How Have The Symptons Of Your Disease Affected Your Personality?
How Have The Symptons Of Your Disease Affected Your Personality?
Good and bad personality traits could come from our symptoms, such an anger and bitterness versus kindness and patience. Maybe also empathy and faith.
I was a " do it all" go-getter. Full time job, a speaker/helper to parents online and in person, and vice moderator of my church. Then the symptoms started. Before I saw the rheumatologist. I could hardly walk, terrible pain, and was so tired. I kept working because I loved my job. They were making all kinds of accommodations for me. It was hard changing from helping to getting help. I went through medications quickly and on Enbrel. I was almost back to the old me but I had learned that I no longer could "do it all". My husband was grateful when I found a medication that worked. He retired before me so he was helpful around the house. After he died I found that I couldn't lift a plate in the cupboard. At that point I got determined to be as strong physically as I could or I couldn't live by myself. Basically I had a " talk" with myself.I started exercising two times a week. I am physically and mentally stronger than i was seven years ago. And I had to become ok with saying that I am disabled. (My hands look like the pictures in the book.) I do what I can. I miss my embroidery - I feel fortunate that my doctor had another medication after the Enbrel stopped working. I am patient with myself and others. (I worked with special needs children from 3 to 14 for 31 years.) My hope is that I can continue finding ways to compensate as I age.
At first I was angry and thought why me? Then I realized that being angry didn't help matters either and I was going through some other things in my marriage and the stress made me feel worse and I didn't get any help from my husband and he still expected me to do everything by myself while he was let's just say having fun with with the other females. I decided to get a divorce and I started to lose weight and my joints were thankful for that. I decided to find my old self again and I started loving myself again and I took better care of myself and I have compassion for those who had RA and I don't feel sorry for myself because I realized that there's those who have it worse than me and I was learning to take take it one day at a time and eat properly, rest and relax and pace myself. I was so happy to join myrateam so I could help others with their RA and share what I was going through and and learn how others were going through. I no longer feel angry and that makes a big difference on my health and my outlook. I'm still learning how RA affects our bodies and minds. I pray 🙏 that someone will come up with a cure for RA maybe not in my life time but for others who might come down with it. Remember just stay positive and actively moving and get plenty of rest etc...
Very well explained, Gale. This support team gives us a forum to discuss our problems. Then we can often carry on our positive thinking within family and friends. 🌸🌷🌸 angelaceleste
In the beginning, I too was depressed, Upset etc. My onset hit my hands.. Hard. My job was typing on a keyboard which I could no longer do. My job was not supportive, they suspended me for too many sick days ( even when I was hospitalized.. had 8 replacement surgeries). I finally retired at age 49 ( they were offering early retirement packages if your age + years of service added to a certain number. Thank God mine added up). My husband was not supportive either ( he thought I was lazy & not trying, etc.) After leaving the job, I also left him ( divorced).
I now love my life ( RA and all). I decide when & what I can do. Flare ups mean rest. I have a Garden out back, I take Silversneakers classes, I attend church events etc. I do what makes me happy. I can truly say that I am happy & at peace. I don't pretend that I don't have RA ( and a few other issues) But I handle health issues as they arise but I Do Not sit arround waiting to see what will happen next.
You have such a great attitude Jeanne. Always look forward with positivity and help ourselves as much as we can. So hard to do sometimes but necessary.
