[stephanie.s80]

Hi All:

I worked and completed all my nursing prereq's w/ the hopes of becoming a RN (this would be a second career for me). I ended up being rejected from every school I applied to for an ASN b/c of my 10 year old SAT score and rejected from a BSN program b/c some of my documents were lost.

After all this happend, it became more of a fight to become a nurse rather than a desire b/c I kept being told no so many times. For a few months, I stepped away from nursing and took some time for myself. Recently, I've gotten back on track and my desire to become a nurse has come back...for the RIGHT reasons.

My new and ongoing dilemma is my RA. I'm 27 and have had it since I was 22. My Rheumatologist and I have worked together over the years to improve my joints and strengthen my body to prepare me for nursing. I feel great, know my limits. I'm scared that when/if I become a nurse, the frequent lifting will cause my body to breakdown and then I can no longer work as a nurse or work at all. Patient is the first and foremost priority, but I don't want to risk their lives b/c of my physical limits.

Is there any advice anyone can give me. I've researched other career options in healthcare and they are very promising, but I still feel this strong pull to become a nurse, I'm just scared of how my disease would affect my work and my body.

Thanks!

Steph

[mama_bird]

Stephanie,

Hi. I can totally empathize. I developed RA at 27. I am trying to get back in the game now. When I became ill, there were no "biologic modifiers" and I was started on traditional crappy drugs, couldn't work, lost my job, lost insurance, ended up on disability waiting for Medicare who wouldn't cover anything. Nine years later I got insurance through my husban'd job and started Enbrel mar 15th. I am now getting my life back. I am angry that I was robbed, cheated, and had no insurance. My student loans sat and collected interest and went from $40K to $75K that I now have to pay back. But I don't care. i want to work again.

My advice is to always put your RA as a priority. I put RA behind my husband, daughter, dogs, house, business, everything and all it got me was ill, depressed and suicidal. Yes, I said suicidal. Even though I worked part-time from home, because I was getting disability, people acted like I was lazy and exaggerating my illness. Even my own spouse. Like I wilingly walked away from a good job only 2 years out of a BSN. Now I can only hope someone will hire me after this many years out but I am going to be optimistic and keep up my meds, exercise, etc. and not let it control ME anymore.

Find a drug cocktail that works and take it faithfully. I used to think the Plaquenil, etc. helped, but I still couldn't hold a job because I was always stiff, tired and inflammed. That is gone now. I didn't realize how ill I had become.

I just started posting here but look for my posts and you get get some more info. I hope I helped.

Hugs,
Teresa

[stephanie.s80]

Thank you for sharing your story with me, I will continue to have my RA as a priority in my life, but I've learned a lot about myself while having this as well. I was letting my RA control my mind, causing me to fear the future and what I would think I could and could not do. I know how to take care of myself, I know my limits, so I have no reason to let it deter me from anything I want to do!

I'm hopefully going to start on Orencia soon, so hopefully that, along w. all my other meds will keep me going for a long time.

Good luck, I know everything will work out for you and like you told me, keep taking your meds and don't give up!

Steph (I just got back to work from lunch and I feel like that face...sleepy!)