For Rajiv Prasad

I have read some of your replies to people and wonder if you could help me.

I am a 60 year old retired woman suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis and very overweight.
I crave sweets and carbohydrates constantly and since my diagnosis with RA I have gained 30 pounds. My disposition, although serious generally is sunny. Until recently, I have always had an overabundance of energy and a very busy lifestyle.

I was married the first time for 17 years with two children. My second marriage is a happy union for 20 years.

My medical record reads CRP 7.4 mg/L, CBC noteable for WBC 11,400/cmm and normal WBC differential, Plasma Creatine 0.9 mg/dL, Serum Albumin 4.4 g/dL, ALT 57 U/L, AST 29 U/L,
ESR 14 mm.

Current medications include
Methotrexate 25 mg. a week.
Estradiol 0.5 mg daily
Prometrium 100 mg daily
Folic Acid 1.5 mg daily
Aleve 220 mg 4x daily
Vitamin C, 2000 mg daily
Centrum Silver, 1 daily
Calcium supplement, 1500 mg daily

Family history:
RA may have been present in paternal grandfather (not sure).
Siblings, very addictive personalities with alcoholism prominent.
Father was extremely abusive using his fists, feet or any other tool available to him to abuse his wife or children at any hour of the day or night.
Both parents deceased.

I was a very troubled and nervous child for fear that my father would kill someone in our family, especially my mother who was a good, kind and caring person. I felt terrible when at home and worse when I wasn't at home.

As an adult I am a very loving and hard working person who feels for everyone within my sphere. I seem to want to soothe everyones hurts and as a result I tend to avoid people. I adore small children and can spend hours interacting with them.

I have been basically healthy and strong although recently suffering from colds and bronchitis (somewhat chronic). I live in the Northeast United States where the climate is cold for at least 6 months of the year and the sun shines less than 50% of the time. I don't often feel thirsty and have to try to remember to drink water.

I love the seasons but do not like extremes of cold or heat.
I move very quickly when I work and I am very impatient
when things don't go smoothly.
Additionally, I always accomplish more than others. My home is super clean and I am known for cleanliness. I love to work and I love to accomplish(that is until recently).

My frame of mind is generally good but I find that the pain that I live with plus the weight gain has me very depressed. Perhaps the weight gain is the worst for me. I seem to have lost all my confidence and don't care if I ever leave my house.

I do not care for public speaking and I am actually very soft spoken, kind and caring. I love all things esoteric and I am currently reading the Bagavad Gita.

If you could offer me some advise I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for reading this rather lengthy post.