The Beginning

My name is Hollie and I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 27 years old. My daughter was 2 years old at the time she is 8 now. This year in September I'll be married 10 years! Here's how it all began...

In October 2007 I started waking up in the middle of the night from joint stiffness/pain in my hands, they would curl up and I couldn't get them " unlocked." It was extremely painful and I was scared and didn't know what was taking over my body. I began duck taping my hands before bed at night so they wouldn't curl up. I was worried but figured it would go away. A few weeks later it spread to my feet and it felt like I was walking on nails when I would get out of bed in the morning. I mentioned it to my husband but we just thought it would go away eventually. I lived with the pain on a daily a basis and it kept getting worse.

Eventually in December 2007 I decided to go my primary care physician and tell him about my extreme pain. I asked if he thought it could be Rheumatoid Arthritis and he said and I quote from his doctor notes, " I assured the patient that she does not have Rheumatoid Arthritis." I continued to try and function and take care of my toddler while living with horrible pain.

A few months later I went to urgent care and told them I can no longer care for my daughter well. She had to open her sippy cup, pour her own drinks, buckle her car seat etc.  I wasn't   capable and I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG!!! The urgent care doctor took x-rays and said everything was normal. AHHH, I was getting so frustrated.

In February 2008 I demanded that I be referred to the rheumatalogist with reluctency my doctor referred me. When I finally had my appointment in May ( yes it took 3 months before I could actually see him) the doctor examined me noticed swelling in my hands and said its most likely carpel tunnel from overuse and this is common in women with young children. I knew in my mind it was more - my pain was off the charts how could it be something so small?  He said he will run labs and find out for sure, he also mentioned it could be a  thyroid issue and let's hope for the most positive outcome.

At my next appointment he said my Rheumatoid Factor came back positive at 74. I was officially diagnosed with RA and it was off the charts. As I left the office the tears began running down my face, this was something I was going to have to live with forever? I thought they would be able to figure out what was wrong fix it and I could move forward with my life. The realization that I would have an ongoing battle was a bit overwhelming for me. I was angry and I felt guilty, I felt robbed, I didn't want this to be my life. This was only the beginning...