quote=LynW]I didn't see but it sounds as though it was about osteo-arthritis not RA, a completely different kettle of fish entirely. To be honest all that exercise, healthy diet and supplements is probably great to ward off the wear and tear of osteo which is fair enough providing he wasn't trying to say that it is the answer to RA too.

I was a competent athlete, always ate a healthy diet and if anything under weight so it makes not a jot of difference to this disease. It will strike regardless of physical attributes. I now ignore anything about arthritis because it's NOTHING to do with us, we have an immune disorder that affects the joints and not the same thing at all!

So girls don't be getting stressed with yourselves, whatever your lifestyle you would have ended up with RA anyway, luck (or not) of the draw. There are far worse things out there ... and the sun is still shining!

Lyn x[/quote]

Hi Lyn and all

I have been giving this subject quite a lot of thought, I did not see the GMTV interview, but did see the one with Jane Asher representing Arthritis Care and the woman who has osteo. At the time I was quite annoyed too til Lyn so rightly said we have an auto immune disorder which affects our joints, so we don t want to tied in with the same discussion with osteo which is worlds apart and totally different to osteo To make it clearer to the " outside world " who have little
understanding perhaps would it have been better to give our condition a different name leaving the arthritis out - too late now I suppose. We ll all keep smiling

Julia x

Hi Julia

I think somewhere along the line someone was petitioning for a name change to once and for all get rid of the brush that we have become tarnished with. From what I recall the USA were involved too. There's something on the forum about it, some place.

I do think it's time for a more identifiable name tag that will allow others to understand a little of the problems we have. As Lorna so rightly says "they don't have a clue ... who does really, unless they have suffered with RA". Having "arthritis" does send out the wrong message and certainly doesn't win us any support from the masses.

I tell people that I have an autoimmune disease which affects many organs but predominantly the joints. Most look at me oddly and say "Aids?" Aaargh ... they then think I've got an immune deficiency disorder which is something entirely different again!! Many practitioners are now referring to RA as 'rheumatoid disease' so there's hope yet! Think I'll be sticking with rheumatoid disease and just have folks nodding their heads as though they understand .... but in reality they really have no idea whatsoever!!

Be positive, stay positive = we win!

Lyn x