Re: Another new member--Oregon

[Guest guest]

Welcome lie, Looking forward to getting to know you.

Be Blessed,

Becky

[Guest guest]

Welcome lie...another Oregonian here. I'm glad you spoke up and

shared some of your experence. This is too difficult a journey to feel

alone through.

Tomorrow is Remicade IV at St. Hosp. So far, so good.

With Hope & Friiendship...

Tess

[Guest guest]

welcome rosalie, glad you joined us. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Welcome lie. You have come to the right spot...

Colleen

>From: rosiolady@...

>Reply-

>

>Subject: [ ] Another new member--Oregon

>Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2002 18:03:45 EST

>

>My name is lie, and I was diagnosed with RA about 4 years ago. I've

>actually had it a long time, but it was in remission for many years. I

>first

>was diagnosed in the early-to-mid 70s following an especially bad case of

>Asian flu. I was in my 30s. The symptoms lasted for about 6 weeks and

>then

>completely went away. Besides the pain and swelling, my symptoms included

>some weird, very sore spots on my legs, a bit on my arms and body, which

>begain as tiny bright red spots and grew quickly until it looked like I had

>a

>bright red spider just under my skin, and then diffused and faded. The

>doctors said several flu patients developed this, but they didn't know what

>it was. In my late 40s-early 50s, I developed pain, swelling, and nodules

>on

>my hands and achilles tendons, but after 6 months to a year, that went away

>as well. Then in 1998, I had another onset of the weird spots, and the

>attendant RA symptoms have never left. The doctors still say they don't

>know

>what those spots are. They diagnosed by blood tests--rheumatoid factor and

>SED rate. I've never been treated with cortisone drugs because I have been

>a

>type 1 diabetic for 31 years, and cortisone plays hell with a person's

>blood

>sugar--I just can't tolerate it. I've been taking sulfasalazine since

>diagnosis because it also helps with bowel sypmtoms--severe diarrhea (but

>it's not Crohn's Disease or Celiac, say the doctors). But now I also have

>some severe hemolytic anemia, RBC between 27-29 (37 is normal), which my

>rheumie believes is related to the sulfasalazine even though I take

>mega-strengh folic acid, B-12 and iron. A hemotologist diagnosed the

>anemia

>as being hemolytic. So--my rheumie is trying, slowly to take me off

>sulfasalazine and onto methotrexate. So far the sulfa is down 2/3 and the

>metho is up to 20 mg. a week, and I've recently switched to injectible

>because the metho pills give me diarrhea. I think I'm at some point in a

>flareup about 2/3 of the time and the other third feel okay, though I'm

>always tired and have no stamina due to the anemia. The only problem I've

>developed from the diabetes is some with my eyes--so they're not working

>too

>great now, but really okay. I control my blood sugar with a moderately low

>(under 100 g) carbohydrate a day diet, beginning in 1999. I lost weight,

>which I needed to do, and my blood sugar is WAY better controlled now. I

>worked up until May of last year and I'm now trying to get on social

>security

>disability. I'm 61, not married but I have a long-time, permanent partner,

>Elmer, who is an absolutely wonderful and supportive person. He's 71, but

>I

>think physically, because of my illnesses, we're about the same age.

>

>I've been lurking a while on your list, and I like what I've seen. Keep it

>coming! I tried an RA message board once before, but it was Whine

>only--no

>information or suggestions--got tired of that fast. The mix you have here

>is

>a good one. A certain amount of whine is indeed necessary!

>

>I live in a small suburban town 25 miles SW of Portland, called Cornelius.

>For the other Oregonians on the list, Cornelius is in between Hillsboro and

>Forest Grove. I look forward to sharing with you all.

>

>lie

>

>

>