sorry to be so negative. but i still don't think i un... - NRAS
sorry to be so negative. but i still don't think i understand all this. when do all the scarey thoughts go away
I guess when you start to understand it all a bit better. It will take a while to get your head around though. Try looking on arthritis organisation websites for downloadable information about the disease, and treatments and anything else you can think of. Also, a lot of organisations have helplines you can phone as well. Plus keep on blogging and asking questions here. You will get there, and before you know it your disease will be under control and you will have a really good handle on it all.
Hi Jaqi
I am so sorry you are feeling so fed up. I felt exactly the same when I was diagnosed, I was scared a and worried about my future and why the heck was it me that got RA. My tip and what helped me was firstly to talk to ur friends and family and if they are like mine they will be supportive and understand when u r sick.
Take someone to your appointments as then they ill understand hat u r going through and remember what the docs say( think I sat there like a zombie crying quite a lot!)
Then phone the Nras helpline they re amazing and really helped me so much. An they don care if u phone every day or four times a day lol, they were good at supporting me and also with helping me accept my illness...it took a long time for me to realise I was sick and it was not my fault, and to accept...that's the main word.
I did get, not depressed but fed up and I saw a counsellor against my will really, but my word she helped me work out why I was scared and fed up.
The scariness will go away but if it gets back u need to talk to ur GP before I gets too bad.
Also you should have a helpline to your rheumatology nurse, I would urge U to use it, the better u get to know ur Rheumy nurse the easier it will be in the future, good luck and hope u feel better and get ur treatment very soon love and hugs aXx
We all have felt the same and sometimes still do, the NRAS charity and this website are brilliant I have gained a lot from them both x
I felt the same we go through dispair, anger, denial and a host of emotions, I after two years of diagnosis has reluctantly accepted things myself when they belatedly organised for me to see a pain psychologist x
Having a diagnosis of a long-term illness is like a grief reaction - disbelief, followed by anger and eventually acceptance. Like grief, it takes TIME.
Talking to people helped me to get my head round it. When I meet other people with long-term illnesses I always learn a tip or tip about how to cope with this bit or that.
I went on a EPP course - i didn't learn anything that was actually completely new but I did learn how to put what I did know into practice - it had all been "in theory" before, applying to everyone else, not me. Then I trained to be a tutor and that has meant that every course, I learn something about how to cope better. If you put EPP into a search engine like Google, you can find out about the courses near you.
Hi Jaqi1
I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling like this. As the others have mentioned, there is lots of information on the NRAS website (nras.org.uk/), and you are more than welcome to contact the helpline on 0800 298 7650 or email us: helpline@nras.org.uk if you have any questions. And, of course, this site is a great source of support and information. I hope you are able to enjoy the Christmas period.
Kind regards
Sarah Kate
NRAS
thank you all for your answers. i just can't relate that i have a cronic illness. i just went to the doctors with aches and pains and get told i have ra really bad. i just suposse i don't understand what it really means
I don't think anyone finds it easy to accept that they have RA, and we've probably all been though the scared bit, and the bit where we just can't understand it. I'm not sure I ever will really, but what helped me was trying to concentrate on now and try to stop myself worrying about the future. At the beginning I was terrified that It would change my life completely, but over time I've found ways to keep doing most things so now it doesn't seem quite so scary. If you respond well the to drugs, and try to look after yourself, you can have a nearly normal life. it's taken me a couple of years, but RA doesn't dominate my whole life now. And you'll get there too, it just takes time. Polly
