Sometimes I just wish that this RA business didn't seem like the makings of a good fictitious nemesis. The kind cloaked with invisibility; able to strike without any foreshadowing or hints. But, alas RA is my invisible nemesis. I don't know when it will flare its ugly head or sneak up to make my joints ache. Not knowing when and how it will strike gives me enough grief, but trying to convince or explain my nemesis to others... you'd think I was pulling their leg.
That's the thing with RA; the invisible thing with RA. To the outside world, even to my closest friends and family members, I look normal, sound normal and rightly they conclude I am normal. But tear away the invisible cloak, and there lies a gal in real pain. The pain affects my joints: my toes, my knees, my hands, my wrists, my elbows, my fingers, my ankles. It's real pain, and it makes doing seemingly simple tasks very difficult. Opening a bottle of water, holding on to a pen for over 5 minutes, typing on the keyboard while writing this post, they are all a struggle. Those tasks become even more of a struggle when you look normal to others.
Now, this post isn't a pity-me post, or a look how horrible my life is post. No, this post is just intended to make clear that this thing, this disease, is hidden to those who don't know how it works or how it functions. This post might as well be a PSA to all those who know someone with RA. I have learned, since I was diagnosed with this disease about 4 years ago, that I cannot be embarrassed about what pain I am experiencing. I have learned that I have to tell those around me what my struggles are, and more importantly, I have learned that in some form I have to put myself first and know what my body needs. I have learned to make what is invisible visible to others. I cannot say I have all this RA business figured out. I am still learning on a daily basis how to live, work, and function with this nemesis. But, I do know that my family and my friends sometimes need reminders to look past the normal invisible cloak that is RA.
That's the thing with RA; the invisible thing with RA. To the outside world, even to my closest friends and family members, I look normal, sound normal and rightly they conclude I am normal. But tear away the invisible cloak, and there lies a gal in real pain. The pain affects my joints: my toes, my knees, my hands, my wrists, my elbows, my fingers, my ankles. It's real pain, and it makes doing seemingly simple tasks very difficult. Opening a bottle of water, holding on to a pen for over 5 minutes, typing on the keyboard while writing this post, they are all a struggle. Those tasks become even more of a struggle when you look normal to others.
Now, this post isn't a pity-me post, or a look how horrible my life is post. No, this post is just intended to make clear that this thing, this disease, is hidden to those who don't know how it works or how it functions. This post might as well be a PSA to all those who know someone with RA. I have learned, since I was diagnosed with this disease about 4 years ago, that I cannot be embarrassed about what pain I am experiencing. I have learned that I have to tell those around me what my struggles are, and more importantly, I have learned that in some form I have to put myself first and know what my body needs. I have learned to make what is invisible visible to others. I cannot say I have all this RA business figured out. I am still learning on a daily basis how to live, work, and function with this nemesis. But, I do know that my family and my friends sometimes need reminders to look past the normal invisible cloak that is RA.
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