Em - Kenalog - let me revise that

[Guest guest]

Em, were the Kenalog injections given as tender point injection therapy?

In that case, some physicians DO use it for fibromyalgia. But to use it

to bring about a systemic form of relief (versus local) for fibromyalgia

would be inappropriate.

Interestingly enough, in Wallace's " All About Fibromyalgia "

(Oxford, 2002) he notes the following :

" The physician has to be very careful when injecting the upper back

areas. He or she usually grasps or " lifts up " an area of fat or fascia

to avoid puncturing the lung, a temporarily painful condition known as a

pneumothorax. Pneumothorax is the most critical complication of the

procedure, although it is very rare. "

Re: [ ] Welcome, Em!

>

>

> > At 09:33 AM 07/03/2002 -0500, wrote:

> > >Welcome to the group, Em!

> >

> > Thank you, , and everybody, this seems like a really nifty

place!

> >

> > >When did you see your rheumatologist last?

> >

> > Last year, around October. He did something odd (I thought) -- I'd

> been

> > receiving Kenalog injections every other month for the fibromyalgia,

> which

> > helped tremendously, but then he suddenly balked at it. He told the

> nurse

> > (who told me) he couldn't imagine why he'd prescribed that, that it

> wasn't

> > " appropriate " for my treatment, and I'd have to get another workup,

> > etc. As I had a visit to my PCP scheduled right about then, I asked

> her if

> > she would consider giving me the injections herself. She did,

twice,

> and

> > then other things came up, and I never had another injection -- but

> didn't

> > feel as if I needed one at the time. The fibro seemed to sort of go

> away

> > -- remission, I suppose. In the past two months-ish, however, the

new

> > stuff has started. I was reluctant to go back to this doctor,

simply

> > because I felt at the time rather confused and annoyed with him.

But

> he's

> > my only option at the moment, so I'm seeing him in a week.

> >

> > >What sort of kidney problems do you have?

> >

> > I don't have a bad set of kidneys as such. It's mostly ongoing

> > infections. I have a history of absolutely intractable high blood

> > pressure, and recently saw a cardiologist for the first time -- he

> suspects

> > adrenal something or other. At any rate, going to do some testing

> fairly

> > soon here.

> >

> > >What was the theory about why your lung collapsed?

> >

> > The only idea the doctor had was a side-effect of reflux (GERD). I

> was

> > cooking out on the patio one afternoon and had a sharp pain in the

> right

> > chest; went away after a few minutes. But later that week began

> having

> > difficulty breathing. I've never had asthma or anything related.

It

> > appears to be mostly gone now.

> >

> > >What medications have you been on, if any?

> >

> > Currently I'm only taking BP medications and was given some Bextra

two

> days

> > ago for the joint pain, I guess to hold me over until next week's

> rheumie

> > visit. Celebrex was a ton of help when I had the pelvic fracture.

> But

> > Kenalog was the only treatment I ever had for fibro. I'm kind of a

> newbie

> > to meds for rheumatic diseases.

> >

> > >Please do have a frank talk with your rheumatologist about your

pain

> and

> > >fatigue. I hope she or he will offer to help.

> >

> > I intend to, yes. I had a discussion with a colleague about this

the

> other

> > night (I work in an ER), and she had some strong but necessary words

> about

> > being assertive with my docs. *smile*

> >

> > >As far as your job goes, you are wise to plan ahead and learn about

> how

> > >to protect yourself. We have several people here who can share

their

> > >stories and strategies with you. a gave you some excellent

links

> to

> > >start with.

> >

> > And I appreciate that -- thank you, a!! I've already been

> suspended

> > once for " too many absences " (we're allowed nine in a calendar year

> before

> > suspension), and so I have a second reason for wanting some kind of

> > diagnosis or physician involvement here. I may need FMLA, just to

> protect

> > my job, and although I don't plan to HAVE to use that, I am really

> worried

> > about these new problems. It's so hard to say what's going to

> happen -- I

> > have absolutely no idea. So when you get suspended for something

you

> > simply cannot control, it gets really, really frightening. FMLA

seems

> like

> > my only option; I don't want to lose my job over this. I want to

keep

> > working as long as I can.

> >

> > Thank you again, and a and everyone for such a kind and

warm

> > welcome.

> >

> > Best,

> > Em