Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Sorry if this gets lengthy. Feel free to scroll to the end — the real questions are there. Thank you.
Those of you who know me from R&S are aware that I have rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve been in a blue funk, assumed it was my disease, and sought the help of a therapist. She recommended I speak with the clinic’s psychiatrist, and the diagnosis, when it came back, completely floored me. Me, diagnosed with a mental illness? Impossible. Or so it seemed.
I’ve spent several days learning about this disease, and in doing so, saw my life with a new clarity. The violent outbursts as a youth, running away, quitting school, going through jobs, getting fired repeatedly, alcohol and drug abuse, a suicide attempt … it all fit.
Oh, how I wished my parents would have sought help for me when they saw there was a problem rather than issuing beatings. My life (and the lives of my children) could have turned out so differently. I suspect my mother is also bipolar, and I suppose my father had enough to deal with. Knowing this does bring some closure to a very traumatic childhood.
With age I seem to have mellowed a bit — the manic stages being less dramatic but the depression worsening with each cycling. Still, I find myself irritable and snappish, frequently tearful, always guilty … These are things I will discuss and work on with my therapist, but she’s on vacation and I don’t see her again until the thirty-first. I’m seeking answers now.
For those of you with bipolar or another mental illness, advice, please. While I absolutely respect my therapist, it is you who lives with mental illness. How do you cope?
What do I tell my kids?
Can I learn to control my snappish moods, or does this come about through the use of meds? What coping skills do you employ?
How did you get over the stigma of having a mental illness?
I frequently misunderstand what others mean when they speak, cannot catch sarcasm, have no humor and take things personally — How to get around this?
I have no friends, yet I am frequently lonely. I will do all I can to push others away from me, and will deliberately do something to make them turn from me. I would like to be surrounded by others, but I have rushing thoughts and rapid speech. It’s humiliating, and I hate it. If you have gone through something similar, how did you get over it? CAN you get over the rapid speech? If not, then how do you learn to live with it? These speech patterns are present even during my depressive episode — it never goes away.
If you were diagnosed later in life, as I have been — how did your life change after starting medication? DID your life change? Does it ever get any better or do the moods just level off?
My apologies for so many questions. Please, pick only one and answer it. I don’t expect anyone to answer all of them, but if you could just lend some insight and useful advice, I’d appreciate it. Thank you for your time. All sincere answers appreciated.

Especially when the diagnosis comes at 45 years of age, with no previous history of mental illness?
My apologies for the lengthy additional details, but this is important. Here is a brief summary of what has happened in the past 4 years:
Single mom with rheumatoid arthritis, a painful, crippling disease.
Widespread osteoarthritis, in need of two total knee replacements, various other joint reconstruction necessary.
No pain meds nor pain management prescribed by doctors.
Currently taking moderate, fluctuating doses of prednisone along with 20 mgs. of methotrexate (a cancer drug) weekly.
Feelings of guilt over how this disease has affected my family.
Inability to engage in many previously enjoyed activities. This has led to a sense of loss.
Mother has been ill during this time and has endured 5 surgeries.
In the past 90 days the following has occurred:
Found a breast lump with lymph node swelling in the nearest armpit.
Enlarged thyroid with thyroid lump.
Have entered menopause.
Monthly income has dropped by more than half, with total income per month at less than $400 dollars. Very real possibility of homelessness.
Strange medical and emotional symptoms include panic attacks, night sweats, extreme fatigue, insomnia, irritability, frequent crying, increased joint and muscle pain, etc.
Feeling depressed and overwhelmed, I sought counseling. My therapist felt I was simply overly anxious and depressed, and recommended that I speak with the clinic psychiatrist. She felt he may prescribe something to ease my symptoms.
After only one hour with me, during which he asked only 10-15 questions to which I was not allowed to elaborate in my answer, he slapped me with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, wrote a prescription for anti-convulsants and sent me from his office.
Needless to say, this has caused additional stress, and I will be seeking a second opinion.
My question is, considering all that I have endured these past 4 years, is it possible that the diagnosis is grossly inaccurate?
Might one in my position be expected to suffer anxiety and depression, and experience similar physical and emotional symptoms?
Thank you for taking the time to read that.

when i was 3 i was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (jra) i am now 13 and am in the 8th grade and i have missed over a month of school. doctors cant figure out whats wrong with me at first they thought it was just my jra i have done x-rays,MRIs (magnetic resonance Imaging), and have been put on every drug you can think of! Now i don’t know what to think……will they ever figure this out will i have to repeat the 8th grade!?!?!

I’ve been taking 20mg of oxycontin PRN for nearly one year. I’ve been finding lately that I’ve been needing a higher dose to manage my RA pain. I’m curious about other RA sufferers experience with this drug or other pain meds. I am fully aware of the addictive qualities of the drug.

I have just been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I have it in my right wrist and hand and my left knuckles so far. It is in its early stages and hasn’t been too painful yet, although my wrist can be very stiff some times and I am unable to lift heavy things without it being painful and my wrist feeling weak. I have read about the drugs prescribed by doctors and am not willing to try these until I have tried to control the illness through diet, exercise and dietary supplements. I am aware that damage will be done to my bones the longer I leave off treatment from the doctors and I am aware that a lot of the ‘Amazing’ herbal supplements advertised online will not work. I am willing to use the meds from the doctor if my pain or swelling should become unbearable, but not at this stage. I have quit smoking today, hoping that it will help. I have cut everything except veg, fruit, nuts, seeds, oily fish, green tea, fruit tea and water from my diet. I am using fructose instead of sugar as it seems to be a good alternative. What else can I do? If I could afford it I would hire the help of a nutritionist. Please if anyone out there has any knowledge of this subject, give me some advice.