I'm 21 going on 80!

So I have had many uncomfortable symptoms for about a year, but I would say in the last 6 months I have just had so many flares that some days I couldn't get out of bed. I would miss work and literally feel miserable. So on Friday I finally was able to see a specialist. When the nurse took me in to take my vitals it turns out I had a fever....hmmm I wonder how long i have had that? Then the dr. came to see me. It was funny because she was kind of talking and explaining things to me like a kid...or in other words she dumbed things down for me. She kind of was squatting so she was at my level while she was explaining to me that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. She is a Rhematoidologist person and I told her I didn't lol...then she explained everything to me. She then said that I have to take immediate action....ummm I'm more of a "when its convenient I will do it" kind of person. So she sent home packets of reading for me..if school reading wasn't enough for me. She said that my husband and I have to read through everything so that we know whats going to happen (I thought in my head....Scott make a decision w/me about my health....what did I get myself into haha jk).

More to the story.....So when the Dr. said we have to take "immediate action" she meant I also had to get some blood and shots today. NOW....I know this might sound weird but I literally have to talk myself into getting needles put in me, especially taking blood. See I'm white as can be so you can see my veins but in reality they are all show no action. I have to drink so much water and keep myself warm b/c they can NEVER find my veins..last blood test I had to go back 3 times and was sent to a special lab and even then it took like 20 minutes before they could draw blood. So I was extremely vulnerable at this time not being repaired that I had to draw blood or get a shot. They first gave me a TB test (I will eventually have to give myself shots once a week so that is why--but you can't take the shots if you have TB and one of the side effects is TB, go figure. That wasn't bad because they just poked me where ever they wanted. Now it was time for the blood test...I was there 15 minutes before they closed and it took 15 minutes to warm me up, but they did a wonderful job!

So in the end I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I still have to go see a stomach specialist to look at my intestines and what not...NOT HAPPY about that at all...but I guess it will help me in the end?

In case you were wondering what Rheumatoid Arthritis is here's information below:

Arthritis is a general term that means inflammation in a joint. Joint inflammation is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling and pain within the joint.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of chronic arthritis that typically occurs in joints on both sides of the body (such as hands, wrists or knees). This symmetry helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other types of arthritis.
In addition to affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis may occasionally affect the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood, or nerves.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
Joint pain and swelling
Stiffness, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods
Fatigue