Thank heavens for a 'let off steam' place. My RA was diagnosed 3 years ago after going to my GP for 4 years with presenting symptoms and I also have osteoarthritis (why not, they keep each other company). As you all know having to come to terms with RA is devastating, no need to expand on that. Admittedly, my RA is not a bad as it could be or as some unfortunate people experience; but it is still not under control. I have had to explain to family and friends what RA is etc and my rant just now is about the absolute ignorance of the differences between the two types of arthritis. Numerous times I have received the response 'well what have you got to complain about, I have it too and its not as bad as you are making it out to be!' Often the arthritis they have is osteoarthritis. Having just returned from a lengthy holiday my father asked about how we had managed with the washing, I have a small washing machine in my motorhome. When told this he asked what was wrong with hand washing! Well I cant hand wash for too long because of the pain it causes and all he could suggest was flexing the fingers regularly every day (as he does cos 'he says' he has it too) and that would help. Then at the local WI meeting one of the regular members was absent as she had been taken into hospital. The question was asked why she was in hospital and the reply was 'its only rheumatoid arthritis'. 'ONLY' I was gobsmacked, 'poor woman' I said and pointed out that the response showed that no one understood how debilitating RA could be and told them what RA is. Sometimes I think everyone has their heads stuck in the sand, must try it - perhaps ignoring it would make it go away!!

I was told when I was first diagnosed, that when you say Rheumatoid Arthritis they hear one word only and that is arthritis. I have gotten to the stage now that I don't really tell anyone. I always remember the first person outside the family that I told what I had and she replied that she'd got that in her knee and she just took the painkillers and got on with. Oh I wish it was just that simple for me. I did try to explain to her what it was and she just looked so stunned and I got the impression that she thought I was being a Drama Queen and how could it be as bad as that.

How did you get on in Portugal regarding the MTX? I remember your post last year and have often wondered if it went well. My husband still keeps saying that he wants to go to Spain/Portugal in ours for three months. Trouble is we will be travelling around and I don't know how I would beable to get blood test done, when and where I would need them.

I hope you don't mind me asking but did you wild camp in Portugal or go on a site? I have read on a motorhome forum that the Portuguese police fine people a lot of euros if the catch them wild camping.

About washing your clothes. I have always wondered if you got a big bucket with a lid on (husband uses these for making wine), fill it with hot water and wash powder. Try to secure it in your toilet/shower cubicle, put your clothes in it and then when you are driving about it will be like the old fashioned agitating washing machines (like the twin tub ones). I know you would have to somehow rinse your clothes and wring them out, but that's what husbands are for.............Oh and driving on the wrong side of the road!!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed your holiday.

Take Care
Paula x

Oh, its so, so tricky isn't it? Rheumatism, arthritis everybody's got it or knows someone who has and they're fine so what are we all going on about! My husband is in a wheelbarrow display team (its a mad Cornish thing) and I've recently been roped in as consultant choreographer, then they tried to get me to run about with a wheelbarrow. Said, can't do running, several times but nobody takes any notice, you'll be fine! If they could just see me hobbling down the stairs in the morning or asleep on the sofa at 8.30 but no, they see me sat on a stool in the pub joking and laughing on the, make an extra special effort because its Friday night and I'm not giving that up as well as everything else, and they think I'm the same as always. But what would be do without each other on here? Best place in the world to get the much needed understanding we need!
Sara
x

I believe alot of it amounts to the fact that many of us don't look ill, rarely complain and people forget we have it, they never see me struggling to climb the stairs or having difficulty doing numerous other tasks.

I don't want their sympathy, just understanding that I can't always do all the things I use to straight away.

Anne x

*chuckles* I'm rude enough to talk over people if they are being stupid.

Although - admittedly - so far I haven't encountered too many stupid people (strangely - a few of my friends have either known or know someone with RA so haven't made any idiotic remarks) but I am storing up sarcastic answers for the times when I do - because I know if I don't - I will always think of what I'd wished I'd said afterwards!

It's all we can do, Julia, isn't it?

Hello All, I knew there would be others who would have experienced the ignorance of others - usually healthy others. Their time will come. Yes, its that word 'arthritis' and I will take the advice of you all and either use a different description or not discuss the RA with those I feel have their heads stuck in the sand. But I really must start speaking up for myself more, I dont always have the replies ready. My right hand is starting to turn out from the wrist. When I showed my hubby he said 'why worry about something you can do nothing about?' OK he has a point but there is more to it than that, something that all of you will be familiar with - pain/where will it stop/what next!! Yes, all I need is to be understood and not pitied, his reply did leave me somewhat openmouthed!! Thank you all for your lovely replies my thoughts are with you all.

Jean, love the quotes, keep them coming they are very appropriate.

Paula, the holiday was great though very tiring. Almost everything that had to be done meant overuse of the poor hands and they suffered a lot. The lovely weather did not help the RA any, I had hoped that the warm sun would have eased things. However, the blood tests were done on time at a private clinic in Albuferia, the results showed all was stable!! I almost ran out of the MTX and the clinic doctor gave me a prescription for 100. Can only buy drugs in big numbers in portugal as boxes are not split and they only cost £5.75 with a small reduction in cost with the E111. There is no refund on costs at private clinics the cost for consultation and blood test x 2 was 182 euros. Next time I am going to try and get treatment under the portugese health system and then there will be a refund on E111. We were in portugal for 2 months - spent 3 weeks on a site at Albuferia and the rest of the time wildcamping. There are loads of people wildcamping in motorhomes and never found anyone who was fined. Heard of one chap who had been asked by the police to go to the police station, he didnt go and was fined (waiting for him when he got home). The police (GNR) are really very nice and helpful, they will work with the wildcampers as long as respect is shown. Some of the wildcamp sites are opposite the GNR stations!!! We toured around most of the time and enjoyed it more than being on a site - we think the portugese will go the same way as spain and france and install Aires. There is one at Castro Marim just over the sp/port border on Algarve which is now token operated. Anything you need to know just ask. Getting blood tests done whilst you are touring would not be a problem but you would need a consultation at each one. I got the 1st one done at Albuferia then toured around and called back at Albuferia when the next one was due. Liked the idea of the bucket with the washing in the moving van - will try that next time. By the way my hubby doesnt think I need any help!!!

Hello All, I knew there would be others who would have experienced the ignorance of others - usually healthy others. Their time will come. Yes, its that word 'arthritis' and I will take the advice of you all and either use a different description or not discuss the RA with those I feel have their heads stuck in the sand. But I really must start speaking up for myself more, I dont always have the replies ready. My right hand is starting to turn out from the wrist. When I showed my hubby he said 'why worry about something you can do nothing about?' OK he has a point but there is more to it than that, something that all of you will be familiar with - pain/where will it stop/what next!! Yes, all I need is to be understood and not pitied, his reply did leave me somewhat openmouthed!! Thank you all for your lovely replies my thoughts are with you all.

Jean, love the quotes, keep them coming they are very appropriate.

Paula, the holiday was great though very tiring. Almost everything that had to be done meant overuse of the poor hands and they suffered a lot. The lovely weather did not help the RA any, I had hoped that the warm sun would have eased things. However, the blood tests were done on time at a private clinic in Albuferia, the results showed all was stable!! I almost ran out of the MTX and the clinic doctor gave me a prescription for 100. Can only buy drugs in big numbers in portugal as boxes are not split and they only cost £5.75 with a small reduction in cost with the E111. There is no refund on costs at private clinics the cost for consultation and blood test x 2 was 182 euros. Next time I am going to try and get treatment under the portugese health system and then there will be a refund on E111. We were in portugal for 2 months - spent 3 weeks on a site at Albuferia and the rest of the time wildcamping. There are loads of people wildcamping in motorhomes and never found anyone who was fined. Heard of one chap who had been asked by the police to go to the police station, he didnt go and was fined (waiting for him when he got home). The police (GNR) are really very nice and helpful, they will work with the wildcampers as long as respect is shown. Some of the wildcamp sites are opposite the GNR stations!!! We toured around most of the time and enjoyed it more than being on a site - we think the portugese will go the same way as spain and france and install Aires. There is one at Castro Marim just over the sp/port border on Algarve which is now token operated. Anything you need to know just ask. Getting blood tests done whilst you are touring would not be a problem but you would need a consultation at each one. I got the 1st one done at Albuferia then toured around and called back at Albuferia when the next one was due. Liked the idea of the bucket with the washing in the moving van - will try that next time. By the way my hubby doesnt think I need any help!!!

Thank you for your reply, good to see that you had a good time, apart from your hands. Must of been good though to of escaped all of our snow.

That sounds a lot for two blood test.....182 euros...if I see 1 euro, I always think £1, so that in my mind is £182, not cheap. My daughter lives in Gibraltar and she asked her GP if he would do them, he said he would. She keep telling me that they would send the bill to the UK and I wouldn't have to pay for it. I may ask her to check this and see if she is correct, or I may go to her GP's myself when I go to see her next and just see what my options would be. It might pay to be in that area of Spain when test are due, might save alot of money.

Strange when you think about it that in Portugal you can get 100 MTX at a time, yet here they only give you one months supply at a time. We have seen motorhomes wild camping in Portugal and Spain when we've been there. I always think that it is safer if there is alot of you there at one time. Have read on the motorhome forum of a few places in Gibraltar to wild camp in and the police turn a blind eye, as long as you are not there for long. But husband doesn't relish the idea of driving in and out, especially getting out when it's busy and having to negotiate the lines of traffic queueing to get out and you've got to find somewhere to park when you get there.

We've only been over the channel twice, once to Brittany and once to Northern Spain (stunningly beautiful). Both times we stopped on sites, that was over 10 years ago and from what I've been reading up on about Spain some sites now cost over 20 euros a night, if you're paying that much, it might be cheaper to rent an apartment for a three month lett!

Are you on Facebook? I am, Paula Cooke, would love to beable to ask a few more questions.

Paula