I am not an exception!

Today I was a mixture of relieved and disappointed. I had an appointment with my rheumatologist and this time I was quite pleased to see him. For the past 2 weeks my hands have been getting more and more painful and swollen and the muscles in my arms have started to hurt. In the mornings I struggle to pick up the kettle and open the door although after an hour or so they are a little better. On top of that I have tennis elbow and an aching knee so as much as I might like to deny it I am entering a bit of a flare again. This coincides with my attempts to reduce my medication. The medication takes about 2 months to get the full effect and 2 months ago I cut it back to a minimal dose! You don't need to be a brain surgeon to work out what I have to do! Tonight I am increasing it back to the dose I was on before. I was relieved that my hands were swollen when I went to see the rheumatologist but a little disappointed that I have not been able to do without the medication. Strange because I know that there is no cure for my condition and I know that the chances are I will be on medication for many years to come; but we all hope we can be the exception to the rule. I guess in the context of life in general and all the sh*t things that can happen it isn't a big setback!