What you don’t read or sometimes even discover while living with RA is that your RA is not my RA.
To be a community of people who truly support each other, it is important to understand that RA affects each of us differently. Too often friends in our community are discredited because they present themselves as being happy, work a job, attend social gatherings, or participate in sports, and workout regularly. Comments toward these people are often angry or go as far as accusing them of not really having RA. To read more, please head over to HealthCentral. Leave a comment here to share how you fit into the RA community and ideas you have for improving our community so everyone feels included.
The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo 
“Let’s make a deal to work together as a community to support each other wherever our RA is today and wherever it may be tomorrow. Let’s open up our hearts and minds to the full spectrum of RA and learn to support each other without hateful and hurtful words.”
I love this statement Cathy. Strengthening our community, providing linkages and we will discover new ways of dealing with RA were the three reasons I start RDBlog week. Strength is often found in numbers, not the numbers like us, but the number who are not like us. Lets no longer speak for a community we do not know.
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I love RD Blog week! You are making a difference Rick.
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I understand fully that “My RA is not your RA” because I am one of those people that still exercises religiously, follows a stringent diet and have managed very well on methotrexate (2.5mg 6 times per week) and I have not missed a day of work since 12/06/2010 when I was diagnosed. Have I had hardships – yes. Have there been tears – yes. But for me, and I stress for me I managed to overcome a great many problems with my RA by following that stringent diet and exercising and finding the sunflower in every horizon.
As a society we have become used to bullying tactics to those that don’t fit the mold of what a person is supposed to be or worse still, they are doing better than ourselves.
Do I feel alone due to my RA – yes. Do I seek support groups and the like – no. And the reason is because of bullying tactics. In order to keep my RA in check I make a real effort to avoid stress and confrontational people and yes, that does help.
In the end we each, as individuals, must do what we feel is right for our own personal lifestyles, incomes and backgrounds. I can tell you I succumbed to enduring heartbreak over not being able to run half to full marathons anymore. And for some maybe that seems shallow, but it is that same 30 year habit of hard work and drive that has kept me in control of my own body.
It might not work for you but what is wrong with listening to someone else tell you their success story because maybe there is something that may actually help you too.
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Karen, thanks so much for sharing. I completely understand the heartbreak that must have come from not running marathons. It sounds like you put in the time to make it happen. 😦 And yes, I believe sharing our success stories are so important. Every Friday I pick up food at a local restaurant. One of the gals there is newly diagnosed. Each time she tells me I give her hope. I can see the pain she is in and remember those days. I am proud that I can give her another side of the story. Keep doing amazing things Karen. I love hearing that others are doing well. 🙂
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