Life with Rheumatoid Arthritis

🌍 International Day of Persons with Disabilities 🌍

Today, I’m sharing something close to my heart - living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

RA is an autoimmune disease that doesn’t just affect joints - it affects my entire life. On the outside, I might look fine, but the reality is much more complicated:

💥 There’s the pain—some days, it’s a dull ache; other days, it feels like fire in my bones.
🌙 There’s the fatigue—a bone-deep exhaustion that doesn’t go away with rest.
💪 There are the flares—unpredictable days when my body feels like it’s at war with itself, and even getting out of bed is a victory.
🧠 And there’s the emotional toll—the anxiety, the isolation, and the frustration of navigating a world that often doesn’t see or understand invisible disabilities.

For a long time, I struggled with the idea of RA being a disability. I didn’t want to use that word. I didn’t want to feel “different” or “less than.” But that’s the truth. RA is a disability. And acknowledging that has been one of the hardest but most empowering things I’ve done. I’ve realized that accepting RA as part of who I am doesn’t make me weak. It means I’m learning to ask for what I need. It means I’m advocating for myself in a world that often overlooks invisible struggles.

Today, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I want to raise awareness about RA and other invisible disabilities. I want to remind others - and especially myself - that we don’t have to pretend we’re fine when we’re not.

Let’s continue to:

🌟 Talk openly about invisible disabilities.
🌟 Support each other and build more inclusive communities.
🌟 Reject shame and embrace our whole selves - because we are more than our challenges.

Here I am.. back with another post after quite a long break.. I was taken off my meds for some 3 months or so because RA flares were under control and my liver had started getting affected.. the detox was necessary.. and it was good too.. the relief from the dread of methotrexate every Monday morning and night.. and the lingering side effects.. short-lived but a blessing nonetheless.. it starts again now.. and I can feel it affecting my mental health the same way all over again.. wish I had a positive message to share this morning.. but will get there.. we all will.. we are stronger than this.. as we've proved time and time again.. prayers for us all.. 💜

Saw this on another Rheumatoid Arthritis support group, and it really tugged at my heart strings. Bring diagnosed is just the beginning of a long journey ahead filled with countless queries, doubts, and moments where one loses hope. No matter how strong we may be for the people around us, we are in a constant battle within. My heart and prayers go out to all of you who are struggling, and hope that this group can make a difference. Don't push yourself too hard. Take breaks. Take care of yourself. Make your health your priority. 💜

I took a 3 week break from methotrexate because of repeated infections, including chicken pox for the third time..😶.. and now I am scared to start it again.. because the side effects will hit me strong..😔.. especially at 44 degrees out in the sun.. 🥵

With Rheumatoid Arthritis, as with many other illnesses, a large part of the journey is staying positive! Easier said than done, but I feel these little posts from TinyBuddha have a huge impact on me. My phone gallery, as well as my home, is filled with these beautiful little one-liners in their vibrant colours. ❤️

Rheumatoid Arthritis - the name is quite misleading. More so, because it begins with joint pains, swelling and inflammation. And a lot of the times, your physician may not guide you on the extent of damage it can do to the rest of your body.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. It is your own immune system attacking your body. And yes, it begins in the joints. That is often where it is diagnosed too. But it does not limit itself there.

I have just been officially diagnosed with RA a little over 2 years ago, and within this short span of time I have learned so much about the disease. Yet, I continue to learn something new every few days too.

I found this great infographic that shows some of the major ways Rheumatoid Arthritis can affect your body. This list is definitely not complete, but it gives you a starting point.

And no, this isn't to scare you. This is rather to prepare you. To look out for the symptoms and connect the dots before the effects of RA get worse. Often times, we don't share everything with our physicians because we feel those symptoms aren't related to what they are currently treating you for. And you can be very wrong here. With Rheumatoid Arthritis, each and every little detail is connected and it matters.

Don't ignore what your body if trying to tell you. May we all heal soon. 🤗

I have been making repeated visits to opticians and eye specialists over the last two years especially, and have noticed my vision decline every couple of months. After having gotten 6-8 different numbers over this short period, my optician recommended getting a detailed eye examination done with a specialist. This was to ensure that Rheumatoid Arthritis or its treatment had not affected any of the internal eye structures.

I just heard back from the specialist last evening, and it has left me in yet another downward spiral mentally. Every thing on the inside is fine. The reason for all this worsening of vision is a severe case of dry eyes. It is not only responsible for rhe constant change in number, but has also resulted in cataract starting to develop in my eyes.

Dry eyes is another one of the complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is caused due to decreased tear production which can make your eyes may feel extremely dry. They may also itch or burn, leading to excessive blinking. It may feel like grains of sand are lodged in your eyes. Or they may be red or watery, and you may have blurred vision or be sensitive to bright or fluorescent lights.

Remember to always keep your physician informed of any change or worsening in symptoms. It is quite possible that you may have also developed Sjogren’s syndrome, another autoimmune condition, that very often accompanies Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I have been using eye drops off and on for over a year already, because of the same, but that seems to not have been enough. I have now been told to keep my eyedrops with me at all times, and use them as frequently as once every hour, along with steroids to reduce inflammation in the eyes.

My RA is quite aggressive, it was only diagnosed recently, definitely a little late, but it seems to be wreaking havoc throughout my body. 😔

The last few months have been kind of a downward spiral, and I just haven't been able to get myself to write about it. I will give it a try now, and try to be more regular.

This morning, my Google photos app shared a memory with me, that though was a beautiful one, has left me in tears since. Sharing it here, and I am sure a lot of you might be able to relate to it.

I had beautiful hair till about 2 years ago. Being an otherwise simple girl, that was my favourite feature.

Methotrexate has been a wonder drug for my RA. The flares have been under control, and I have been able to regain most of my independence. But at the same time, it has made me lose my precious hair. A fact I still have not been able to come to terms with. It leaves me sad every minute of every day. A silly thing maybe, it's just hair, as I'm often told, and I can't seem to explain the feeling to those around me. 😭

The name can often be misleading...

That's how I have been feeling lately. Completely drained. The changing weather takes its toll and flares up pains. 😥

We often fall into depression when we're unable to accomplish all that we could earlier. Living with RA is made more difficult with these negative thoughts. Be kind to yourself, love yourself, and remind yourself that all that you do accomplish is enough. ❤

💛 credit:

I was struggling with a mix of symptoms since 2013 but the doctors at the time failed to connect the dots. I went from general physicians to specialists to oncologists to even faith healers. I don't think I can blame them though. RA affects everyone so differently, and especially with seronegative RA, it is hard to pinpoint until its wreacked quite a havoc. I have been blessed however to have found a good doctor now, not a rheumatologist, but a general physician, Dr. Azmat Rao at National Hospital Lahore, who has both the time and patience to listen to all the various symptoms, and then specifically answer for and treat every one of them. And to top it all, he gives you such encouraging prayers, that you always come out of the appointment feeling very positive. 😊