My Story...

Imagine your life at 19...you have unbearable pain in your hands.  The doctors run all kinds of tests, but nothing is conclusive.  Their diagnosis: Arthritis.  Their fix: 800 mg ibuprofen twice a day.  This went on for 7 years.  Seven long years...needless to say, this was not the proper diagnosis.  I insisted on more tests.  I finally got my answers.  It was a true struggle for doctors to believe me since I was the only one in my family with an RA diagnosis.  Now I am not only fighting to be heard, but my body is fighting itself.  I finally found a doctor who listens to me and doesn't make me feel like this disease is going to get the best of me.  Present day.  This disease has taken over my hands, hips, knees, and newly found... it has started to move to my back.  I am 35.  THIRTY FIVE and this has taken over most of my body.  No one understands how hard it is to live with this disease.  Except probably the people who share in my pain.  I tell this story to say this one thing "hope".  Hope that one day we will find a cure for this horrible disease.