New with Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I'm new to this group; so, I'll give a brief (try to) introduction

of my situation. I'm a 45 year old wommn and I have Rheumatoid &

Osteo Arthritis, Hepatitis C, CFS, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, and (for

now) a complete Esophagectomy.

I've known about the Osteo for years but I found out about the R.A.

about 1 1/2 years ago. Apparently I've had Hep C for around 13 years

but didn't find out until 2000. The others have just gradually

cropped up. *Except for my esophagus. It was caused by a careless

doctor's mistake. It had to be removed in emergency surgery; along

with them taking a rib and collapsing my right lung.

I take Plaquanil for my R.A. I tried Evista but it makes me sick. I

invested in some nice gloves and, recently, have started shopping for

other things...such as a can opener I can use and a lid opener.

Anyone know of a reliable company's catalog that's not too steep?

I won't say I've completely accepted all this; howbeit, I think it's

coming in stages? Sometimes I can look ahead, plan, and feel sort of

alright with this... Then there are the times I get mad or, worse for

me, depressed about it!

Lately, the pain has gotten quite a bit worse and seems to be almost

constant now. I cannot take a lot of things because of my Hep C and

watching my liver closely. I am open to any suggestions though. Beit

pharmaceutical, natural, or waving a flaming feather into the

tailwind of a Boing 747.

I look forward to getting to know everyone, sharing, and caring!

Becki

[Guest guest]

Hi Becki, I want to welcome you to the group. I am sorry to hear

about all your medical problems, you have come to the right place.

This is a wonderful caring group, and we all understand what you go

through. I too go through depression at times, and I just want you

to know that I am here if you would like to chat. Hope to hear from

you, Tawny

> Hi all,

> I'm new to this group; so, I'll give a brief (try to) introduction

> of my situation. I'm a 45 year old wommn and I have Rheumatoid &

> Osteo Arthritis, Hepatitis C, CFS, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, and (for

> now) a complete Esophagectomy.

> I've known about the Osteo for years but I found out about the

R.A.

> about 1 1/2 years ago. Apparently I've had Hep C for around 13

years

> but didn't find out until 2000. The others have just gradually

> cropped up. *Except for my esophagus. It was caused by a careless

> doctor's mistake. It had to be removed in emergency surgery; along

> with them taking a rib and collapsing my right lung.

> I take Plaquanil for my R.A. I tried Evista but it makes me sick.

I

> invested in some nice gloves and, recently, have started shopping

for

> other things...such as a can opener I can use and a lid opener.

> Anyone know of a reliable company's catalog that's not too steep?

> I won't say I've completely accepted all this; howbeit, I think

it's

> coming in stages? Sometimes I can look ahead, plan, and feel sort

of

> alright with this... Then there are the times I get mad or, worse

for

> me, depressed about it!

> Lately, the pain has gotten quite a bit worse and seems to be

almost

> constant now. I cannot take a lot of things because of my Hep C and

> watching my liver closely. I am open to any suggestions though.

Beit

> pharmaceutical, natural, or waving a flaming feather into the

> tailwind of a Boing 747.

> I look forward to getting to know everyone, sharing, and caring!

>

> Becki

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Becki!

So sorry you've got such complicated medical problems to deal with.

Do you mind revealing what happened to your esophagus? If you don't want

to answer that, there is no need to.

Probably one of the most important things to do would be to make

absolutely sure that your diagnoses are correct. As the following

article illustrates, there often is much overlap between the symptoms

and labs of RA and HCV and many people who are told they have both

really have only one of the diseases. It also discusses treatment

options when both are present.

From Medscape, " RA Treatment for a Patient with Inactive HCV " :

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/443170

(registration is required but is fast and free)

BioDrugs. 2001;15(9):573-84

" Management of hepatitis C virus-related arthritis " :

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

1580301 & dopt=Abstract

There has been preliminary success in treating those with HCV and RA

with anti-TNF agents, but not in large numbers of people for a very long

time. This article, for example, describes the use of Enbrel

(etanercept) and Remicade (infliximab) in people with both:

From HealthandAge.com, " Arthritis treatment safe with hepatitis C " :

http://www.healthandage.com/PHome/gm=6!gid1=5185

A Hospital for Special Surgery physician answers the question, " In

patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have evidence of hepatitis B or C

infection, can TNF-a antagonists or IL-1 antagonists be safely used? " :

http://rheumatology.hss.edu/phys/askExpert/answers/017.asp

I saw your other post about what to do about your pain. That's also

tricky with a combination of HCV and RA, but maybe a consultation with a

pain management team? Perhaps you might also consider a visit to one of

the institutions listed in my signature below for a multidisciplinary

consult - Mayo Clinic or s Hopkins? There you could get the

diagnoses confirmed and cutting-edge treatment recommendations.

I can't say that I'd try the flaming feather therapy, LOL!!!

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] New with Introduction

> Hi all,

> I'm new to this group; so, I'll give a brief (try to) introduction

> of my situation. I'm a 45 year old wommn and I have Rheumatoid &

> Osteo Arthritis, Hepatitis C, CFS, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, and (for

> now) a complete Esophagectomy.

> I've known about the Osteo for years but I found out about the R.A.

> about 1 1/2 years ago. Apparently I've had Hep C for around 13 years

> but didn't find out until 2000. The others have just gradually

> cropped up. *Except for my esophagus. It was caused by a careless

> doctor's mistake. It had to be removed in emergency surgery; along

> with them taking a rib and collapsing my right lung.

> I take Plaquanil for my R.A. I tried Evista but it makes me sick. I

> invested in some nice gloves and, recently, have started shopping for

> other things...such as a can opener I can use and a lid opener.

> Anyone know of a reliable company's catalog that's not too steep?

> I won't say I've completely accepted all this; howbeit, I think it's

> coming in stages? Sometimes I can look ahead, plan, and feel sort of

> alright with this... Then there are the times I get mad or, worse for

> me, depressed about it!

> Lately, the pain has gotten quite a bit worse and seems to be almost

> constant now. I cannot take a lot of things because of my Hep C and

> watching my liver closely. I am open to any suggestions though. Beit

> pharmaceutical, natural, or waving a flaming feather into the

> tailwind of a Boing 747.

> I look forward to getting to know everyone, sharing, and caring!

>

> Becki