tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post1331623954537165454..comments2022-07-27T00:08:13.293-07:00Comments on The Original Dragon Mother: #RABlog Week 2016: Post No.1Kazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883203750700550391noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-27497322914919467142016-10-01T14:42:47.492-07:002016-10-01T14:42:47.492-07:00Thanks for your comment Cristina. Back when I was ...Thanks for your comment Cristina. Back when I was first diagnosed, the treatment style was very different. Rheumatologists were cautious about prescribing, and DMARDs happened one at a time, as opposed to the combination therapy that is used today. As it was, my disease WAS mild, and I went into a spontaneous remission for a long time. Also, the whole sero-negative form of RA was not understood to be 'real' RA, so there was even less inclination to treat it aggressively. <br />When everything changed - and I'd LOVE to know what happened to turn my disease from mild to severe with no warning - my then GP did act very quickly, as did the rheumatologist I ended up with, who hit me fast with combination therapy. Perhaps if I could have accessed bios faster than I did, that may have made a difference, but that wasn't an option with the medical system here, so we'll never know. I have no complaints at all about how my disease has been managed - by both rheumatologists and GPs over the years. Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06883203750700550391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-15826074687829345512016-10-01T04:11:06.476-07:002016-10-01T04:11:06.476-07:00It sounded like your GP tried to do his best but I...It sounded like your GP tried to do his best but I wonder if an early aggressive treatment would have prevented the fatigue and unbereable pain. I can totally relate to your story being young with an unpredictable future ahead of us when living with RACristina Montoyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15149676452672694098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-31383774954926573452016-09-27T03:38:39.638-07:002016-09-27T03:38:39.638-07:00Ah, see, my funky shoes are my secret weapon. My f...Ah, see, my funky shoes are my secret weapon. My feet my hurt like hell, but they LOOK fantastic!!!!<br />Yes, things can change very suddenly. And that's scary. We should never get complacent about our disease, that's for sure. And we should never judge others by the level of disease we have, cos it can all change. Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06883203750700550391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-23680920584866061042016-09-27T02:45:52.059-07:002016-09-27T02:45:52.059-07:00Great blog, and illustrates just how quickly RA ca...Great blog, and illustrates just how quickly RA can change. All disease is bad disease, even mild RA has a huge impact on quality of life. But mild RA can become severe RA in a heartbeat, and truly tear your life apart. I'm glad you had a great rheumatologist and your inherent stubborness and fighting spirit to get you through. Keep on keeping on in your funky flat shoes! Arthritic Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14731259764131756066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-37155671166725590052016-09-26T21:23:57.278-07:002016-09-26T21:23:57.278-07:00Hi Linda! I've read Sam's posts, but we do...Hi Linda! I've read Sam's posts, but we don't know each other, no. I can recommend Arthritic Chick though - she's another Aussie blogger with a really great blog that's much more RA focused than mine. As I said somewhere - might have been my preliminary post before this one to preface #RABlog Week where I said that my blog is more general, but I do participate in this event, and I do write about RA when it's pertinent to the topic I'm writing about. <br />Likewise, I am very fortunate to be partnered, and Dragon Dad is very supportive of my writing and art, so I"m not lacking for things to do - just struggle to make them pay WELL! Far too many people out there working for peanuts and that makes it harder for the rest of us to charge appropriately and have that taken seriously and with respect. Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06883203750700550391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-21949149290799739252016-09-26T21:13:41.375-07:002016-09-26T21:13:41.375-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Linda Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09905662146166071518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-34580362621741825272016-09-26T21:12:37.255-07:002016-09-26T21:12:37.255-07:00Kaz, it's a pleasure to meet you via #RABlog W...Kaz, it's a pleasure to meet you via #RABlog Week! You're the second Aussie RA blogger I've met. Do you know Sam w My Medical Musings? She and I have really connected this past year. I'm an "almost Aussie" as I lived in Sydney until I was nine. I still have close friends there. <br /><br />Anyway, I can relate to the job thing. I was laid off from my marketing management job a few months before I was diagnosed with RA for the same reason you were. I am also freelancing now. I am fortunate to be married, or it would be tough to make ends meet. Even though my RA is not severe, I too struggle with my energy level. It just isn't the same as it was before RA. That said, I manage OK. God is my strength!<br /><br />Looking forward to getting to know you!Linda Perkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09905662146166071518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-22583424506512867012016-09-26T20:24:38.127-07:002016-09-26T20:24:38.127-07:00The work thing is a difficult one, Rick. I certain...The work thing is a difficult one, Rick. I certainly wasn't wedded to that last job, per se...it was a job of expediency, although, the monthly mag was most satisfying to put together. But the isolation of NOT working is a tough one. Freelancing is a lonely business. The move to Melbourne will help that, as I have more people on the ground here, and already, have had folk calling and dropping in through the week while Dragon Dad's at work, so that's making a big difference. And as we get settled properly, I'll look for a place for studio access and get my ceramic work going again, and some drawing, which apart from the art work will also mean new people (and income, if I can find a gallery to take the work as well!). I'm not lacking for things to actually DO...and most of them are more satisfying than most of the jobs I used to have - it's more the social aspect of working. Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06883203750700550391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-61026787562924829872016-09-26T18:34:01.602-07:002016-09-26T18:34:01.602-07:00Kaz, I love the chronic stubborn pig-headedness. ...Kaz, I love the chronic stubborn pig-headedness. It reminds me of my cousin. LOL No she does not have RA, that is just the way she is, I am going to give her this DX (I am a doctor after all, just not that kind).<br /><br />It is so difficult to work with RA. I know I was able to give it a go for several years but when it was over it was over. I think you might have felt a bit like I did when I was no longer able to work. For me it was awful. I so wanted to keep working and still do, maybe someday.but shh do not tell Sheryl i said that. Rick Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06927227605885917738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-42233498896579041082016-09-26T16:23:13.450-07:002016-09-26T16:23:13.450-07:00Yep!!! He had a sense of humour, that rheumatologi...Yep!!! He had a sense of humour, that rheumatologist had a sense of humour!Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06883203750700550391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-40885694637905009072016-09-26T16:05:09.197-07:002016-09-26T16:05:09.197-07:00snort! You actually got an official diagnosis with...snort! You actually got an official diagnosis with that? That's hysterical. And very, very useful with RA.Lene Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223128667829847717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-35528058292114494242016-09-26T14:38:04.810-07:002016-09-26T14:38:04.810-07:00Hi Brenda, thanks for commenting!
My sneakers - Pa...Hi Brenda, thanks for commenting!<br />My sneakers - Palladium brand, which I can recommend - are red! And I have four pairs of Doc Marten boots, all different colours. But I've found a couple of shoe designers who concentrate on comfort as well as style, and have lots of brogues (LOVE brogues) and other cool shoes. <br />We have a choice - we can live WITH the disease, or allow it to consume everything. And, frankly, there's only one viable option out of those two, as far as I'm concerned!Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06883203750700550391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-73427018256780111882016-09-26T07:00:52.286-07:002016-09-26T07:00:52.286-07:00Love the comment about your funky flat shoes. I ca...Love the comment about your funky flat shoes. I can so relate, as I can only wear Brooks tennis shoes. I try to find, as you describe, "funky" or rad colors. We must never give up on our dreams. Looks like you have not. Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03920468487576014196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-5551273099003249222016-09-26T05:24:12.319-07:002016-09-26T05:24:12.319-07:00Hey Cathy - thanks for dropping by!
My first rheu...Hey Cathy - thanks for dropping by! <br />My first rheumatologist diagnosed me with a secondary condition - chronic stubborn pig-headedness...! I have to say, it's been quite useful when the chips have been down.<br />Keep on making life happen - we're a long time dead, after all!Kazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06883203750700550391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-679982583847135662.post-35144538005842306912016-09-26T05:04:21.570-07:002016-09-26T05:04:21.570-07:00Stubborn is good. We have to be with RA. On real...Stubborn is good. We have to be with RA. On really bad days, I have a good cry, feel sorry for myself, and then that stubborn streak makes its way back and I am making life happen again. You've had a rough road but I love your attitude going forward. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13076282329093508289noreply@blogger.com