I first heard about RA in 2005 when my mum contracted this disease. I did not do much reading on RA then as I thought my mum would recover by diligently seeking medical attention from specialist. Her medical fees were expensive as she needed to go for injection quite frequently on top of the oral medication she required to take. Her condition got better for a while but deteriorated until she was called home to be with the Lord and the whole process took about a year though I must admit that she could have developed RA way before she told us as she was a strong woman with high pain tolerance. She developed breathlessness towards the later stage and even had to see a lung specialist. She was hospitalized for a month due to lung infection (one week in normal ward and the last three weeks in ICU) before she left us for a better place.
My nightmare began in Jan 2010 when I was diagnosed with RA and having seen what my mum went through, I was discouraged and loss. Why do I need to reopen a dreadful chapter that I had long closed? I refused to accept it and kept asking God why?I started reading alot on RA and instead of helping me, I felt even more unease especially when they mentioned the many side effects each type of medicine would bring. I confess I do not pin much hope in doctors after my mum's incident nevertheless, I needed medical attention for my RA, quite a dilemma. To play safe, I requested for milder medication but they did not react well in my body and finally I had to take that type my mum used to be prescribed with. Currently, I am four months into this medicine and personally I am also following a diet that comprises more of vegetables, beans and fruits which I read that would supposedly bring benefits to people having arthritis.
Due to the medicine I am taking, I have to go for blood test frequently. Thank God that all my blood tests results so far are ok except for my haemoglobin which tend to fall beneath the standard range. Though in medical point of view, RA is a chronic disease, I believe there must be a way to conquer it or at least have control over it not just by means of medication. I believe some of you out there may have invaluable experiences that I could learn from and that people suffering from RA could benefit from.
Apart from diet, medication, appropriate exercises, I believe prayer is fundamental and essential in bringing healing. I will continue to pray and believe God for deliverance (James 15:13-18).
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