Hi, Wally47! Unfortunately I think what you experienced is not uncommon. My primary doctor didn't put all my symptoms together. It took another doctor who ordered an arthritis panel. Until I came on this site I had no idea how each person is affected differently by RA. It is an individual disease. No wonder it is so difficult for doctors to decide the best treatment for each of us.

I was overlooked through many physicians for over 10 years it wasn't till my fingers clawed up with pain that my general Dr. Began believing I was in pain, fatigued, and just not bouncing back. From what I am reading all RA individuals are not the same.

Make long term plans and short term ones, if the time comes and you are in bed then cancel. I have found having something coming up that I will enjoy makes me feel better. Don't let your RA be the boss.

My Ex and I took my mom to Israel when we were still married. My mom had horrible horrible RA which literally ate her up. There wasn’t a bone on her body not affected. Her feet were bad her toes turning in different directions. She was walking on bone on the bottom of her feet. She had neck surgery twice. Surgery on her hands but yet she still painted. She had a shoulder replaced. But my mother went to Israel with us and she did all the walking and stair climbing and everything else that everyone else did. Going to Israel was a life long dream of hers. I told her to bring some really good walking shoes also. She brought a super heavy pair of the old white nursing shoes that you could get at Payless. Well the first day was a disaster because the shoes were so heavy and uncomfortable. I had just purchased a new pair of tennis shoes so we tried those and she said they were really comfortable and no more problems with her feet while we were there. I think God Blessed them for her. I just wanted to write this to let you know that if you really want to go on trips you can you just need that determination and desire to do it. If you feel that during the trip you can do it one day then don’t do it and don’t worry about what anyone else says. At least you are trying. I hope this helps. God Bless everyone. ✝️🙏🏻✝️🙏🏻🌸🩵🌸🩵🌸🩵😊😊😊♥️♥️

I was diagnosed quickly once my symptoms began, and I immediately started treatment. That was three and a half years ago. No physical deformities so far.