Annie, I'll check that out, thanks very much.

You are right, Eve, about the ignorance. I think it is that and also a desire to see your friends well again. If only there was a quick fix and psychological intervention that would take it all away! We'd all go for it in a flash!

I actually gasped when I read your post. Good grief - what an idiot!

Ask him if he knows what the internet is. Then tell him about this marvellous new fangled device known as a 'search engine'. He may have heard of the mythical 'Google'. Tell him to type in 'Rheumatoid Arthritis'. Or possibly, 'NHS Direct Rheumatoid Arthritis' It may just give him some answers as to how much it is in your head.

Sorry, sorry. I cannot cope with how ridiculous some people are! I'm exasperated in just hearing about him over the internet!

I can understand he doesn't get it. But seriously. In today's world of instantly accessible information - is it hard to find out?

*gently hugs you for having to put up with such a twit.*

Perhaps a general message to those he's discussed his *ahem* knowledge with to clarify a few things as well? Something along the lines of '... I know some of you haven't encountered my condition before, but just to give you some ideas of how rubbish it can be - try these links...' followed by stuff from the NHS and NRAS. I suggest NHS first as they might be more inclined to try that, rather than an organisation some might feel has a biased opinion. Heck - even a wiki link might be good! Also the spoons theory page is always helpful in trying to get people to understand the whole fatigue thing.

I do hope some info might make him realise just what you are going through!

... And if anyone suggests it can be magically cured - add in that (according to Wiki) - "The first known traces of arthritis date back at least as far as 4500 BC." And how you wish someone had worked out what that cure was already because you'd be first in line!

*feels very blessed by how brilliant most of her friends are and how much they listen when she explains the basics and hopes that her sarcasm wasn't totally misunderstood over the internet*

Sally, these are friends that you could do without! As if you haven't got enough to cope with without discovering how unsupportive your friends are! Sadly it's something most of us come up against once in a while and, although I have good, supportive friends, I sometimes thing they don't really believe I'm as ill as all that. As someone said earlier in this thread, ignore the ones who don't support you, and treasure the ones that do.
Anthea

I'll tell you also what makes me angry about all this, is when you read a post such as jenni B - steam room - just awful.

Its hard enough when friends/partners don't understand what we are going through and sometimes need support, let alone the medical profession who have the medication to take away some of the pain when in need, and they can't offer urgent care.

Do they really understand what pain some of us can be in.

Anne x

mr bishop in eastenders has just told dot he has got rheumatoid arthritis! I doubt it will be taken any further. At the end of the programme they didn't however say as they often do "if you have been affected by any of the issues in this programme please contact........" I feel like writing to them and arguing against their using it as a throwaway type illness. I know they can't be on top of everything but I understand they do thoroughly research all dot's biblical quotations.....