Welcome, Margie!

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Margie! I'm so sorry to learn that you've had RA since your

childhood and that you've recently had such a severe flare.

Several years ago, my brother and his wife lived in Rockville. They

moved there for my SIL's job at the NIH. My children were small then and

we had a lot of fun visits there.

As for the fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate

recommendations, I suppose it depends on just who's doing the

recommending. As far as I know, the American College of Rheumatology has

no official guidelines regarding those supplements. But other groups do.

Here is a good info on glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate from the

Arthritis Foundation:

http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/alttherapies/glucosamine.asp

http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/supplementguide/herbs_a_c.asp

http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/supplementguide/herbs_g.asp

Also from the Arthritis Foundation, some information on fish oil:

http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/supplementguide/herbs_d_f.asp

a has a lot of information on alternative and complementary

therapies here:

http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/alternitive.html

This is a's area of expertise, and I'll defer to her. We have other

members in the group who have experimented with various supplements, so

I hope they'll share their experiences, too.

[ ] jokes

> Oh, thank you, thank you, for the jokes! Keep 'em coming!! I am new

on the list. 53, had RA since I ws 15. Recently had mega flare that has

made me decide to take this disease more seriously. Am on methrotrexate,

enbrel, plus meds for depression. Currently on 6 day course of

predisone- 6 tablets, 5, 4, etc. and am feeling much better

>

> Question- one which has prob been asked and answered multiple times

before my arrival on this list: what dosage of fish oil/capsules is

recommended per day? What about glucosamine/condriotin? Also- any

brand better than others?

>

> I am so grateful this group is here.

>

> Margie in Rockville, MD