Re: HI CHRIS and overdue intro

[Guest guest]

Hi Chris

Thanks for letting me know about the driving. I feel ok to drive now but I am not sure if it is to early (4weeks)

I will introduce myself also!

I am 55 .I was dx 23 yrs ago.Unfortunately they didnt have the drugs then that they have now and they didnt treat RA the way the do now.

So unfortunately for me I now have a lot of joint damage.

Also for the last couple of years my rheumy has been testing me for lupus but my blood work still comes back negative .I definately show positive for the RA but have a lot of lupus symptoms

I had my left wrist replaced 6yrs ago. My right wrist fused 5 yrs ago.

Unfortunately at the begining of this year the right wrist replacement started crumbling away and I had to go into hospital and have a wrist reconstruction and bone grafts to my hand and wrist. some of the grafts havent worked especially the ones in my knuckles... but the consultant said to leave them for a while and I go back nxt week to see him again.

Fingers crossed it will be ok.

I also need my right knee done but am not sure if I am ready to go thru it again just yet..lol

I am taking prednisone ,naproxen, co-dydromol. at present.( Dont always take the predisone) sometimes I get injections of Kenalouge .

I also take tamoxifen as I had breast cancer nearly five yrs ago.I had a partial mastectomy..

Like you I am pleased I have found this group cos as you say it is good to read the archives. It helps to know there are others out there that understand how you feel.

I have great support from my 3 daughters there husbandsand my grandchildren.. But the one who has always been there the most for me is my husband Tom .We have been married for 35 yrs as well. He is my hero !!

I hope you are able to come off the pred soon and stick with the Mx

By the way were do live?

I live in the Uk

take care

Joyce

xxxxxx..

[Guest guest]

Hi Joyce,

Everyone is different, of course, but I felt flexible enough and well enough to drive at 6 weeks. No longer needed the Vicodin either, so driving was "unimpaired."

I just realized I never introduced myself properly to the list. I am 54, was diagnosed by my GP last February. Rheumatologist took a bit longer. My original tests by GP showed the RF, low titre, whatever that means, so she started me on 20 mg prednisone with dramatic improvement. In March, rheumatologist started me on methotrexate. Oddly his tests showed me negative for RA, and positive for lupus, but again on the low scale. This stuff is weird!!!

Whenever he tries to wean me off prednisone, I have an awful flare, attacking a different area each time. So my methotrexate is up to 17.5 a week, and I'm still on 10 mg. pred. each day. Hopefully will get off the pred. in the near future. Also taking Celebrex 2 x daily.

I'm happy to have found this list. No one to talk to in my area. Interesting reading the archives to find that others have had similar experiences and symptoms to mine. My husband of 35 years has been wonderful throughout these past months, and has really been my hero.

One thing I'm very grateful for is that if I had to have RA, at least I have it in this time in history. My GP explained the disease as 'it's not cancer or end-stage heart disease, but even just 10 years ago, it's like the worst thing you can get.' I'm not sure about that, since I think just about any disease is cruel, but I'm glad they have so many more treatment options now for RA.

Chris

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

From: joyce21248@...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 2:37 PM

Subject: Re: HI CHRIS

Hi ChrisI want to thankyou for your replys to my e-mails.I wanted to ask you how long after your knee op were you back to driving?Yes I think the pains in the back of my knee are from the stretching exercises.How long have you had your RA?? Yes it is shame that the RA didnt get better with each day isnt it ? lollove from Joyce