I do not lie and I do not dare to say life with RA is easy. It is diffficult one and I really do believe that it makes you a much more mature person in the end having to live with chronic illness.it progressed quickly and with severity. It was often difficult to go through the "but you're so young!" conversation and then the "have you tried XX drug/food/whatever". Hard to answer the same questions over and over without showing irritation, especially since it really is important that more people become aware of the issues involved.
people usually believe that "it's an old person disease"when I do explain that RA can affect people at any age, and it's symptoms they seem to not believe meand think that I am overreacting. It's so hard for people to understand, until they have this disease. It's more and more frustrating everyday, because you dont "look sick" and it's harder to tell people that you are in CONSTANT PAIN. I just learned to keep my frustrations, and pain to myself.There is fallout, no matter which way you go, but you have to learn to put a smile on your face, engage yourself as much as you can in life. It takes your mind off your pain and helps you keep going.
I like to calling it a 'gift'blessed by God. It has made me stop each morning and ask myself, what is important today and what can I skip or put off. It has made me focus on my priorities and definitely, given me a lot of internal strength.It's so true that once people know you have a "problem" they treat you differently. All I want is for someone to be aware of the problem and it's limits, not think that I'm a different person because of it. Well, I've said enough. Good Luck to you - Hang in There!Feel the extra strength.