Re: Oultying symptom of RA

[Guest guest]

i am not as advanced as you seem to be, but my thermostat doesn't work too well, either! LOL.. i will wake up bone cold and have to put extra bedding on which is kind of hard to do at times when hands and arms get messed up, and then i might just start sweating in the midle of the night or when we are just sitting watching TV and others are quite comfortable. a few times in the middle of the night i got so cold that i got the ague and shook the whole bed. my bones even felt frozen as if my core had totally lost all heat. but i made myself relax after i got more blankets and finally warmed up to the point i had to shed some blankets. our thermostat was set at 72! i am over 75 so i am sure it is not menopause! LOL! taking prednisone 10 mg, Plaquanil 200mg i think, and aleve 500mg for pain. i had heard from several that the Methotrexate was hard on stomach and i have GERD (gastric esphageal reflex desease) so don't need anything that gets stomach messed up, so Dr thinks i might do better on Humiran so may get on it later.

pain settles at different points on different individuals. years ago my big toe gave me fits. wake me up in the middle of night in excruciating pain. sometimes the ankles. now mostly in wrists, elbows and upper arms as well as the feet, with swelling. i am trying to get back to exercising and at 6 a.m. there is a tv program, something or other, that i am trying to keep up with... and that is a laugh!!! i look like a drunken old hague trying to balance myself to follow this young lythful lovely!!! HEHEEHEHHeee.... i can't even keep my balance all the time and have to hold on to a chair or the bed or dresser. the chair is on rollers so that isn't too smart either!!! hehehe... thank god i have my own room and to date, no one knows i am doing this ...AND I AIN'T A GONNA TELL !! until i either drop dead or improve to the point that i can get back to doing my tai chi!! got to keep mobile or loose mobility all together.

well Jen.. I go before you get really bored!

love.. granny lee

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

From: smokerscat96

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 5:49 AM

Subject: Oultying symptom of RA

I was diagnosed in 99 and put in a a wheel chair for a year and a half. They suspect that I had it since I was a kid. They put me on Arava in 99 along with a steady dose of Prednisone. My hair all fell out from the Arava, and didn't see any improvement from it either. I was then put on Methotrexate orally. What a nightmare that was vomitting for 5 days a week then I had one day before it was time for the next dose. . ..snip

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,

I was diagnosed in 98 and have been on many of the various drugs that

you mention (along with others off and on). I haven't had hot

flashes yet (although I am 47 and in perimenopause) but have had

challenges with night sweats and being chilled.

For the night sweats, my GP suggested soy isoflavones and vitamin e.

They seem to have helped me, although the cause of mine may be more

hormonal then the RA.

I also get chilled easily, and have a couple of suggestions for

that. Dress in layers so you can easily put on or take off as

needed. I always have a polarfleece vest near by that I can put on

over top of everything to add extra warmth. At night, the best thing

that I've found is an electric blanket, because I can turn up the

heat when I'm cold and turn it down when I'm not. It also puts less

pressure and weight on the body then a pile of blankets. Since my

husband and I sleep at different temperatures, we've found a dual

control electric blanket to be a terrific option.

Hope this helps. Take care - Beth

> I was diagnosed in 99 and put in a a wheel chair for a year and a

> half. They suspect that I had it since I was a kid. They put me on

> Arava in 99 along with a steady dose of Prednisone. My hair all

fell

> out from the Arava, and didn't see any improvement from it either.

I

> was then put on Methotrexate orally. What a nightmare that was

> vomitting for 5 days a week then I had one day before it was time

for

> the next dose. Then they put me on the injections. Thank you God

> finally some relief. not alot but at least some. I was wondering if

> anybody else has suffered from night sweats or hot & cold flashes?

My

> Rhuematologist told me those are some other symptoms of the

disease.

> I am only 26 so I know it's not menopause. I am currently taking

> Remicade 400 mg every 5 weeks Methotrexate .04 ml twice a week. 20

mg

> of Prednisone daily. Methadone 10 mg for the excruciating pain and

> Vicodin 7.5 for the breakthrough pain. I don't like taking

narcotics

> but the nsaids are a nightmare on my stomach. My doctor's say that

> Methadone is a very good choice for pain control. It is very long

> acting and works very well. Even though I don't like to take them

my

> fiance' makes me anyways, otherwise it's a trip to the ER. NOT

> FUN!!!! Does anybody else have the excruciating burning pain in

their

> hips? Can anybody give me any suggestions on the chills and hot

> flashes? I would like to talk with some people who are going

through

> the same symptoms I am. It's just nice to know you're not the only

> one. I would love to hear from anyone with RA.

> Thank You

> Jen

> my email is

> smokerscat94@h...

[Guest guest]

Hi Jen,....What a tough road you have been on, I am sorry. I was

diagnosed with RA in 2002, but my doctor thinks I had it as a child

also. I have tried a lot of different meds, trying to find one that

works. I took MTX also, and it didn't seem to help, I have heard the

injections are so much better. I am glad that your getting more

relief. There are so many different symptoms of the disease. I am

on Humira, darvocet, and prednisone 5mg daily. I don't like taking

the prednisone, and I am going to get myself off of it. I think the

taper is good, but to stay on it, is not good, that's my opinion.

Some love it, there are just so many side effects to it. I also do

sweats, and cold flashes, but I am 40 too, so I don't know. It is

great to be able to communicate with people that know what your going

through. Because it is hard when one don't have it, they just don't

no what your going through, no matter how they try. If you want you

can email me privately, I would love to hear from you. Take care,

and hugs Tawny

> I was diagnosed in 99 and put in a a wheel chair for a year and a

> half. They suspect that I had it since I was a kid. They put me on

> Arava in 99 along with a steady dose of Prednisone. My hair all

fell

> out from the Arava, and didn't see any improvement from it either.

I

> was then put on Methotrexate orally. What a nightmare that was

> vomitting for 5 days a week then I had one day before it was time

for

> the next dose. Then they put me on the injections. Thank you God

> finally some relief. not alot but at least some. I was wondering if

> anybody else has suffered from night sweats or hot & cold flashes?

My

> Rhuematologist told me those are some other symptoms of the

disease.

> I am only 26 so I know it's not menopause. I am currently taking

> Remicade 400 mg every 5 weeks Methotrexate .04 ml twice a week. 20

mg

> of Prednisone daily. Methadone 10 mg for the excruciating pain and

> Vicodin 7.5 for the breakthrough pain. I don't like taking

narcotics

> but the nsaids are a nightmare on my stomach. My doctor's say that

> Methadone is a very good choice for pain control. It is very long

> acting and works very well. Even though I don't like to take them

my

> fiance' makes me anyways, otherwise it's a trip to the ER. NOT

> FUN!!!! Does anybody else have the excruciating burning pain in

their

> hips? Can anybody give me any suggestions on the chills and hot

> flashes? I would like to talk with some people who are going

through

> the same symptoms I am. It's just nice to know you're not the only

> one. I would love to hear from anyone with RA.

> Thank You

> Jen

> my email is

> smokerscat94@h...