Hello
Hi there,
I'm completely new to everything RA so thought I would join for advice and to tell my story because a diagnosis like this has came as a little bit of a shock (I'm sure it does for everyone!) so let me introduce myself. My name is Claire, I'm 30 years old from Scotland with a history of UC.
My symptoms all started when I bought foam dumbells from amazon and watched a YouTube video on 'how to get rid of your bingo wings in 2 days' or something ridiculous in an attempt to get body ready for our holiday, however all I managed was a bad back spasm. Mainly because I'm incredibly unfit and was trying to drink wine between lifts
Hello Claire! First off, can I say that I just love your sense of humor? Your post made me laugh more than once! And I think having a good attitude and a good sense of humor can make managing a chronic condition like RA just a little (or a lot!) easier. Being newly diagnosed can be an incredibly stressful and daunting time, but please know you are not alone here! This piece is my absolute favorite to share, as it offers a lot of good, realistic insight without scaring the pants off of you -- https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/back-to-the-future/. You may also want to check out our Facebook page, which is pretty active -- https://www.facebook.com/RheumatoidArthritisDotNet/. I think the best advice I have heard from our members is to build a good support system and medical team. You have to be able to trust that your doctor has your best interests AND your concerns at heart. And having people to be there for you on the good and not-so-good days can really help. That said, I know many of our members have managed RA quite well without either of those components, so it can be done. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have specific questions we can answer. I am so glad you found us and welcome! Best, Erin, RheumatoidArthritis.net Team Member.
Hello, my name is Leona and I have been diagnosed with RA just a little over 6 months ago. I'm learning as I go... but I'm still in the dark. I figure it would be nice to chat with others that are going through the same thing.
