2013! Another year is beginning and I do not know about you, but I am excited to see what I will experience and learn in this year. If you have found this page while searching for support for Rheumatoid Arthritis (i.e. squeakers), Lupus, or Fibromylagia (i.e., spoonies) then you have found a good place to visit. I was diagnosed with RA in the early summer of June 2010 and immediately started treatment. By January of 2011, I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Lupus. It seems like an understatement to say life is full of pain!! I cannot remember my last day of no pain, it has been that long.
The good news is that despite my pain and the side effects of my treatment ( currently on Arava 20mg. and Lyrica 300mg.), I was able to finish my first year in a doctoral program. I am set to start year two in just a few weeks after coming back from a Christmas holiday break. I have been working on my dissertation topic for about year, my interests include non-academic factors, specifically resilience, and Latino college students. I am hoping to find a connection between resilience, non-academic variables, Latino students, and the achievement gap. I was also excited to be selected as a Barbara Jackson Scholar for the 2012-2014 year. I am looking forward to my conferences and presenting what I have learned.
As you can probably tell I am huge into academics, it is at least something I can do from my bed or my couch! 
That is a little bit about me, you will learn MUCH more as you read my posts. I started this blog back in 2011 to just share what it is like to live with these invisible diseases. Too many times people will say “hey you look great, so you must be feeling great!!” That hurts to hear especially when you feel just rotten. I want people to know that despite having my life adjusted by these diseases, I am determined to live as full of life as I possibly can live.
I hope to hear from you!
Enjoy!
P.S. Here is a link to my facebook page, stop by and like it www.facebook.com/STLRALF.
Hi
Totally love your point of view… I try hard to be positive with my illness ( I have Psoriatic Arthrtist and also have not been found to have a Rheumatoid factor in my blood. But My disease is so obvious (me knees swell up larger than canteloupes) and I’ve had it since I was 14 so I’ve been in the system for a while now despite having no official blood test stating I have RA or PA.
I have been on methotrexate for 5 years and am adding on Arava starting this Monday since the methotrexate alone has completley failed me in recent months. Can you tell me a bit more about your first few weeks on arava … My wedding is in less than a month…but I want to start the meds so I will be at least on my feet during the festivities… will I have my hair? or should I start wig shopping? lol
Hi!! Wow it is sooo hard sometimes to work with physicians to get them to understand. I am thankful though that I am at least getting treatment, at this point that is all I care about. And CONGRATULATIONS on getting married soon! I was sick when I got engaged..and doctors were refusing to treat me for RA (because I was RF Neg.) and so I was sooo miserable. We pushed up our wedding and did something VERY low key to avoid my stress.
On the Arava, honestly my biggest problem at the begginning was the stomach/diarrhea problems. I had that a lot with the MTX, but if you have not you may not with Arava either. It was not not until probably 3 or 4 months in that I noticed my hair coming out in bunches. I had thick long frizzy curly hair and now since I have been on Arava (been on in it since Nov. 10) thin, thin, thin no so frizzy wavy hair. So it has changed my hair BUT I have tried to make the best of it. I got a hair cut (like this http://www.google.com/imgres?start=69&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=599&tbm=isch&tbnid=tfOOCGQc1PmKHM:&imgrefurl=http://dealofhair.com/282/womens-bob-and-pixie-hairstyles-for-winter/&docid=LaEt2YEbT6XPxM&imgurl=http://dealofhair.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/612e8db0ef9a802a4df0af7a974f07563.jpg&w=755&h=936&ei=XkbKT_eVBcTo2AWY7KXaCw&zoom=1) and I do like it. Def. let me know how it goes!!
Thanks
I like the posh haircut… though she could do to smile a bit more 
Unfortunately I already have very fine hair… so not a huge fan of the idea of it thinning! But like you said… gotta make the best of it! Thanks for giving me some insight… I’m starting it Monday … so here goes nothing!
Let me know how it goes! I will say a prayer that all goes a ok! As a bride you have many more important things than our medicine!
you have a major important day ahead of you!
I want to say two things. One, I love your blog. I don’t have the same problem as you, I suffer from Fibromyalgia, Migraines, Depression, Panic Disorder, blah, blah , blah. Two, thank you for reading my blog and nominating me for a Sunshine Award. I am thrilled since I just started blogging and did not know if anyone would read my blog. Oh, three! I am not sure that this is ‘done’, but I nominated you. I know you have 2 already and so you don’t have to go through all those questions and answers again. I just hope to help others find your blog. Have a wonderful day!
Hey! I love your blog, definitely keep it up! I’m glad you like mine, I started just like you a little over a year ago! Fibro alone is a major battle to live with, we share that battle! And together we will fight it l, day by day!
Yes, it is a day by day thing. I had a good day yesterday and I’m having a good day today. I like to read about others’ thoughts on this disease as well as how they are continuing to live their lives as best they can.
This is a beautiful blog and you are a very brave person. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I have nominated you for a Sunshine Award http://tersiaburger.com/2012/08/26/sunshine-award/
THANK YOU! I really appreciate recieving this honor!
My mom has RA. She has had it since she was 9. She also has fibromyalgia and we are 99% sure that I have fibromyalgia as well. So not fun.
Oh my goodness! since she was nine!!!! I cannot imagine
Hi!
I am starting a directory of Bloggers who educate, support, enlighten, inform, inspire and motivate people about and with Fibromyalgia.
I would really like to include you and your blog.
Please have a look at the information for Bloggers on my site: http://fibromodem.wordpress.com/fck-directory/for-bloggers/; and, if you would like to be included, please follow the directions and then email me at fibromodem@hotmail.com.
I hope you choose to be part of this new project.
Regards,
Fibromodem
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Wishing you all the best,
Tony