Hi, my name is Andrew. I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest near Seattle, WA. My lovely wife and I have four children. I enjoy reading, salmon and trout fishing, raising bonsai trees, and listening to worship music.
I’ve had symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis since 2004 but was formally diagnosed in January 2009. This blog represents musings about life with RA in an attempt to share my story with others. As a former science teacher and current college professor, the analytic side of me comes out in my blog writing.
The banner photo on my blog is of Puget Sound from Seattle on a winter day. It was taken by my father-in-law. His photography website is http://tallgrasspixels.net/.
I can be contacted at livingwra@gmail.com
Hello Andrew, welcome to the RA blogosphere – it’s nice to see another guy’s voice out there.
Yes, it seems that since RA affects women more than men, us guys have to stick together!
Hi Andrew,I have almost the exact same symptoms as you!I had 3 torn ligiments in my rt wrist,and from then on,I was in terrible pain,and had major fatige.Psrious showed up on my knees,and growin.I have been diagnosed with seronegitive art.,fibramalja,srytic art.,and RA.I too take Enbral,50mg twice a week.My biggest fear is how much longer I will be able to work.Do you still work?
Hi Frank. Good to hear from a “brother in arms” battling these attacks! Has Enbrel been working for you? Yep, I still work full time and I’m fortunate that my work is not physically strenuous. It’s all the home repair work that’s been slowed down.
Andrew, thanks for posting this blog. I am in the Seattle area and have RA myself. I got dx-ed in 2005 and have been stuggling for a long time.
I found this support group on the web that are a great bunch of people… You might want to check it out, they are some of my best friends…
http://www.rheumamisfits.com
there is a forum there where we all give our thoughts, worries, prasie and questions…..
May God bless you,
Andre
Hello Andrew,
I just found your blog. I am also one of the lucky guys, why couldn’t I hit the lottery instead of use all of my luck up on this? Probably because I don’t throw my money away on betting, but that’s beside the point.
I’ll be back later and catch up with you.
Terry
Hi Andrew, I just wanted to tell you I am amazed that there are RA blogs out there, d’oh me! I’ve had my head into other blogs, but until last night never really looked.
I too have RA, and have had it for around 9 years. Today I will try to go gluten free/dairy, and checkout some of the links here. Blessings!
Hi Andrew
I want to congratulate you on having such a great blog dedicated to RA. I look forward to reading your post and will subscribe to your blog feed.
I work for the Arthritis Foundation National Office as the online community manager. If you ever need to resource feel free to contact me anytime.
All the Best!
Kennard
Thanks for the kind words and offer of assistance!
Hi Andrew,
I am a student occupational therapist, and I was just wondering what kind of adaptive fishing devices you used?
Thanks! Great Blog, I think your attitude is very inspiring.
I don’t really use any adaptive devices for fishing. I just suck it up and endure, slow down when needed, and have buddies help pull in fish to the boat. The day that pic was taken, I was done fishing two hours before my buddies were.
Hi Andrew,
I’ve had RA for about 13 years now. The site linked to my name is not my website, but I link it so folks will know it’s there if they ever need it.
http://www.huff-n-puff.net/newforum/
It’s a patient site for folks who have interstitial lung disease or ‘pulmonary fibrosis’ which some RA’ers (and other autoimmuners, in addition to folks without autoimmune disease) can get.
Chelsea
hi andrew,
you commented on my blog…the exercise thing helps TONS once the RA is under control. i’m lucky that mine’s been good for a couple years. that said, i have major damage in my wrists though they have stabalized (i.e. they don’t hurt but they don’t bend much either) and ankle and neck issues currently. i don’t have a ton of RA posts despite the blog title but every now and then i do. it’s just become less of an issue…i’ve had RA for 10 years and it’s the new normal. it sucked in the beginning though, especially because there WEREN’T blogs or anything positive out on the internet. see if this link works…http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/ra-tv?catId=12&vidId=091e9c5e8033bac5
clare
Hi Andrew,
I came upon your website today during my RA and pain search. I have to say that men and RA seems like it is on the rise. When I first learned of RA upon my dx, I was told that it effects women more than men, but it seems more and more that men are afflicted with this ruthless disease…in fact, I believe that my father has Psoriatic Arthritis, but is afraid to admit his pain. Thank you for your great information and insightful thoughts in the RA journey.
Thanks for the kind thoughts Arlene. Upwards of 70% of RA sufferers are women. But there are few of us men out there!
You can count me as another male who suffers from this wonderful “not” disease.
Came across your Blog from refereed links on my site.
This led me to fix up what info I have on my site so I guess I owe you a thanks.
Have just recently changed themes and quite a few posts were up the creek.
Also noticed that you had linked to one of my posts but the linky no work.
OOOps, Sorry, you have not linked to my site, just auto referred possible links.
Hi Andrew, found your blog today and the positive way you approach RA. I have RA and 3 sons, I fear that they will inherit this disease from me. For now, they are active and healthy and I am thankful for that and just try to keep up! I have an RA blog also to help me focus on what makes me happy and what I can accomplish rather than what RA has taken from me.
Hi Tanya. Thanks for the reply. In spite of the genetics involved with autoimmune diseases, I decided that I can’t worry about my kids yet. Hopefully, and prayerfully, they’ll be spared. I’ll post a link to your blog.
Andrew
Hullo Andrew,
It is very interesting to read your story.
I too was diagnosed with RA about 8 years ago. Was put on methatrexate and was squeamish all week. I persevered for about 3 years and eventually the specialist put me on to Humira. This did not stop the pain so she put me on Arava 8 weeks ago. 20mg / week.So far so good.
I am a design engineer so not too much physical stress.
I live in beautiful east sussex in the England.
Best regards,
David
Hi David,
Thanks for the note and good to hear from a fellow RA sufferer from the UK. I’m glad Arava is working for you. Does 20mg cause you any side effects as it seems to bother me quite a bit.
Take care,
Andrew
In reference to Avara, I could not tolerate it as it had me in the outhouse all day long.
With in a week my daily ritual had got back to what was normal for me once I took myself off the drug.
I’ve had this disease since 2005 and can say that I feel the RA is well under control now.
Apart from the drugs that one has to take I feel a less stressful life has helped enormously.
–
Stephen, I’m glad your RA is under control. I wish I could say the same!
Hi Andrew,
Great to know there are others here in Washington (the real one). I live south of Seattle near the airport. Gorgeous photo!
I suppose in some ways I am an old hand at RA, I was diagnosed in November of 1970 – not too many options for treatment at the time. Certainly no internet and blogs – boy, could I have used that then!
At that time it seemed that when a woman went to the doctor to see what the pain was, she was often dismissed as bored or depressed and needed a hobby. Yet a man goes in with the same symptoms and that doc was johnny-on-the-spot to test and listen to him. It was discouraging at times. Glad to see things have changed so much.
Hi Lee, Yes, there are a few of us in Washington state. Warmsocks has a nice blog also. Things have come a long way in diagnosis and treatments but still have a ways to go. I’ll list your blog on my blogroll. Take care. Andrew