Experiencing health in the context of rheumatoid arthritis

The purpose of this study was to explicate the health experience of persons with rheumatoid arthritis who manifest a strong sense of well-being. Five women and three men participated in unstructured interviews in order to answer the research question, What are the subplots that emerge in the descriptions of health given by persons with rheumatoid arthritis? A hermeneutic method was used to analyze the transcripts. Three subplots emerged: (a) The evolving--not knowing and then knowing something, but never really knowing, (b) the reframing, and (c) the relational fugue. The findings, including creation of healing spaces and an evolving relationship with assistive devices, provide evidence of turning points in the health process and are suggestive of a strong sense of well-being as a manifestation of a reorganized pattern.