Barb

[Guest guest]

-a,

Thanks for your reply. Besides my elbows I am having problems with my

hands, wrists and ankles. They are really baffled as to what is wrong

with me. Up until today the rheumatologist what certian I have RA but

my Rheumatoid factor was only 24, which they said is only a slight

elevation and that my liver panel and other blood tests were ok. Now

she thinks that maybe it might be nerve compression. I was on 20 mgs

of Prednisone and now for the last 2 days I am on 10mgs. I Was

supposed to taper off in 3 days but my R tologist told me not to. In

addition to scanning my elbows she has now ordered my wrists to be

scanned too. I was not scheduled to see her offically until the 14th

but had to have an emergency appointment today because my wrists and

elbows hurt so badly last night that I was up crying all night with

no relief despite the prednisone. So it boils down to this, went in

today dr. said not really sure now, still have MRI but add wrists

into scan, here is tylenol 3 and call on the 14th to discuss results

and decide what to do from there. I hate not knowing what the heck is

going on!! They don't know, I don't know! ARRRGHH!

Barb

-- In , a <a54@s...> wrote:

> Barb,

>

> In time, talking to us as a group may feel more comfortable. I

> understand how you feel. It is great to get the collective

> experience from so many knowledgeable members. Between us all,

we've

> taken ever med and had every treatment.

> The MRI doesn't sound like fun, but hopefully it will be tolerable

> for you.

> Mood swings is one of the major side effects of prednisone.

> Prednisone has a lot of side effects, so hopefully you won't be on

it

> for long.

> Does your doctor intend on starting you on RA meds soon? Do you

have

> any other joints that are affected besides your elbows?

>

> a

>

>

> On Sep 5, 2005, at 8:10 PM, sassyone3173 wrote:

>

> > Hi guys. I am not really good at the group thing, i never know

what

> > to

> > say. One on one I am okay, but in a group I am a " chicken " . This

> > Thursday I go for an MRI on both elbows, an hour each side! Ouch!

My

> > Rheumatologist asked if i could handle it, I just responded with

> > " hope

> > so. " They are using the new extremity MRI where only the joint

being

> > examined is placed in the machine, but holding my elbows that

long is

> > what concerns me. The prednisone they started me on last Tuesday

is

> > making me really moody. Has anyone else experienced that? If so

how

> > did you deal with it? Was there anything you did that helped it?

I am

> > usually a patient person and now I am crabbing at my kids and

hubby a

> > lot. Any imput would help greatly, I am new to this.

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Barb ( Sassyone3173)

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Barb,

Your rheumatoid factor doesn't have to be positive in order to have

RA. I've never had a positive RF in 30 years.

20% of rheumatoid patients have a negative rheumatoid factor. That

is what is so frustrating about diagnosing this disease.

It CANNOT be diagnosed with blood tests alone. Nerve compression to

me sounds unlikely since so many joints are involved,

but I'm not a doctor. When you get your MRI results it may show

erosion. If it shows bone erosion it may help with the

diagnosis. I hope you get answers soon so that you can get on

medication and get some relief.

a

On Sep 6, 2005, at 6:32 PM, sassyone3173 wrote:

> -a,

>

> Thanks for your reply. Besides my elbows I am having problems with my

> hands, wrists and ankles. They are really baffled as to what is wrong

> with me. Up until today the rheumatologist what certian I have RA but

> my Rheumatoid factor was only 24, which they said is only a slight

> elevation and that my liver panel and other blood tests were ok. Now

> she thinks that maybe it might be nerve compression. I was on 20 mgs

> of Prednisone and now for the last 2 days I am on 10mgs. I Was

> supposed to taper off in 3 days but my R tologist told me not to. In

> addition to scanning my elbows she has now ordered my wrists to be

> scanned too. I was not scheduled to see her offically until the 14th

> but had to have an emergency appointment today because my wrists and

> elbows hurt so badly last night that I was up crying all night with

> no relief despite the prednisone. So it boils down to this, went in

> today dr. said not really sure now, still have MRI but add wrists

> into scan, here is tylenol 3 and call on the 14th to discuss results

> and decide what to do from there. I hate not knowing what the heck is

> going on!! They don't know, I don't know! ARRRGHH!

>

> Barb

[Guest guest]

I just remembered what I did in the last apartment I was in where

radiators were blowing up nasty,moldy crap from basement. I bought a

large hepa filter, cant remember kind but was expencive and cut it to

fit the radiators. took the radiator grill up and lined each one with a

piece of this filter and placed it back. it worked great. measure the

underside of grill and add about a 16th of a inch on each side so it

well be snug and stay in place. another idea and would save you haveing

to try to clean them. sorry,I had forgotten about doing this,only

remembered after reading felice's post which reminded me of that nasty

place.

[Guest guest]

yes,I know,had them in my victorian home.

> >

> > oh,your talking about steam heat radiators, clean with tooth brush

> > and wire brush and a bowl of soapy water.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi a.  Those bugs are called " love bugs " .  They arrive in May and then

again in the Fall.  I am glad they don't bite.  They just are everywhere when

they arrive here.

 

Boy, if you move here that is a great area to live in.  I am 1  1/2 hrs. from

there.It's a easy ride from here.

 

I know stress if the worst thing for us as it sets off a flare.  I have been

without a flare for over a year now.  I am not surprised if the stress I am

under caused all this.

 

I love my Pride chair, and it makes getting up from a chair so much easier on my

feet and body.

I also like it is electric and makes reclining easy for me.  I have my feet

elevated 99 % of the time.

 

Have you ever tried a foot bath?  I bought one last year and it works great. 

It is so soothing to my feet.  The water does not get too hot, and I add Epsom

salts to it.  It has bubble action in the water.  It makes my feet happy.  I

also use " Bio Freeze " , which is a pain reliever gel that I buy at the P.T.

office.  That is a wonderful minty, cool gel which is so soothing to my feet.

 

It is so wonderful the Enbrel works so well for you.  You now have your life

back.  Pred, too is such a wonderful drug, and I am so happy it works so well

for me too.  I know without it, I could never get out of bed or even be able to

walk.  I have had no reactions to it, just the weight gain, which I hate.

 

I have been taking Oxycodone for my pain. Most days I just take one, but these

last few days I have taken 2 a day.  Tramadol does nothing for me, and neither

does Darvocet.  Codiene also works well for pain.

 

Tonight my hands feel better.  I hope it is the change in the weather, and not

RA in them.  My blood work will show what is going on.  I should get the

results by Friday.

 

You take care a, and I will keep you updated.  Always nice to talk with

you.

 

Love and hugs,

 

Barbara

From: rascalsniche@... <rascalsniche@...>

Subject: [ ] Barb

Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 2:49 PM

 

Hi Barb..I loved living in St Pete. Dave and I went to Tarpon Springs a

couple of times and loved that area too...but we were there when the June

bugs were there. LOL I forget what they called them...midgees? They were

just starting I think. But it sure was fun to shop in the village and took

Tucker on the charter boat with us. That was fun. I love that area and

jotted down nice places close by to look for " our " mobile home when he

retired.

I've been to New Port Richey also...and like that. My ex installed a ct

scanner in the hospital there eons ago.

I feel bad for you. When you have pain in your feet, nothing makes you

feel good. I was going to get a Pride Chair...since I bought one for my dad

years ago and when he died, we gave it to a friend of mine. But I was

going to buy one before the enbrel but feeling so much better now that its on

hold right now. It sure is a huge help to get you into a standing position.

I remember I used to scream like a tennis player just to try to get out

of a seated position. I don't know if that helped but it seemed to make me

feel better. LOL

I know the darvocet really helps with my pain if I need it. I wish you

could find something that woud help you. I'm sorry that you may be in a

flare. those are horrible. I was in one a little after I met dave and I

apologized cause I spent the better part of a week in bed. I told him that I'm

not usually such a slug....but. ...even moving from one side to the other

side of my body was so painful. Stress doesn't help us either. I'm

surprised that I didn't have a flare when dave was dx'd with leukemia and after

he passed. I was preparing myself for a doozy of a flare.

That's a shame that you have to stop working on things you love to do.

Can your dr find something that may work better for you? Your story sounds

like mine.

I take the 5 mg of prednisone also...it really has helped me. I've been

on the enbrel since 2005. It's amazing...time flies.

Keep us posted on your surgery...hugs. ..a