Re: HELP/Don't post much but have ??????s

[Guest guest]

Berta,

Ibuprofen works the same as Celebrex, (both are NSAIDs) but it is

harder on the stomach than Celebrex for some. Myself, I can take 800

mg daily with no effects. It is MUCH less expensive than the Celebrex

also. Both drugs are anit-inflamables which helps with the pain from

inflamation and swelling.

I'm supprised you Dr. gives you steroid injections while on NSAIDs.

Together they are to much for your systems. If you can contro the

pain with the Ibuprofen I say go for it. However, without a DMARD

(Desease Modifying Anti-Rhuematic Drug) the progression of the

desease continues and can be crippling. I would ask about

Methotrexate and Plaquinil which are the standard before the new

Biologic DMARDs. Both are relatively inexpensive. I am on both and

they are working real well. I have been getting better since my

dosage was increased last August.

About you diagnosis. Have you seen a Rhuemtologist? It would be a

good idea.

Best wishes and God Bless,

Jay

>

> I was diagnosed with RA a little under 1 year ago. I have good

days and I

> have BAD days. My dr. gave me celebrex and I occassionally get

steroid

> shots. I am out of celebrex and cannot afford the shots right now

so I take

> Ibuprofen 600 mg. It does help the pain some. I have a 2 year old

to take

> care of. I really don't want to take meds all the time and the

pain is not

> so severe that I can't function yet. I have no insurance. Now for

the

> questions, why is it important for me to take something for this

right now

> when I am not in bad pain most of the time? If I continue with the

shots I

> will end up gaining weight and I have already gained back 10 pounds

I

> struggled to lose, I gained from the shots. I don't want to be

huge. I am

> 38 years old and don't want to end up even more overweight in the

near

> future. I have a handicap tag on my van but dont' like to use it

as then I

> am admitting defeat in my eyes. This is what my test results

said, does

> this look like RA, my dr. says it is but I am not so sure. My mom

had RA but

> not severe before she passed away at the age of 52.

> Rheumatoid Profile 9

> ANA SCREEN, ELISA NEGATIVE

> ANTI STREPTCLYSIN WAS 193 WHICH SHOWS AS HIGH

> RHEUMATOID FACTOR, QUANT <20

> SED RATE 23 WHISH SHOWS AS HIGH

> C-REACTIVE PROTEIN 1.1 WHICH SHOWS AS HIGH

> URIC ACID 6.5

>

> What does this look like to you all? RA or something else.

> My lupus test came back negative

> My hands swell and hurt

> My feet have knots and swell

> My hips, knees and ankles hurt alot

>

> Advice as I think I am in denial right now cause of being afraid

>

> Berta

[Guest guest]

I was told that if you don't take the meds as soon as possible in the beginning the crippling, etc. doesn't get any better and will only keep

getting worse. They say it is best to catch it in the beginning and treat aggressively.

I was just diagnosed 2 months ago and am on remicade and methotrexate and it helps.

I also have crohn's and ankylosing spondylitis arthritis and it has helped those.

I do have to have surgery in two weeks though for my crohn's as I just found out I have two strictures.

Honey, you are not admitting defeat by trying to help yourself. You have children and you want to be around for them. So help yourself.

----- Original Message -----

From: Berta

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2003 7:46 PM

Subject: HELP/Don't post much but have ??????s

I was diagnosed with RA a little under 1 year ago. I have good days and I have BAD days. My dr. gave me celebrex and I occassionally get steroid shots. I am out of celebrex and cannot afford the shots right now so I take Ibuprofen 600 mg. It does help the pain some. I have a 2 year old to take care of. I really don't want to take meds all the time and the pain is not so severe that I can't function yet. I have no insurance. Now for the questions, why is it important for me to take something for this right now when I am not in bad pain most of the time? If I continue with the shots I will end up gaining weight and I have already gained back 10 pounds I struggled to lose, I gained from the shots. I don't want to be huge. I am 38 years old and don't want to end up even more overweight in the near future. I have a handicap tag on my van but dont' like to use it as then I am admitting defeat in my eyes. This is what my test results said, does this look like RA, my dr. says it is but I am not so sure. My mom had RA but not severe before she passed away at the age of 52.

Rheumatoid Profile 9

ANA SCREEN, ELISA NEGATIVE

ANTI STREPTCLYSIN WAS 193 WHICH SHOWS AS HIGH

RHEUMATOID FACTOR, QUANT <20

SED RATE 23 WHISH SHOWS AS HIGH

C-REACTIVE PROTEIN 1.1 WHICH SHOWS AS HIGH

URIC ACID 6.5

What does this look like to you all? RA or something else.

My lupus test came back negative

My hands swell and hurt

My feet have knots and swell

My hips, knees and ankles hurt alot

Advice as I think I am in denial right now cause of being afraid

Berta

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