All posts tagged: RA

An RA life is doable: First year.

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This has been a roller coaster year for me. I was lucky in some ways with a sudden and severe onset. There was no question about my diagnosis. I searched and searched the internet looking for clues to my future. My RA is a bad case. I have no remission. All the little joints in my feet and in my hands have been swollen for 9 months. Now I wake up daily to the surprise of what joints will be more swollen and demanding attention that morning.  I like to start the day by getting all my little guys moving.  My joints love me for it. I feel better sooner. I make my coffee. Love freshly ground French roast beans. It is worth getting up just to have a cup. I feed Emma and Jimmy. Heat my heating pad in the micro. Take my first pill of the day after a blood sugar check. Settle into a warm back, hot coffee and my journal. Multitasking in a happy way. After the leisurely coffee ritual, a …

Did the Dinosaurs have RA?

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They did not. They were a healthy species.  However, there were some who had holes in their bones similar to those humans who have Gout. The earliest findings of RA in humans was actually in North America in an area know today as Tennessee. Bones found to belong to Native Americans who lived about 6500 years ago or in 4500 BC were authenticated to have RA.  Today Native Americans have the highest incidence of RA in any ethnic group.  Some argue that RA is a new disease but it seems they are ignoring all the evidence compiled by researchers. RA was also found to be present in Egyptian mummies. We can feel fortunate that we have our RA in the present.  Even  in the 20th century it was a tough disease to have.  Aspirin was consumed in large doses as was Prednisone in the latter part of the century.  Prednisone was considered a miracle drug and was used in high doses.  Today it is helpful tool in our war chest but in much lower doses. …