If someone really cares about you, that shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Anyone worth it will want to do things together that work for both of you. The most important thing is to be upfront about what you can and cannot handle. Take it from someone who's been there.

None of us knows for sure what's going to happen to us. Two weeks ago a local veterinarian and her husband (both forty-eight) drowned in a freak accident on their dream vacation. I don't mean to be a downer, but with or without a diagnosis hanging over our heads, shit is going to happen. And it's going to happen to everyone. Just go where your heart leads. Don't keep it a secret, but I think you might be surprised at how little potential partners care about it.

I'm in a similar situation. i was DX with Stills disease, kind of a cross between RA and Lupus. But I've been in remission for 3 years. I just say i have an inflamatory condition, i am slower than i used to be. if it gets past more than a few dates, i can clue them into more. my last BF was very cool about it, he just knew there was a limit to how long we could stay out.

You said "it will be many years before..." Well, live your life now thinking that the medical field advances every day and in "many years from now" RA would be cured.

Seems to me that you are doing just fine. Just remember you are not in a race, just do it in your own time line and enjoy every bit of it, (and eat chicken feet).

We all slow down, for different reasons. You just have to manage expectations. We snorkel now instead of scuba.

Rheumatoid arthritis appears to be more prevalent in populations with meat consumption. This joint inflammation could be the result of an autoimmune attack response to foreign animal protein. Some researchers have proposed a “Leaky Gut Theory,” where the saturated fats in animal products contribute to the breakdown of the intestinal barrier, causing our own gut bacteria to leak into our bloodstream, thus triggering an inflammatory response. Newer research points to a state of endotoxemia caused by the bacterial toxins in animal products. The saturated fat in meat may instead facilitate the absorption of these toxins into the bloodstream.

Other components in meat also aggravate inflammation. Arachidonic acid is an inflammatory 6 fatty acid found in animal products. Neu5c, a non-human molecule which is found in human tumors most likely through meat consumption, may also cause the body to produce an inflammatory response. Plant-based diets in general are associated with a drastic reduction in symptoms.

Rosehips and potassium ease the arthritic pain caused by inflammation, while fruit and vegetables (particularly berries) help to inhibit platelet activity that is associated with inflammation. Curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, worked better at easing pain than the leading pharmaceutical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Just be open about the possibility of that happening, and let them decide if it's a problem for them or not. We're all going to slow down as we age; someone out there will be happy to slow down with you.

Many of us have hidden disabilities that alter the way we live life. Be honest and up front about it and weed out the ones who aren't up to that challenge.

let people know your condition and they will make their choice

Join the club. I'm a 5 year cancer survivor. Mountain climbing, white water canoeing and hiking were all part of my life. I've had to take it slower Looking for a partner who wants to keep up with me lol.