The Challenge.... I did it
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The Challenge.... I did it
| Sat, 11-27-2004 - 10:39pm |
The thing I had not done because I had nobody to do it with was go to NY City. I have lived in Philly for 6 years and never went. My parents are in town and we were talking about what to do this weekend after dd went to her dads, so we planned a quick day trip up there!


Good for you! What did you do while there?
I was going to post today actually asking if anyone had followed through on the challenge besides Lori. I'm trying to figure out when I'll have an afternoon again sans kids to go to the movies or something alone.
Hugs
Tara
That's awesome. I'm glad you could share that with your mom.
I have a question for you, hope it's not too personal. Is rheumatoid arthritis hereditary?
Tara
No. It is genetic, I have a gene that predisposed me to getting it. The vast majority of people who have rheumatoid arthritis have no family member with the disease at all so for the most part it is not believed to be hereditary. However, you need more than just the gene to get it (this is the prevaling theory, the one I believe in). If you have the gene, you also need an environmental trigger to bring the RA on. Usually it's a period of high stress and severe illness. For me, it was a high stress job and then 6-day period with two deaths in the family, one out of state trip, one wedding (SIL, out of state), two funerals (one at home, one out of state), no sleep, caring for a 2 year old with a horrible stomach virus (she got sick while I was packing and on the way to the plane, and on the plane) and then getting the stomach virus myself. What supposedly happens is your immune system is overworked and it's trying to fight the illness (could be any illness) and when the illness starts to go away, the immune system never shuts off. The immune system starts attacking healthy cells in your body. Basically RA is an overactive immune system. So the drugs I take supress my immune system, which reduces the pain, stiffness, swelling and fatigue, as well as helps to prevent severe disfiguration of my joints (my mom is disfigured and disabled, but with the drugs available today this is not my future).
Was that too much information? I had only a slightly higher chance of getting RA because my mom has it. But really her and I are just both that lucky I guess.
No wonder we get along!
No, thank you for sharing. I never really understood what it was. I'm sorry your mom suffers so badly.
It sounds like you've had a very stressful time lately! How are you feeling emotionally this week? Any better?
Hugs
Tara