Readers Respond: Has Fear Been a Factor in Your Disease?

• affect your ability to work
• take care of your family
• take care of yourself

There are more worries. What will it be like to live every day in pain? Will your treatment cause undesirable side effects? Will you get worse and how fast will that occur? Will you lose your independence? Are you going to become disabled?

Has fear been a major factor in your disease? If you have been able to overcome the fear, tell us how.

Methothrexate 2.5 mg x 4 tabs

I'm diagnosed to have RA. I'm taking methothrexate for 6 mos. now and it helps me, my lab tests improved.

—Guest melchora a. mariano

Fear of the Unknown

I think the fear stems from the unpredictably of the disease, how it impacts not ONLY your health (physical and emotional) but ALL ASPECTS OF IT. IT SADDENS ME...DEALING WITH DEPRESSION...

—Guest fallenangellic

SSS coverage, partial disability?

I'm scared that if I can't work, SSS won't cover or won't have benefits, esp medical insurance.

—Guest melchora a. mariano

Fear of medicine's side effects

I've just been diagnosed and so far my RA is mild. My rheumatologist wants me to take methotrexate but I read the side effects and they are scary! I am trying a non-inflammatory diet (see Dr. Andrew Weil) and hope it will work. I've only been on it a few days. Has anyone tried this w/success? What about other natural remedies?

—Guest Sherry

Fear

Fear is an understatement. I feel like I am in a nightmare that I can't wake up from.

—Guest Kim

The pain the fear all have been a factor

Arthritis hit, we got divorced, the family broke up, I was left with nothing. Now I have social security.

—Guest Delores Jones

Yes fear

mY worst fear is with O.A in almost my entire spine will cripple me, the not knowing, doctor's being very tactful with their answers really doesn't help. I need to know so i can plan for the future. I hate the thought of not being able to walk and people looking after me, being a burden. It started in my neck and within 5 years is effecting my entire spine. theres things i'm unable to do already but not being able to walk is my worst fear.

—Guest carol

Share your feelings

Hello Everyone, I was DX last March. Here it is July and I am feeling worse. Pain is stopping me from doing necessary things to keep the house half way clean. I have lived with a bad back and could bite the bullet and keep going. But, RA stops me cold. Each day brings something else that I can't manage because of pain. My husband is ill. I must care for him. I don't know what to do. I am taking the medication. Does it take a long time for it to help? This is scaring me! Thank you for listening, Mary

—MaryinTexas

Yes.

My fear, or the fear of others? My 26-year marriage ended because of my ex's fear. My worst fear is not being able to take care of myself; this is a one-woman show, with no family to assist me. I am caregiver to my dying father, who, ironically enough, is the only one who really understands the impact of this eighteen-year battle. When I was 35, after 5 surgeries, they told me I'd be in a wheelchair by the time I was 50. I am 50. And on my feet. Dad says it's sheer cussedness. :) I have no fear of pain left. Pain means I'm alive and moving. One difficulty has been learning to pace myself, and realizing that sometimes I just must stop. Those times have become more frequent, but it is not in my nature to give up. :)

—littlemollywiggles

Fear of starting Methotexate?

Hi everyone, Can anyone tell me if they are doing well taking Methotrexate? I have a heart problem and I am afraid to start taking it. Anyone with any information that will help me? Thank you MaryinTexas

—MaryinTexas

Has fear been a factor in your disease

Yes it has made me fearful of having arthritis because I am not allowed a med that would help me with the arthritis because I am diabetic. Doc thinks I can cope with just painkillers which I feel is really unfair when I have pain swelling and stiffness most days along with fatigue everyday. I get so frustrated when I want to do things and am so tired and doc won't listen to me.

—Guest diligent

Knowing or Not Knowing

Initially I found my diagnosis helped the fear. At least I had something that was making me so sick. Since then my fear is mostly related to the unknowns. I have been lucky in that I have not had the crippling that so many people experience. I have fear of what the drugs are doing to my body -- and it's not all good. Fortunately I have been in a sound financial position since I was put on disability. Prior to that I had a great fear that I would end up with out access to health insurance. I JUST made it to qualify for my employer's retirement plan. I now have to pay for the insurance but at least I have it. Right now I have fear of where this is all going to in the future. Who knows?

—plattejh

Fear factor

I am terrified. I went to the doctor about ten years ago because I couldn't squat. The answer was "well don't squat then". I went again a few years later saying I had knee pain and was told "it's nothing, just wear and tear". Two years ago I at last had an arthroscopy, which revealed I had osteoarthritis of the knees. Now my hips are going the same way. I am a female, 51 year old secretary, work full time and am so scared of not being able to walk.

—Guest Joy

At first

When I first joined the Forum and read the letters from members who were not being helped by treatments, those who contracted the disease when few meds were available - yes I was frightened. Is this going to happen to me? I still have some apprehension that the RA will get worse. I suppose that is why I am in agreement with my rheumatologist's "treat agressively" practice.

—Guest lotsocats

Fear

The fear has probably been a bigger problem than the disease. For example last winter I took a trip to NYC with my daughter. Half way through my knee started acting up. I sat down and took it easy and she went off by herself. She came back a couple of hours later and it was okay. But at this point every trip has to have a bail out plan, and it takes a lot out of the experience.

—Guest curt