having to simultaneously deal with a chronic diagnosis, the shock of the diagnosis, the suicide of a loved one, the fallout/litigation from the suicide, a brother’s deployment, worrying about how said brother was handling said family member’s suicide (happened a month after he returned), friends that were continually putting me in bad situations, and a few douchebags thrown in the mix…is a lot.  And I was being pulled in about 400 different directions which was allowing me to quite successfully avoid dealing with any of them.  I was pretty much just going through the motions.  

My goals for 2009?

1. Get out of Greenville.

2. Get healthy- physically and emotionally.

3.  Eliminate all bitchy and douchey people.

And well…mission accomplished.

 It hasn’t necessarily been pretty. And that’s putting it nicely.  Ironically, in spite of the physical, the hardest part has been #3.  I wound up in tears on my birthday because of someone and  (3 weeks ago!) was called” a spoiled little girl who uses guys to fill a void and feed an ego.”   LOL. Taking a step back now, I wonder why in the world I was even friends with several people in the first place and oh dear God, isn’t the saying “you’re only as good as the company you keep?”  

So, walking through Target this morning and seeing Christmas decorations threw me back into thinking about 2009 and what I want from 2010.  

2009 has sucked.  Totally. I’m not sad to see it leave. Sure, I’ve had some moments of pure fun and sure, I accomplished my goals and sure, I have totally set myself up both physically and emotionally to move on with my life, RA and all, better than I ever could have in Greenville with the circus down there.  But getting to that place and finally dealing with all that crap has been extraordinarily painful.  But painful in a good way….it needed to happen because I feared it would come down to deal with it now or massively implode at some point in the future.

I’m at a point where I’m ok with myself and I’m ok with the things that have happened to me. But I still feel a little breakable and I’m not willing to put myself in any situation that involves emotional stress or drama.

So rather than put pressure on myself with a very specific set of goals for 2010 that I will continually beat myself up about, I only want this: to finally be able to move on from ALL above situations and to finally feel like myself again.

The answer is YES.

Normally, I get a huge kick out of reading the search terms that bring people to my blog.  Some of them are absolutely hilarious and  strangely inappropriate.  But today, I wish I had contact info for the one I just saw.

“Does RA ever get better?”

Yes, my friend, it does.  

It is such a shock to get a diagnosis like that.  I could expound on that forever but you all know exactly what I’m talking about.  

My first reaction to it was deny, deny, deny.  And then take a long boat ride down my favorite river in Egypt.  And then more denying!  

But eventually, once the shock wears off and the treatments kick in, you get some relief.  And once you start to get the physical relief, you can begin to search out the emotional relief.  

It is entirely possible to live a very fun and full life with rheumatoid arthritis.

So yes, it does get better.  Virtual hug!