Rheumy appt / Saturday pool party

August 17, 2002

Hi Friends. I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday. The volume of

email is unusually light today, and I'm hoping that's because many are out

having fun today.

I'm having a rough day since my family has gone home. I miss them so much!

I'm trying very hard to talk my Mom into moving here. It makes no sense for

her to live 8 hours away. She's by my brother, but he really doesn't have

much time for her. He has a small daughter, and a little boy due next

month. I just have the one adult " son " (my husband). It's even worse for

me today because my family's gone, and Stan's been gone 9 days and isn't

home yet. I miss everyone today!

Last Thursday I had a rheumy appt, and something new came up. My hemoglobin

is a little low, and my red blood count has been off at times in the past

couple of months, as well. He wants me to have an iron test done, as well

as a test to make sure there's no blood in my stool. He said anemia is

common in RA, which I didn't realize. I was just wondering how many of you

have this symptom? If you do, what do you take for it? I certainly don't

want to be excluded from the Remicade study because I'm anemic. I go in for

my second infusion on Tuesday, and I'm eating beef and taking multivitamins

to try to " strengthen " my blood. Is there anything else I can do?

He was encouraged by my results thus far with the Remicade, and was happy

for me. He said I need to be on a biologic even when the study ends, and

that I need to get health insurance. He said if I do it through our

business (as a group policy) they will probably cover me with a one year

waiting period. He kind of read me the riot act about it, and told me to

seriously discuss it with Stan. If my results continue to be this good, I

don't think it will be a hard sell with Stan, though. Stan has been really

encouraged to see me feeling better. If anyone has a good recommendation

regarding purchasing a group plan for a small business, let me know. I need

a PPO, not an HMO, because I wouldn't be willing to change either of my

Dr's. They're top notch.

One other question for anyone taking Trazodone. I'm really getting a good

night's sleep with the Trazodone, and I'm very happy with it. The only

problem I can see is that I've been ravenous this past week. Could that be

from the Trazodone? I'm only taking 50 mg at bedtime. I also just started

the Remicade, of course, and we changed my Armour Thyroid to Synthroid.

I've also been really active this week. It could be from any of these

things, I suppose. I was just curious if anyone else noticed an increase in

appetite.

Someone congratulated and a on what a great job they've done with

the group, and I'd like to echo that sentiment. This really is an

extraordinary group of people, and it's a help to everyone who is a part of

it. My thanks to you both.

Now, we really need to arrange a virtual Saturday night pool party sometime.

Lucy can be in charge of entertainment, of course, since she's got the

cabana boys (and Al's cabana girl, I think). We can each come in the outfit

of our choice and bring something that we think the party needs. Since we

can't see it, we'll have to do some creative writing. Are we able to

schedule a time for a group chat on the RA-Support page at ?

It would be fun to do tonight, but it may not be enough notice. Maybe

another day, if not today. Is anyone interested? We could even upload our

favorite party songs to the files area, and access and play music on our

individual computers as we chat (if there is enough file space). This

would in NO WAY replace our plans for our fall trip, but I figure in the

meantime it's a way we can have fun without Big Al having to worry about

bail money. ;-)

I hope everyone is having a blast today!

Love and hugs,

Ethel aka one of the gruesome twosome

August 18, 2002

Hi Carol/Ethel!

Hey, the pool party sounds like fun. I could use that tonight, as

it's still hot and humid at nearly 7 PM. Just took a walk

(translate: dragged myself around an 8 block radius) while I wait

for the shower to be available. We had friends from Illinos visit

today, and they left about an hour ago. They are so dear to drive 5

hours just to see us.

About the anemia, that was (I guess) one of my earliest symptoms,

when the blood bank told me my iron was low. The next month they

told me the same thing, so I packed on the steaks which shot my

cholesterol through the roof. I " donated " a bunch of blood yesterday

for still more blood tests, so guess we'll see what it is now. I

just found out I have PCOS (at age 56!)so they may be putting me on

Avandia as well. I take so many pills now there's no room for my

meals. Well, I always wanted to lose weight, and now I've gotten my

wish.

I hope your Remicade goes well, you blood count improves, and let me

know how formal the pool party is. I've never been skinny dipping...

God bless,

Judi in IN

August 18, 2002

<< and let me know how formal the pool party is. I've never been skinny

dipping...>>

Judi, it doesn't look like we have enough party animals online tonight to

really have the bash I was hoping for. But maybe when we do have it, we

should make it " clothing optional " . I've actually been skinny dipping once,

back in the day. Did I really just admit to that.. LOL

I used to donate blood regularly. Like you, my donations now aren't quite

as voluntary, so to speak. I'm laughing as I sit here at what you said

about not having enough room for food after all the pills you have to take.

I think I'm getting really close to that point too. I'm sorry to hear about

your PCOS diagnosis. I think someone else in the group said they have PCOS.

It seems that all of us have at least one other disease that is concomitant

with our primary autoimmune diagnosis. I'm hypothyroid and had

endometriosis, and might have AS with my RA.

I sure wish we could all meet at a nice pool tonight. I'd love to just sit

by the pool under the stars. Take a dip when it gets too warm out. I like

pool parties during the day, but with the Methotrexate I have to revise my

fantasy a little.

Have a great night!

Love and hugs,

Carol

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