RDBlog week day 3 – I am not healthy, but I am not sick either

Today is Day three of RDBlog week. The annual time when those of us who blog in the Rheumatic Diseases space blog about our condition.  Today’s prompt is

Health – If you have RD, are you healthy? We have an evolving sense of health in our community. What is your definition of health, and how does RD fit into that definition?

Health is a relative word.  Meaning I am healthy compared to my departed father who used to speak to my stepmother through a battery-operated car (or so she said).  But I am not healthy compared to most of the rest of the world.

In the diabetes community, we use the term real person sick to describe things like flu or a cold.  Real person sick can be anything that is not associated with a risk factor for diabetes.  I know it sounds morbid, but it is a sarcastic way to refer to diabetes issues.  Oh no, I am not real person sick I am diabetes sick, because my blood sugar is too high.   Or if I have the flu it is  real person sick.

We do not have a similar saying about Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in our community,  and I think I know why.  RA is so all-encompassing that there is no real person sick.  Have the flu, likely got it after doing your injection for RA.  Bad cold, yes, I got it after taking methotrexate.  Everything is related to RA.

Health

The prompt asks me to define what health is in our community.  I realize that most younger people define health as not having RA since that is “normal” for us.  But I am a 62-year-old guy, and I cannot see it that way.  I want to come along on this evolving thinking, but so far, it does not make sense to me.  I was 42 when I was diagnosed, and I still recall what my body felt like before RA. I remember the freedom of long backpacking trips and sledding in the park with the kids. These are things I  can no longer do.  So I have to say I am not healthy.

For me, health is living the best life we can given the restraints our body places on us.

I think my definition means health is not a static term.  It is ever-evolving.  Most of us know that one day we can feel great, and the next we might be miserable.  Regardless of how we think, I will claim I am healthy given what I can do that minute, hour, or day.

Speaking of toy cars

I do not have the car that my departed father spoke to my stepmother through, but if I did, I think I would ask for it to tell me a story so we could have a good laugh and then I would consult it the car daily for health advice.  I can hear it now:

Rick: Dad, I am not feeling so good. Is this real person sick?

Car: No flashing light (means no), so I am not real person sick (the car communicates using it flashing light on top and its wheel movement).

Rick: I feel rotten should I call my primary care doctor?

Car:  No flashing light so do not call her

Rick:  Can you tell me who to call?

Car: Wheels turn

Rick: Should I call the surgeon?

Car: no response

Rick Should I call my rheumatologist?

Car: lights up and goes crazy. Ahh, the answer.

Later that day on the telephone:

Scheduler: Why do you need to be seen, Mr. Phillips?

Rick: My throat is scratchy. I need something fast.

Scheduler: Mr. Phillips, we do not do that here, call your primary care doctor.

Rick:  I can’t the blue toy car told me to call you

Scheduler: let me transfer you

New receptionist: mental health associates may I help you?

Rick: Yeah, the blue car told me to call my rheumatologist about the scratchy throat.

New receptionist: Yes, Mr. Philips, we have an immediate appointment, remember to bring the blue car with you.  Oh and Mr. Phillips please remember to put in a fresh set of batteries.  We will need it to operate during the whole appointment.

Rick: Is someone else there ill, and do you need to ask if it is a real person illness.

New receptionist: Let’s just say the car will be critical to your long term care.  Please be here at 2:00 PM

Rick: I will see you this afternoon at 2:00 PM

New receptionist: Yes and bring an overnight bag with clothes for 5 days.

Rick:  Why?

New receptionist: Let’s just say the overnight bag will be critical to your long term care.

It is little surprise my dad would pick a tin toy car to communicate beyond the grave.   He always did have a terrific sense of humor.   Now if the new scheduler would only get a good sense of humor.

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