A recent study found that libido is negatively impacted by rheumatoid arthritis.  This by way of a site called Celebrities with Diseases, through my google alert of course.  :-)  I was a little disappointed that the site that reported on this research didn’t name any celebrities affected by the disease or its side effects–I kind of thought that’d be the point.

In any case, at first glance I wasn’t surprised by this at all.  In fact, I have at various points in my treatment and life since diagnosis experienced this problem.  And, admittedly, I didn’t tell my doctor about it.   I had chalked it up to remnants of my childhood sexual abuse and didn’t realize it could be related to the RA or the RA meds.  Certainly I had found myself at points too stiff or uncomfortable to pursue or allow intimacy.   However, and I thought this was just me, there was always a personal or interpersonal thing to point fingers at for the lacking libido.

My personal experience and feelings aside, here’s study by the numbers:

• 1,271 RA patients surveyed
• 47% reported an absence of libido
• 24% reported stiffness in joints like knees, wrists and fingers that affected sex life

While Celebrities with Disease did not share the ages represented by the study, their source (Yahoo News) did.  Apparently the average age of those studied was 64.  I would love to see a break down of the impact on sexual relationships by age.   I don’t really expect to have an extremely active libido at that age.  More importantly, I’m fourty years younger than the average participant.   Is no sex what I have to look forward to?  Dubious.  In fact, I find that very unlikely indeed.

The most interesting piece reported in this study is the reluctance of the participants to address these issues with their doctors.  Are we still that prude?  Truth be told — I know I didn’t want to acknowledge the connection, because it felt so outside of my control.  Have you experienced this connection?  And have you talked to your doctor?

It’s my birthday.  Yes, there is going to be much celebrating.  Yes, there will be cake, and yoga, and Ethiopian food and all the other things I love (including my fabulously supportive fella D).

However, in the back of my mind, I’m always concerned about what comes next.  I was diagnosed a little over four years ago — timing I’ll never forget because the doc told me that I’d need to be on meds that I wouldn’t be allowed to consume alcohol on… Not something you want to hear right before your 21st birthday.

In any case, what I’m really concerned about are these future kids I want to have.  I told myself I’d have them early; I set this year in time as an initial and slightly unrealistic benchmark for myself… I always wanted to have kids early.  And the RA was another reason to do that–as I get older, I suspect it’ll get harder for me to chase them around, get up in the middle of the night to tend to them, etc.   That would be the case for anyone, but I know there’s a good chance I’ll be in pain.

Trouble is that you can’t force children, and I’m not in a place to have babies yet.  So this birthday serves as an odd reminder of my own impermanence and internal clock.  It’s been a happy day so far and I know it’s going to be a good celebration. But I have to acknowledge that this is the first birthday that I’ve actually cried about.  I am afraid to get older, afraid to miss things because of this stupid disease.

I’ve never felt that fear before.  When I was younger I used to relish the thought of getting older, being on my own, taking care of myself.  Now, painfully aware of my own internal tick tocking, I know I’m living a good life.  I know I have everything I could ask for in my life.

And still, tick, tock, tick, tock…

Shape Magazine’s February issue has a tiny article, a paragraph really, about a University of Minnesota study linking gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis (February 2010, page 81).  The study found that people with gum disease are three times as likely to develop RA.

While Shape may not seem like the most reputable source for medical information, the study was also reported at WebMD with a little more of the details.  You can check out that article by clicking here.

Neither the Shape or the WebMD piece give any indication that RA or inflammation is reversible, but none-the-less.  Brushing often, flossing daily and rinsing are always a good idea.

And who knows?  Maybe curing gum disease and preventing future dental problems can lower inflammation in the body.  What’s the worst thing that can happen? Cleaner teeth.

Do you think it’s possible for a person to hit a sort of medical bad luck quota?

So far this year, I’ve sprained an ankle–with a torn ligament, had a questionable mole removed, and racked up a fair share of pre-deductible medical expenses for my RA.  Basically, I’m klutz with bad luck to boot.

Every little medical bump in the road, I think to myself, “Really? Now, what?”

It’s a crummy mindset for sure. But when you’re feeling down, there’s always a reason to stay there.

Point is, I want to be healthy!

As a self-described morning person, coming to terms with the fact that there are things I just can’t do in the mornings has irked me since my Chronic diagnosis.

Listen here body: I like to do yoga in the morning.  I like to start my day off with physical activity.  I really do… But it turns out you don’t appreciate that much.

Oh yes, it’s frustrating to get up early to start your day and not really be able to get started for about an hour.  It means making an adjustment to how you structure your work, life and play.

With that said, I’ve learned a pretty straightforward lesson.  I don’t do mornings.