Explain your RA

Today’s blog prompt is explain your RA– perhaps you want to tell someone else, (doctor, sibling, child) pick a person and decide what to tell them. You might want to tell them about living with RA or what it is like to have RA? Perhaps you want to write a letter to a fictional person. You might also choose to write to a newly diagnosed person about life with RA.

So I prepared a bit of a tongue in cheek letter to a fictional supervisor.

Dear supervisor,

I have good news and some not so good news. I am a bottom line sort of guy so let’s not dance around the subject. I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Yes, it scares me to write those words. I am scared for me, my family and yes my job. Now the good news, I love it here. If I could do whatever I wanted I would shove this RA thing into a corner and never let it interfere with my job, I like the people, the place and the mission of this organization and I want to be here if possible.

However, I will likely have to reevaluate some things. Last year you asked why my attendance has slipped from the perfect be here at all cost person I have always been, to something less. I knew you were not complaining about me missing a few days and when I said I honestly had no clue, I was telling the truth. I know you speculated that perhaps I was having a run of poor blood sugar numbers (it is not)? Maybe the Monday night games were affecting my Tuesday, Wednesday or even Thursday attendance (they were not) or maybe I had grown tired of doing this job (I have not). I assured you that despite being off work more than usual, I was not unhappy and we made a goal to improve me my attendance over the coming year. You said it was nothing to worry about, but I was worried.

As you know I made changes and redoubled my efforts to get here almost every day. That effort lasted less than a month when I woke up feeling like I had been punched all over my body despite sleeping 10 hours. So I looked into things and see if there was a medical issue.

Prognosis

Well, three doctors and 5 months later I know the answer. I have RA. I was as surprised at hearing that as you must be in reading it. I immediately asked the doctor what this means. First she said that we now have some answers why I have those terrible bumps on my elbow, why I did not participate in last year’s Cancer walk-a-Thon and why I might have been out ill a few days last year. Trust me, I am as thrilled to find these answers as you must be.

What I was not thrilled to hear is that I may have to have treatments for the rest of my life. Goodness knows if I could wave a wand and fix this I would. This disease is livable, but it will be a slow grind to keep it in check.

Going forward, we need not pass around a get well card, or organize a jingle bell run team to cure me. The card was ok, but I was surprised anyone even knew I had been diagnosed. Oh, and if we want to run to support arthritis research that is great, but please let’s not do an event to ‘cure’ me. Frankly, that is not helpful.

Here is what you can do to help me:

1. Be understanding. I have been here12 years and as my past reviews have shown I have done a good job, I want to continue to do that in every way possible. But I may be a little slower because the medication I will be using can take a toll on me mentally and physically, please stick with me and if you are wondering in the worst days I may not make it into work. It will not be a habit, but it might happen.

2. I may not do well with late meetings and events. I want to do my part, but you may have to excuse me from some late night activities like meetings and community events, but especially know even though I love drinking with you all night I will curtail doing that, rest is very important now.

3. I may have to forgo the physical challenge at this year’s annual retreat. Or I might do it, we will need see on the day of the event. But regardless of what I try I may have to sit some or all of it out. How I spend my energy is the most important decision I have these days and home, family and work are very important but running 700 feet with a 100 pound stuff gorilla is just not in my wheelhouse. I hope you understand.

4. I will do some medical treatments that might make me ill. This is just the nature of the beast. If I am ill, I will let you know no need to ask, let’s assume I am ok unless I say otherwise.

Finally, I want to say thank you for the loving and kind response everyone here has given me. I have no idea how my coworkers found out I had been diagnosed with RA, but when I called to report I would be out yesterday and I told you I had been diagnosed with RA someone must have been listening in on our conversation. I suggest we get the telephone system looked at. Hey, lots of important stuff gets said on the telephone and that cannot be the best thing for our company if folks are listening in. That is just a suggestion, but I hope you look into it.

In the meantime, I will be over here doing my work and if you are not satisfied with or want to discuss RA please drop by, if I hear any rumors about other telephone leaks I will let you know. Like I said these telephone leaks might be crucial someday. Best to get on top of it

Sincerely,

-30-

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