No time for naps

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Until recently, I wasn’t much of a napper. There was always too much life to live napping kittenand too much to do. I didn’t want to waste any time sleeping during the day, even when my rheumatoid disease gave me a lot of pain.

I lived for my first 14 years with RD blaming my near constant, bone-deep fatigue on being in pain, on being busy, and on poor sleep. Fourteen years of feeling guilty if I took a nap. Imagine my surprise when I learned, after having RD for roughly 20 years, that one of its major symptoms is fatigue. That it hits no matter how well you’ve slept, and regardless of your pain level…

Read more at RheumatoidArthritis.net.

2 thoughts on “No time for naps”

  1. We have so much in common. I was diagnosed with RA six months after I moved to Germany. I struggled with guilt for taking naps and taking narcotics for pain (Yep, the ONLY medicine that works for the intense pain). I started painting again to ease my mind. A year later, I am not any better; I’m worse with one exception–I’ve learned to accept I have this. No more denial. No more, “if I push hard enough it will go away.” I work with what I have day by day and just do the best I can. I steer clear of self-pity and look for the positives in my life–and there are many–so that I don’t get consumed by RA. I have not found a good rheumatologist. I live 30 minutes from Bonn and wonder if you can recommend someone? I’m so glad I subscribed to your blog. It me know I am not alone with this disease. Thank you.

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    • Hi, Tina!
      We really do have a lot in common! I’m impressed with your acceptance and attitude–these are awfully hard to adjust so soon after being diagnosed. I really do believe that approaching life with RD with as much optimism as possible is key to living well with it.

      You know, I do have a suggestion for a rheumatologist. (It surprised me, too!) I know Herr Dr. Kirsch through social media(Twitter, blog comments); he’s very active in the international rheumatology community, and I know if I had an opportunity to have him as my doctor, I’d jump at it. You can google him for more information, but here’s a start:

      Herr Dr. med. Lothar M. Kirsch
      Hauptstraße 74
      40668 Meerbusch
      Germany

      Phone:
      +49 2150 917174

      He’s closer to Dusseldorf than Bonn, but maybe that can work for you. If nothing else, he may be able to suggest a rheumatologist closer to you. An added plus: he speaks good English if your German is chancy, like mine. 😉

      Best of luck finding a good rheumatologist. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I hope you’ll come back again. 😀

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