Comments on: My Readers Inspire Me http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164 Inspiration and empowerment for those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis & other autoimmune diseases Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:24:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karen http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2188 Karen Fri, 04 Feb 2011 01:35:36 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2188 Dear Lana, The world of RA has certainly changed for the better over the last 30 years. This online support is amazing. I have to say my mom has suffered just as much as me because of this disease. Fortunately, we are both in a place right now where we've accepted it and know for sure that life can still go and be good with RA :) I hope you are feeling okay and I love that you blogged. Thank you. Take care and keep in touch Karen Dear Lana,
The world of RA has certainly changed for the better over the last 30 years. This online support is amazing.
I have to say my mom has suffered just as much as me because of this disease.
Fortunately, we are both in a place right now where we’ve accepted it and know for sure that life can still go and be good with RA :)
I hope you are feeling okay and I love that you blogged. Thank you.
Take care and keep in touch
Karen

]]> By: Lana http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2184 Lana Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:59:44 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2184 Karen, this is such a lovely letter. When I was first diagnosed, I felt so alone but I started to feel less alone when I started reading the stories of others struggling with RA and Fibro and how they were still living their lives with and despite their conditions. Thank you for telling your story and you are absolutely right, this is best reason for sharing your story and your struggles. Karen, this is such a lovely letter. When I was first diagnosed, I felt so alone but I started to feel less alone when I started reading the stories of others struggling with RA and Fibro and how they were still living their lives with and despite their conditions. Thank you for telling your story and you are absolutely right, this is best reason for sharing your story and your struggles.

]]> By: Steve http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2144 Steve Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:26:59 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2144 Hi Barbara, I read you blog to Karen and you mentioned caregivers/husbands. In my case I am the one with RA and take the same medicines you do and my wife/caretaker had tears to her eyes when she read Karen's book just after I did. I am sorry to hear you suffer day to day pain. It was hard for my wife to understand in the beginning too but she went to my RA doctor and read up on this disease and after Karen's book, she fully knows how bad this can be without feeling the physical pain. As Karen said, Always have hope and try to be positive when you can. My wife and I look up to Karen for the kind words she says and the one thing few people talk about is the caregivers. It is not their fault for not understanding unless they get a disease themselves. But if we can educate them and ask them to read up on the internet and attend at least one visit to our doctor, they become very supportive. Thank you for your blog and if you have not read Karen;s book yet, please do. I got my copy from Amazon.com. Blessings Steve P. Hi Barbara,
I read you blog to Karen and you mentioned caregivers/husbands. In my case I am the one with RA and take the same medicines you do and my wife/caretaker had tears to her eyes when she read Karen’s book just after I did.
I am sorry to hear you suffer day to day pain. It was hard for my wife to understand in the beginning too but she went to my RA doctor and read up on this disease and after Karen’s book, she fully knows how bad this can be without feeling the physical pain. As Karen said, Always have hope and try to be positive when you can. My wife and I look up to Karen for the kind words she says and the one thing few people talk about is the caregivers. It is not their fault for not understanding unless they get a disease themselves. But if we can educate them and ask them to read up on the internet and attend at least one visit to our doctor, they become very supportive. Thank you for your blog and if you have not read Karen;s book yet, please do. I got my copy from Amazon.com.
Blessings
Steve P.

]]> By: Karen http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2131 Karen Fri, 21 Jan 2011 04:04:25 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2131 Hi, You and your husband are truly the reason why I wrote the book. Thank you for you beautiful words which help to keep me inspired to share my story. I feel that it is often easy to forget about the stress that being a caretaker can have on one's self and on a marriage. I am certain that our partners feel very isolated and helpless at times. I've had messages from husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters and they've all said I never understood what ......was going through. I hope the reading you've done on my site has brought you and your husband closer together. Always have hope....I'm here to help Best Karen Hi,
You and your husband are truly the reason why I wrote the book. Thank you for you beautiful words which help to keep me inspired to share my story.
I feel that it is often easy to forget about the stress that being a caretaker can have on one’s self and on a marriage. I am certain that our partners feel very isolated and helpless at times. I’ve had messages from husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters and they’ve all said I never understood what ……was going through. I hope the reading you’ve done on my site has brought you and your husband closer together.
Always have hope….I’m here to help
Best
Karen

]]> By: Barbara http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2126 Barbara Wed, 19 Jan 2011 01:48:54 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2126 Karen, I enjoyed reading your article in Arthritis Today. I've had RA since 1989. My RA attacked my spine. As a result I had to retire from teaching last year. I could relate to what you have experienced with RA. My husband read the blog about caregivers; it brought him to tears. You are a true inspiration; you have accomplished so much. I manage my RA with enbrel, prednisone, methotrexate, and anti-inflammatory pills. It was wonderful to hear that someone knows what I am going through. I will buy your book. My sisters know I have RA but don't really know the day-to-day pain I experience. Thanks for the hope. Karen,

I enjoyed reading your article in Arthritis Today. I’ve had RA since 1989. My RA attacked my spine. As a result I had to retire from teaching last year. I could relate to what you have experienced with RA. My husband read the blog about caregivers; it brought him to tears. You are a true inspiration; you have accomplished so much. I manage my RA with enbrel, prednisone, methotrexate, and anti-inflammatory pills. It was wonderful to hear that someone knows what I am going through. I will buy your book. My sisters know I have RA but don’t really know the day-to-day pain I experience. Thanks for the hope.

]]> By: Karen http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2116 Karen Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:24:04 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2116 Dear Heather, Thank you for your email. Glad to hear you are managing well on the meds. I can't believe you kickbox and run triathlons. Good for you! I suggest that you contact your local Arthritis Foundation chapter or the national office as I know there is an annual Jingle Bell run in many areas and most chapters do the Arthritis Walk around May which is Arthritis Awareness month. Congratulations on your bravery and courage. Take care and let me know how you get on, Karen Dear Heather,
Thank you for your email. Glad to hear you are managing well on the meds. I can’t believe you kickbox and run triathlons. Good for you! I suggest that you contact your local Arthritis Foundation chapter or the national office as I know there is an annual Jingle Bell run in many areas and most chapters do the Arthritis Walk around May which is Arthritis Awareness month. Congratulations on your bravery and courage.
Take care and let me know how you get on,
Karen

]]> By: Karen http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2115 Karen Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:16:17 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2115 Dear Susan, Thank you so much for your email. I read it to my husband as it was very touching. I wrote the book to reach people like you so I really hope it helps. I am sorry you have been living with this illness for so long, despite this you sound amazingly resilient. Please let me know if you like the book. There are also reviews on Amazon. Thanks for reaching out. Take care Karen Dear Susan,
Thank you so much for your email. I read it to my husband as it was very touching. I wrote the book to reach people like you so I really hope it helps. I am sorry you have been living with this illness for so long, despite this you sound amazingly resilient.
Please let me know if you like the book. There are also reviews on Amazon.
Thanks for reaching out.
Take care
Karen

]]> By: Susan http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2113 Susan Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:26:47 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2113 When I went to my rheumatologist for my normal checkup, I picked up a copy of "Arthritis Today" and went to the article about your battle with arthritis. Wow!...it was like reading my own history with this nasty disease! I'm 51, was diagnosed with R/A when I was 22. While reading the article, I found myself thinking, "yeah, I know what that's like,..yes, I have that deformity, too..." and so forth. This is the first time in 28 yrs. of this disease that I could really connect with someone else who's battling R/A because your story so closely mirrored my own. I will be getting your book, "Enemy Within". Thank you for sharing your story! Susan in Ohio When I went to my rheumatologist for my normal checkup, I picked up a copy of “Arthritis Today” and went to the article about your battle with arthritis. Wow!…it was like reading my own history with this nasty disease!
I’m 51, was diagnosed with R/A when I was 22. While reading the article, I found myself thinking, “yeah, I know what that’s like,..yes, I have that deformity, too…” and so forth. This is the first time in 28 yrs. of this disease that I could really connect with someone else who’s battling R/A because your story so closely mirrored my own. I will be getting your book, “Enemy Within”. Thank you for sharing your story! Susan in Ohio

]]> By: Heather Maynard http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164&cpage=1#comment-2083 Heather Maynard Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:08:42 +0000 http://www.karenandarthritis.com/blog/?p=164#comment-2083 Hi Karen, I am 40 years old and was diagnosed with RA a year and a half ago. I am managing well now on a biologic and other meds. I try to be physically active everyday with swimming, biking, running, kickboxing or yoga. I actually did a triathlon a year after diagnosis to fight back. I wrote in black ink "in your face RA" on my back. I am interested in finding an arthritis walk or run in my area. How would I find out when and where? Thanks, Heather Maynard Beckley, WV Hi Karen,
I am 40 years old and was diagnosed with RA a year and a half ago. I am managing well now on a biologic and other meds. I try to be physically active everyday with swimming, biking, running, kickboxing or yoga. I actually did a triathlon a year after diagnosis to fight back. I wrote in black ink “in your face RA” on my back. I am interested in finding an arthritis walk or run in my area. How would I find out when and where?

Thanks,
Heather Maynard
Beckley, WV

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