A bit of the positives...

Steph88

Hi all,

I'm new to this site! I'm Steph, 22 and have diagnosed for nearly 10 years now.

Like everyone else, I have my ups and downs. I have days when I take meds routinely, ignore pain and smile on through and then I have the days when I'm at an all time low and hate everything about the condition.

During my teens I went through really low stages with the classic, why me questions mixed with a whole lot of depression and anger. Now, I worry about the future and kids and my career etc...

BUT

Every now and then I get a bit tired of always reading about negatives. Not here but just everywhere! Negative side effects of drugs, how many different ones you have to take to counter act the side effects of others, people giving up on life and things they enjoy...True, we all need to think about them but it is so easy to get wrapped up in this negative spiral.

So, I want to celebrate some positives! And I want to hear all yours too. I want people to read this and smile and feel good about themselves and their condition and acknowledge the good with the bad.



I got through uni, just finished the most stressful teaching course and have a job as a teacher. I am over the moon!! I don't care right now that I will get every cold at school (check back in December when I will need cheering up! ) I've started to exercise more and I'm on new meds. I am living and hope you all are too!!!

Please tell me a happy story. Anything at all that you see as a small victory over this

It can be so hard to see the good through it all, I know that as much as the next person

dreamdaisy

Oh I would if I could but I am too old to share the optimism of youth. I ran into some of my old parents last Saturday and received an update about their son, a past pupil: stonking results at GCSE (including a Grade C in English which for a dyslexic is pretty good going), excellent results at A level and now uni beckons. That was very pleasing and proof that what I do has a beneficial effect to others (even if it wears me out now!) DD

williamlargs

Hi Steph

People on here will be fed up of me and my positives but here goes anyway. I am about 30 years older than you but with the mind and outlook of someone your age. I wasn't diagnosed with RA til I was 43 and have sufferd midly in comparison to most. A year ago I was put on to MTX and after 3 months of it I was able to drop all anti-inflams and pain killers. In fact if wasn't for the blood tests and having to watch what I'm drinking alcohol wise I sometimes forget I have the disease.

Hope that is what your looking for

Steph88

DD, you're never to old to be optimistic That's a fantastic story about your pupil!! As an English teacher I know that that C in English would have taken a lot of hard work from you and him After my first placement during the PGCE I was wondering how I would make it through the year. Then one girl, who had the lowest self esteem ever, gave me a xmas card that said "thank you for making me believe I am good at English." It picked me right up, that was with a cold and a flare up

Williamlargs - That's fantastic that you're doing so well on the mtx and so quickly too. Hope it continues to go well for you!! You can never be sick of the positives!!

I had a rough day last week, we all get them. I just love reading of people's achievements when they don't let it get in the way. I read one article where a woman had given up and said she "now let's the condition control her." It broke my heart to read that.
When I get down it's really hard to pick yourself back up again, I thought a thread like this might help a few people with that!

x

mig

Hi my positive is that i have been able to start knitting and crochet again not much considering what other people are going thru but a big pleasure for me,next step back to cross stitching have got a special stand so i dont have to hold it which was causing discomfort.good luck to you let us know how you get on.Mig

valval

my positive have been able to cut back on pain meds again (who knows how long will last) but while it does a big smile

Poppyg1rl

Hi Steph,
Lovely to meet you! You know, I agree it's lovely to hear an uplifting story and to stay positive. We all have low points, it comes with the territory with having a chronic illness like arthritis.
I always try to remain positive, luckily I have a wonderful family and brilliant friends, arthritis is what you make it, you can let it rule you, ie its all you talk about all you think about etc or you can do your best to get on with your life, accept there are limitations and changes that have to be made to your life and live your life x

kickyloo

mig wrote:

Hi my positive is that i have been able to start knitting and crochet again not much considering what other people are going thru but a big pleasure for me,next step back to cross stitching have got a special stand so i dont have to hold it which was causing discomfort.good luck to you let us know how you get on.Mig

Me too! Hadn't knit for past 2 years since being ill as effects hands quite badly. But have just completed a lovely snugly big cosy jumper (just need winter now!). The other positive is that it is great exercise for my fingers and my hands are so much better for it. I love knitting so it is a great positive cycle.
PS - Lets ignore the fact that I am typing this at 4.45am being awake since 1am in pain in my knees.

hileena111

Hi Steph
Welcome to the forum......well I must be one of the oldest ones if not the oldest so cant do fantastic things like walking for miles etc.
I have a fractured pelvis at the moment. Not a complaint...just an explaination.If I forget about that {which is temporary} and just think
about my OA and any positives...OK?

I have a car that i can drive......that means I'm not housebound like some people are...I can get out and about.

I'm a volunteer for Arthritis Care....going around hospitals and doctors....setting up stands with all our leaflets in them and re filling them when necessary.I'm thankful I can do that small thing to bring awareness of Arthritis to the fore.

I have a very supportive husband {although where i would be without this forum i dont know} and a loving family.

I have a part time job that keeps me on the go and meeting people even though I'm long past pension age

I think thats it...if thats the sort of thing you want?

Love
Hileena

frogmorton

Hi Steph

Congratulations to you in passing your exams and acheiving your dream of being a teacher

I have a million positives

3 kids 1 husband 1 gorgeous cat

I am mobile and happy and have lots of friends here and in the real world. Those on here are especially treasured :oops:

I have done everything l wanted to do and more......
and you should see the veggies l grew this year

Thanks Steph

Love

toni xx

nanarose

Hi Steph, and what a lovely uplifting post from you!

My positives are that I have a wonderful family, just enough money to pay the bills, without me wearing myself out trying to work (I'm very lucky) and I'm going to be a Nana again in December as my youngest is due her first baby!
I also have a gorgeous grandson, who lights up my life; have a new (new to me anyway - 6 years old) little car to run around in, after my old faithful Fiesta died on me, and I'm alive and while not kicking very high, still able to enjoy life. xx

Steph88

Hello all!!

I LOVE these stories. It's great to see how we can find positives with this, even during the worst of times.

I love all the stories about the supportive families, I think my Mum should get a mention there as she's been there for me all the way through. I've cried, I've shouted, I've argued with her telling her she doesn't understand because she doesn't have it, and through it all she's out up with everything. She's helped pick me up and get me through. I stood on my toes for the first time in years the other month (at the age of 22) and my Mum cried. I love her and just thought she should get a mention too

Keep them coming!

Hope you all have a good day

xx

stickywicket

I’ve had a charmed life. Arthritis, yes, for all but the first 15 years of it but also a good husband (Don’t tell him I said so) two extremely healthy sons, ditto grandsons and I’ve managed to do most of the stuff in life I wanted apart from playing cricket for Yorkshire. The latter may have had more to do with a complete lack of talent rather than arthritis.

Also, arthritis has taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my life most of which I’d have carefully avoided learning if I’d had the chance. Some of these, in no particular order, are:

1. Exercise is important. The most boring exercises tend to be the most important.
2. Meds, surgeons, physios etc can only do so much. The rest is up to you.
3. Painkillers which make you drowsy are not a good idea for anyone who is unsteady on their feet and liable to need the loo.
4. The last disabled parking spot will just have been taken by the young man/woman now sprinting into the supermarket.
5. Pain is pain is pain. We arthritics don’t have a monopoly on it but we can put ours to good use by empathising with others who undergo a million different kinds of pain.
6. The designation ‘Disabled’ in hotel rooms, public toilets etc can usually be interpreted as ‘for those confined to a wheelchair but with massive upper body strength’. Arthritics beware low lying furniture.
7. Young children are naturally and rightly curious. When asked “Why are your fingers all twisted?” great aunt Alice’s retort “Because I asked too many questions” is no longer considered an appropriate answer.
8. KLM have a unique and intimate method of getting disabled passengers up the steps of their Cityhopper Focker planes. Choose the two best looking young men to help you and enjoy. (This applies to females and/or gay males. If you’re a straight male, hey life sucks, doesn’t it?)
9. You have to learn to love where you are instead of wasting precious energy wanting to be elsewhere. If you’re in a lot of pain and very stiff and it’s cold & wet, you’ve been handed the perfect excuse to switch on TV and watch the cricket.
10. You can get through most things in life with at least one good friend/family member. When everything and everyone else fails, try Chopin.

Williamlargs – I never, ever get tired of your positives.

Ankyspond

Steph,

So glad you reposted this here it's greet reding all the replies.

SW, you do make me chuckle. X

Starburst

Hello Steph,

So good to see this post. Congratulations on your teaching job! I used to work in a nursery and pick up every bug going. What age group will you be teaching?

It's nice to see someone my age around here too. I'm 23 and about to start university as a mature student to do social work. I was ill during my teens and decided against doing a degree because I was so unsure about what I wanted. I was only diagnosed with RA 2 years ago.

My positives:

* I managed to achieve very good results on my Access Course.
* I got an offer from each of the 5 universities I applied to.
* I'm going to the 5th best social work programme in the country.
* I have the most supportive family in the whole universe.
* I have a group of friends who have stuck by me through thick and thin.

Sophie xx

Ankyspond

Hi Sophie,

Just wanted to say well done to you as well, brilliant that you will be starting uni good luck with it. I went to uni in my 30s with three kids and two jobs to complete my teaching degree so anything is possible, reach for the stars. xxxx

Starburst

Ankyspond wrote:

Hi Sophie,

Just wanted to say well done to you as well, brilliant that you will be starting uni good luck with it. I went to uni in my 30s with three kids and two jobs to complete my teaching degree so anything is possible, reach for the stars. xxxx

Thank you. I'm actually really excited. I know there are quite a few people on my degree with children. Most of my class on my access course had children too. I don't know how they (or you ) did it! xx

sunnysideup

Hi Steph. I'm new to this forum too. Well done you! I'm at the other end having just retired from teaching. My positives are
I'm studying for a degree with the Open University - loving it!
My body is doing well on the med (diagnosed 2 years ago) - MTX inj.
The back pain I had yesterday is getting better
I go to a gym when I don't have back pain
Love being retired - lots to do
Always feel ill the day after med but usually feel better the next day
I drive - have an automatic - easier on the feet
I have a lovely supportive husband
Interesting daughter!
Gorgeous dog!

Life is good even if it isn't perfect!
Love Sunnysideup.

Steph88

Hello one and all!

Glad that you are all well. It's great to hear some uplifting stories

I walked around Alton Towers the other day. I couldn't walk that night or do anything the next day but it was worth it to say I did it Got my Mum on all the big rides too which was brilliant, she's been terrified of them for years, very proud of her too.

I've started to do some cross stitching too but have to do it in small bursts as it can hurt after a while. My Nan may teach me knitting as everything seems that bit bigger rather than a small cross stitch.

xxx