Rheumatoid arthritis is unlike many diseases. RA is a disease that is chronic. It is a disease that is progressive meaning that it will get worse over time. It is debilitating meaning that it will interfere with your ability to have a normal life. There is no cure. It is a tough disease. It may start slowly. It might not even be symmetrical right out of the gate. Or it might be like mine. Acute. Severe. All the classic symptoms. And it never really stops.

Mine is seronegative which means the test for certain factors is negative. Those with seropositive disease have more joint damage but those with seronegative have more systemic inflammation.

I recently had a full body scan after I had surgery for melanoma. There doesn’t seem to be more melanoma lurking in my body, but my whole cardiovascular system has atherosclerosis. No wonder those with RA die of heart disease!

A diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is not a ticket to feel sorry for yourself. It doesn’t help. I was lucky to learn that as a young woman and I am usually spending my time looking for solutions. I spend very little time feeling sorry for myself.

However, about a third of those with RA suffer with anxiety or depression. These are serious disorders. They are common with RA. When a person with RA has endless pain with no relief, it is easy to see them slowly descending into despair. There doesn’t seem to be anything else they can do. There is something more for them to know.

Their depression and anxiety may be connected to RA. I think I read somewhere of the genes for depression being on the same genes for RA. Some think there is a link between the two.

Those who are depressed or anxious need to talk to their doctor. He should be able to prescribe a medication that will help.

RA is a balancing act with many subsections. Anxiety and depression are parts of rheumatoid arthritis. Genetically. Physically. Plus all the little parts called pain and inflammation.