My RAD Life

I thought you all were more than due for an explanation as to why I prefer Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Everyone with RA can empathize with that awkward moment when you first tell people about your disease. The reactions for me generally vary from “You’re too young to have arthritis.” to “Arthritis isn’t that big of a deal.” to “What’s that?”.

Even the people that are sensitive to the disease or maybe have even heard of it have misconceptions. They don’t know that the disease is systemic, as in effecting more than just the joints. If they do have a concept of RA, they usually immediately jump to the images they’ve seen of deformed hands. “You have that!? But you look fine.”

I don’t need everyone to understand my disease. And I don’t need their sympathy. But I’m a 29-year-old woman and I hate the stigma of the word ‘arthritis.’ Maybe it’s superficial and hyper-sensitive of me. Maybe it’s because I’m still fresh to the world of RA. Whatever it is, I much prefer Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease.

You say Rheumatoid Arthritis, and people’s minds turn off. “Arthritis. I know what that is. My grandma has it.” You say Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease and people just might hear you out and take you more seriously.

Also, I think that RAD just generally encompasses the disease that I am experiencing better. It’s not just the joints. On many bad days, the joints are the least of my concerns. It’s the fatigue and insomnia and even GI problems. It’s the full systemic issues of RA that make it so complex and difficult to deal with.

So there you go. I know they’re just words and, ask anyone, I normally hate arguing semantics, but this one has pushed a button.

Oh, and RAD just reminds me of neon and the ’80s, and that makes me smile. What disease name can do that?