It seems to me that while the doctors are saying "You couldnt get this disease at a better time (medically)" the patients who are getting it seem to be getting younger and younger! I keep reading posts and it seems like everyone who is newly diagnosed seems to be in their late 20's or early 30's. I had always thought that arthritis was a disease that you get when you get old, but this doesnt seem to be the case anymore. Is it just me or is anyone else noticing this? Maybe Im just noticing it more because Im 27, I dont know.

Hmmm....kinda like when you buy a car and suddenly it seems EVERY ONE has the same or a similar car! Hee hee.

The common thread of people of mid-age and suffering from arthritis seems to be that of a "secret" society. We have to earn a paycheck and the workplace is not a sympathetic one. We have to suffer quietly or get accused of whining and lesser performers. It's hard for others to truly relate to another's suffering and most cannot be kind or tolerant unless they've gone through or arre going through a similar event of their own. Human nature is funky. I find that just as with "grief" and loss of a loved one in life ... the public persona exudes that of being fine and dandy...few people can truly deal with a continued outpouring of suffering...it's hard to know how to function...what to do or say...as it doesn't seem to be enough and you can fix it for them People tend to forget how to maintain simple observations and conveyance of comfort. Some people are scared and repelled...worried to be associated with illness of any kind...and some are just thoughtless and mean-spirited. The RA just serves as a daily reminder that you just don't know what somebody has to deal with in their life every minute of the day and many times...their burden is a lot heavier than mine. I feel bad that I have this, but I could've been visiting ONCOLOGY and/or my children could have been inflicted with it or any child for that matter that has it just stinks! But I figure, if they can gump it out...so can I. So I do. It's hard. It stinks, but that's the card in my hand...hopefully I get dealt a better one soon!

Enough preaching and rah-rah...as far as being older? Who knows when I started with the symptoms. My pain tolerance is quite high and I demand a lot of myself physically. So I know when this started to act up seriously, I needed to find out what it was and it would be bad news. Oh well. The doctors said I've been suffering for years and didn't know it. I have to be really careful to pay attention to any signals due to the high tolerance, because...if it's it's bad on my radar...then it's really bad! So, when I finally saw my rheumie, my RA was considered significantly advanced. Who knew? All that time I could have been dealing on a more preventative level...now I'm just trying to get a normal life and work ... how are you all and what have you experienced as resposes from the workplace?

Im lucky in that I work in the doll store that my mom and I opened. She owns it, but I run it. Hehe!! So for right now while I am waiting for my diagnosis and while I start treatment, I know I'll have a job that will be flexible for me and my appointments. I dont do anymore than I can physically and now that Im starting to feel a little better (thanks to the Prednisone), Im able to tell how really bad I WAS feeling. And thats no way to live! My feet were hurting so bad, it hurt for me to walk. Every step I was aware of. If the ground wasnt level, I felt it. Stairs were impossible. Climbing a ladder to get down a doll box was out of the question. I hope that whatever medicine I get put on will at least get me back to doing normal everyday things, even if I still have to take it easy. I at least want to walk normal. Being 27 and feeling 87 isnt fun.

However, Im getting married in 9 months and am planning on moving 3 hours away. I'll admit Im apprehensive about looking for a job in my reglaur feild (IT, computers) because I know that the workplace isnt sympathetic. And I know that I'll have to take a job with a major company or with the state just to make sure that I have insurance thats effective immediately or soon after employment. Working on my feet isnt an option either, so that limits me. I hate to think that when Im in an interview that I'll have to tell them that I have this and that it might cause me to miss work during flare-ups, etc.

Meg

First of all, CONGRATS on the pending wedding...

When I was 18, a doctor told me I had RA. Mentioned it to my parents whose response was "you're too young for that". Went on with life.

Was officially dx with RA, lupus and some others about 3 years ago. (Has it been 3 years already????) I'm turning 32 this month.

I know the fear/apprehension you have about finding other work when you relocate. I've been laid off of 3 jobs in the past 18 months (although they said it was downsizing, it was really because I didn't have it in me to keep up)

I'd recommend to start talking to IT recruiters when you're a couple months out from moving. Let them do the work for you. I wouldn't tell them I have RA, but I would tell them you're looking for a position that is settled, etc. Depending on the market, you may not have to do as much work looking for work.

Good luck and keep us posted.