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Luanne
Luanne's Story
Winter262@aol.com
Hi,
My name is Luanne and I'm 38 years old, married and Mom of three. I was diagnosed
with RA and Fibromyalgia in March of 1998, but believe I had the symptoms
of it as early as 1995. So far, it has mostly attacked my left knee,
both hands, elbows, arms, lower back, shoulders and my jaw-which is the
worst! Aside from a few 5 day doses of Prednisone, I really have not taken
anything. The first doctor I saw who diagnosed me, told me that plain old
aspirin was best thing to take and actually told me to take up to 18-20 aspirin
a day! Well...after about a year of this- you can imagine what happened!
He is no longer my doctor either.... I have tried some of the "natural
remedies" and find they tend to work for just a little while.I
guess it's safe to say now that I have been in denial (a very nice place
to visit!) but realize I can't handle this on my own, without
support or help. Now, my family is very supportive...but I think
talking to others who share this pain and know what it's like would
help a lot. Meanwhile...the search for a new and good doctor is
on....
Update: 8/15/01:
Well here I am, more than 3 years after
diagnosis of RA and Fibromyalgia. I was in denial for the longest
time, believing that if I could "handle this on my own"...it
wasn't such a big deal. It is! I finally gave in more than a
year ago and began taking Celebrex. The first few days were
wonderful! I had forgotten what it was like to be almost
completely pain free. Before long however, Celebrex only managed
to "take the edge off" and then not always. I have lousy
insurance (we need insurance reform everyone!) which okayed my seeing a
specialist...however, the medications he/she could prescribe are barely
covered! (i.e. copay for one would be over $40 a month)
So, I am trying to get by. My doctor has occasionally prescribed
vicodin for me- but that doesn't help, so why take it? Just
recently, he prescribed percocet and that didn't help with the pain
either. Last week I had xrays of my back and hip done because of
some excruciating pain (but only when I move "funny"!) and the
results showed degenerative OSTEOarthritis there. I've also come
down with Menier's Disease- which is an auto-immune hearing loss disease
which they tell me is directly related to RA. I've also got
asthma. I can't take stairs anymore, (thank goodness we live in a
single story house), often need help getting dressed, can't walk far or
for long, need help getting up from a chair....well, you all know what
it's like! I've just begun the process of applying for SSI. (I'd
rather be at work....) Perhaps if that's approved...I'll be able to go
on stronger medication?? All in all, living with constant, chronic
pain on a daily basis is certainly a challenge, but thank god for my
wonderful family and understanding friends. Though of course
there's always that one...like my sister-in-law who says, "Just
start walking and moving more! You'll feel better!" If
she only knew!
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