New to Web-site, WOW there are others like me.

[Sunrise102]

I am so excited tonight. I have had PA for 6 yrs. A lonely 6 yrs. I am 35 yrs old, and people my age do not understand. I am a mother & full-time college student. This winter has started off bad but I am hanging in there. It helped to read all of the posts & just to know that I am not alone! Other mothers my age do circles around me. I have come to accept what I can & can not do. It does get hard when you are doing so good in school & then SLAM - PAIN! I have always been scared of meds, would rather do other things, but I am learning that I might not have a choice. This has been upsetting for me. Have tried NSaids in the past. But they have upset my stomach terribly. I have been off of them for the summer. I will start Mobic soon. Also will start Chi-gong. During the summer, I am able to work out. I love the strength & the looks, haha. But winter is a different story. I am a completely different person in winter. I am very sensitive to cold! Does anyone else have the Raynaud's w/ the PA? I am glad to find all of you!

[Momelie]

Hello!

I'm also a mother and full time college student with PA. I definitely understand what you're saying about the other moms running circles around you. Same with college, it seems like the flares happen right when something is due, huh? (Like, right now near the end of the semester!)

I live in FL, so I don't get the cold as much as others, but when I'm at our home in TN during the holidays it seems like more and more I'm under a blanket in front of the fireplace, instead of outside enjoying the activities.

I'm glad you found this board - welcome!

[Sunrise102]

I have family from TN but live in GA. Do you do better in Florida because of the different weather? We also have family in FL. Was wondering if we moved, would things be a little better?

[RichJ]

hi sunrise102'
sorry i can't help much but welcome to the p family. you have met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good day all

richard

[pgerpup]

Hi Sunrise!

Welcome to the club! I'm sorry you are having so much pain. I'm guessing, but it seems like the winters in Florida would be a little warmer and dryer than we have have here in the central Gulf Coast. Where are you in GA? There is a support group run by Scott (web63) in Atlanta. He has had hip replacement surgery and isn't on the boards much right now, but I'm sure he would love to meet you.

Hope you start feeling better soon. You may want to consider one of the biologics. (I can't believe I said that! Six months ago I was terrified of them! :D They must work!)

Have great day,
Love to all,
Fay

[Ihurt]

I am so excited tonight. I have had PA for 6 yrs. A lonely 6 yrs. I am 35 yrs old, and people my age do not understand. I am a mother & full-time college student. This winter has started off bad but I am hanging in there. It helped to read all of the posts & just to know that I am not alone! Other mothers my age do circles around me. I have come to accept what I can & can not do. It does get hard when you are doing so good in school & then SLAM - PAIN! I have always been scared of meds, would rather do other things, but I am learning that I might not have a choice. This has been upsetting for me. Have tried NSaids in the past. But they have upset my stomach terribly. I have been off of them for the summer. I will start Mobic soon. Also will start Chi-gong. During the summer, I am able to work out. I love the strength & the looks, haha. But winter is a different story. I am a completely different person in winter. I am very sensitive to cold! Does anyone else have the Raynaud's w/ the PA? I am glad to find all of you!

Im so sorry your dealing with this at your age and having a rough time.

For the past 4 winters I have lived in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. My family did not understand why I became so mysteriously inapacitated in the winter and in the summer I can do most things.

It's been the most depressing 4 winters of my life. Im actually afraid of Winter to come. I do become an invalid for at least 5 months. Im unable most days to cook for my family, shop, clean, and I find myself not really being able to do much but sit behind this computer or in my chair. I walk with my cane when I absolutely have to be somewhere (like on Wednesday of this week). I have been taking my child and three others to school at 6 am everyday (which is killing me) but we have no choice because we have a dangerous bus driver-which is a whole othe story BUT....because Im forcing myself out into the cold Im paying for it.

Yes...Many if not Most of us here with PA who live in area's where the seqson changes..HATE the cold.

Believe me you are not alone!

I am so glad you found us. It's nice to meet you, and you are most welcomed to pull up a chair and stay awhile lol!

Elaine

[Momelie]

I think living here in FL probably helps out some with the arthritis - I suspect that the people in AZ and NM have it a little better, though. I'm going to NM in Feb., so I'll have to check it out.

Thing is, I was living here when I was diagnosed, so I really don't have anything to measure it by.

I love my home in East Tennessee, and we had always planned to retire there, since all my family is there, but as the years go on and this dratted disease progresses, we're starting to rethink that....

Its beautiful on top of the mountains, but getting down off the mountain for stuff like groceries, doctor visits, socialization, work, etc. is starting to be something to think about. Driving the hairpin turns when my hands have trouble on the steering wheel and my ankles are hurting might not be the best thing, y'know? I'm trying to think of places where they have a good public transit system and easily accessible health care - and still in the warm weather. Don't think such a place exists, lol!

[Sunrise102]

Thank you for replying to my message. I am glad to have a place to go now where other people do understand. Thank you to each of you!

[Re]

hey ya know I lived in florida until I was 28 only had a few allergies. moved to TN and have been sneezing ever since. I have to admit that this past Christmas I was there for a few weeks and my pa did not seem as bad but it has gotten aggressively bad this year so when I had to go in April I felt some better but still hurt. Come home and pain is worse. Don't know why but when I was down there and it rained I was crippled. It stinks cause we all would try anything to get rid of pa. sunrise102 glad you found all of us pa nuts
Re

[Tilldee]

Welcome Sunrise and I will second all of the above. You do have a place to go to vent, gripe, cry and laugh.

My Dr told me today his prescription for me was to tell my hubby to move me some place warm. I told him I didn't think we could afford that, and he said he just wrote them, not pay for them. Darn it anyway! He is a southern boy, you can tell from his accent. I'll have to ask the next time, where he's originally from.

Love & Prayers,
Tilldee

[Re]

can I get one of those scripts too? I say if someone would just cover the expense we could go to a tropical island for a few years I mean weeks. lol
Re

[nyoki]

It's funny, hubby had a slight allergy to roses when we lived in NYC. We moved to WV and he's been getting worse every year. He seems to be allergic to anything that grows now.

[Tilldee]

No, I liked the years part better. Or at least for all the cold months out of the year. Maybe we could build a commune some place warm and tropical. It is always 80 in Hawaii. And the place is beautiful to boot. I would like to go back there, so I vote for that. Any takers?

[Tilldee]

Momelie, I just noticed you're form Tampa Bay. We have an office there where I work. ACE USA Insurance.

[Ihurt]

I live with a TAMPA BAY BUCKS FAN WHO IS COMPLETELY OVERBOARD!!!!!

He owns Tampa Bay everything!

Grew up in Tampa...(Brandon Area). Have you ever hear od having a Tampa Bay Hardhat for work???? Yep, he has one!

[Momelie]

Oh my! I see lots of Bucs hard hats down here - never thought of them being anywhere else!

I've been a Bucs fan since they came into existence - they've been so horrible for so long, its almost a suicidal tendency, lol!

We're in the Bucs stadium a lot, but not for Bucs games, we have season tickets to the USF (University of South Florida) games, since we're both alumni. We tailgate and everything.

Of course, if I don't get off the message boards and get back to writing my paper, I might be a FORMER student at USF - I'm in grad school right now - cause I have to present this thing tonight and I'm tearing my hair out.

FWIW, the whole time I lived in TN, I had terrible allergy and sinus problems. Since I moved back here 15 years ago, I haven't had a single problem. Of course, when I go back home, I have to go armed with tons of allergy medicine, but I can live with it for a little bit at a time. It helps if I stay away during the spring when pollen's out.