Tuesday, May 3, 2011

15 Things Not to Say to Someone With RA

A friend recently sent me a great article - "15 Things Not to Say to Someone With RA." 

Sadly, I'm pretty sure all 15 things have actually been said to me at one time or another - and generally not by strangers but by well-meaning friends and co-workers. On a good day, these thoughtless comments don't bother me at all, and I'm happy to ignore them or correct the person's understanding of RA (after all, I'm all about promoting awareness). But on a bad day,  when I'm already feeling exhausted and frustrated, statements like these can  be really hurtful. 

For that reason, I would like everyone I know - and everyone I may ever possibly meet - to read this article. Is that too much to ask? ~;o)

Here are the 15 things:
  1. Those drugs are too dangerous.
  2. My grandmother has it.
  3. You need to exercise more.
  4. Aren't you feeling better yet?
  5. Have you tried glucosamine?
  6. Maybe you need an antidepressant. 
  7. But you look fine.
  8. You take too much medicine.
  9. You need to change your diet.
  10. It's all in your head. 
  11. Losing weight might help.
  12. You're too young to have arthritis. 
  13. Now's the best time to have RA.
  14. Let me know if I can do anything.
  15. I know someone with RA and they have it worse than you.
 UPDATE: As suggested by one of my readers, here's another good one:

   16. Do you still have it?

4 comments:

Gisela said...

How about 16. Do you still have it?

~Mariah~ said...

GISELA: Hahaha!! That made me laugh - though it isn't really funny. That's a good one - I think I'll add it to the post!

Mandy said...

This is GReat! I think ice had all of those said to me

medicnurse said...

How about 17. "Isn't it better by now?"