living with RA

return to my blog

2012-01-31T12:42:00.000-08:00

It has been ages since I wrote something here. Life has been busy. A lot has happened since I last wrote.

I found a new job as a sales rep for a company that sells batteries. It doesn't sound like the most sexy job in the world but it gives me the opportunity to meet a diverse group of people. Today I had meetings with small garages, big transport companies and an organization focused on helping people with a handicap.

My RA has been stable. I have found balance in my life between medication, eating healthy, sport and general lifestyle. This wasn't always the case. Finding balance is crucial to live with RA. Everyone has a certain limit. I seemed to enjoy pushing mine.

Life with RA doesn't mean the end of a normal life. With the right attitude, everything is possible.

Blog award 2010

2010-10-12T07:35:00.001-07:00

thanks to everyone who voted for my blog. I made it in the top 20!!!

short update

2010-10-12T07:19:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone

It has been a while since I blogged. I have been really busy lately. I am 22 years old and ready to start a career. I have a bachelors degree in marketing & event organization. Life is full of challenges that we need to overcome one by one. Job hunting is one of those big challenges. Yesterday I sended my first application to a small eventbureau that organizes events for children. I haven’t got a response so far.

I have a dilemma. If they invite me for a job interview, should I tell them that I have RA? If I don’t I am a liar but if I tell my chances of getting the job are smaller. This is something to think about. If anyone has advice on this topic please send me an email J.

I haven’t been RA free the last couple of months. I worked as a waiter for a caterer. This job involved a lot of night work and long hours. The day after work was always hell and pure torment. My body always felt sore. I know this isn’t a wise career to choose but I enjoy working in this sector. I did this line of work since I was 16. I enjoy being around people and make them happy. But is the toll on my body worth it.

My brother also has RA and works full time as a maitre. The toll on his body is twice as bad as one mine. I don’t know how he copes with it. But if you really want something, you need to go for it. Do what you want in your life. Never take no for an answer.

working and partying with RA

2010-04-23T12:36:00.000-07:00

what a bad week

Every day i had an aching pain. But im tough enough to cope with it. Life goes on. I had a week full of lessons, meetings and tasks. I wont let RA control my life. This week a lot of my new friends saw what RA is. I recieved a lot of sympathy.

I didnt really like it. People were treating me like i was going to die or something lol. I want to live a normal life. Its sometimes hard to walk normally but that is not going to stop me doing things in my life.

In a couple of minutes im leaving for a party. Still feel a bit of pain but I will survive as usual. I think you will find me at the bar and not the dancefloor. To all you readers on the world wide web: RA is something you can learn to live with. Never let it dominate your life.

PS: im not going to drink when im on my meds so dont worry :-)

realy bad week

2010-04-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

It has been three months since i felt the pain of RA. I was getting better every day. I was a normal human being. But that al changed past thursday. I was studying for the upcoming exams in June. When I study I intend to write a lot. After a while, my fingers start to ache. I Dismissed the pain. Friday morning i had problems getting out of my bed. My left leg had a numb feeling which got worse by the hour.

Today should have been a great day. My brother his baby got baptised today. The day started wonderful. But after the ceremony my left hand and left leg got really swollen. I felt the pain again I wished i would never feel again.

Today i reflected on two things:

- I was painfree for three months which is really good.
- The pain is coming back. WTF IS GOING ON!!!!!

My optimism is at an all time low right now but in life you need to fight. I dont believe in quitting and I strive to accomplish my goals RA or not.

discovering RA

2010-04-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

I also got diagnosed reuma artritis in August. It has turned my life around. As a student at arteveldehogeschool Gent studying Marketing i was unable to attend al my lessons. To make it worse. I started my internship at a company in september. Luckely i have a great doctor who specialised himself in the field of RA. thanks to advances in medcine my life turned back to normal after a couple of months.

But in the months it took for the medecine to kick in my life was a hel. Working under pain doens't result in good work. I started to doubt my capabilities as a person. Luckely I had good support of people getting me trought this hard time.

RA has affected me as a person but didnt change who i was. I learned to live with RA on a daily basis. The medicine is finally working. I also learned to cope with the pain.

RA doesnt need to be something that changes your life. It is something you can learn to live with.

On the bright side. Their is a lot of research in Belgium for a cure. In 10 years their will be something to help us says Professor De Keyser who is alo my doctor.