Thanks for all the posts...a bit about Christmas plans...

[Guest guest]

Penny,

I don't know how you are putting up with the pain January 2 is a long

time away. When I made my first Rheumatology appointment it was a 4 week wait.

The only thing that got me through was the fact that my GP gave me a

prescription for Mobic and between that and Ex-strength Tylenol and Tylenol PM I

was

able to work,walk,drive. I hope you can find some relief, you will be in my

prayers.

PS I hear you about the fudge!! lol

Dianne

Pittsburgh, PA

Diagnosed with RA 10/06

[Guest guest]

Good morning,

I am a fibromyaglia person(diagnosed six years ago) waiting for an

appointment with a rheumatologist(Jan 2) and I am reading all about

the pain choices that people are on. Presently, I am only on Tylenol

for arthritis, and a small amount of Vicodin for breakthrough pain.

I also take Cymbalta for long term depression(not depressed now,

just sick of having pain.) I like to be informed before going to the

doctor as a lot of times they end up doing what I suggest.

I have had a few horrible pain months, starting in October, which

prompted me to seek help beyond what my general practioner can do. I

have many RA symptoms and I need to get my offical diagnose to get

more medications. I am becoming more clumsy and having trouble with

swelling and pain in my hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, feet,

ankles, knees and hips. I can work the cash register just fine, but

it is hard to put items in the bags. I work as a part-time sales

associate at an upscale childrens toy store-26 hours a week on the

average.

I am off work for three days straight and I am slowing picking away

at my simplified list of Christmas stuff to do. I am writing the

annual Christmas letter today, working on wrapping gifts and if I

still have anything left in my hands, making lace Christmas

ornaments. The baking waits until Dec 22nd, so I do not eat it all

before Christmas and the decorating is done on Dec 17th. We go get

a real tree every year.

I make homemade caramal corn and cut out sugar cookies. I used to

make fudge, but I ate it too fast. My daughter's school is selling

cheesecakes for the music program and a 14 piece cheesecake will

round out the selection and myself....Hugs, Penny

[Guest guest]

I am having to do a REALLY reduced Christmas routine this year. I

spent about an hour at the mall today, and it all but did me in.

Forget baking... I even bought the pies and breads for Thanksgiving.

My son wan't one of those new Wii game systems, and you have to

actually stand in line waiting for shipments to come in at the

stores. No way can I do that!!! So I bought him one of the games,

and I'll give him an IOU with it for a system when the crush slows

down. And I think I'm going to have to do the rest of my shopping

online, even if it means paying more for the shipping. (the reason I

went to the mall was to pick up a small item I'd seen in the

tone catalog that they wanted $25 to ship!!!

No one here has mentioned the Christmas tree yet, and I'm dreading

it. Usually everyone gets excited about it initially, but I end up

dealing with all the boxes, finishing up the tree and cleaning up.

Then NO ONE wants to help take the darned thing down after

CHristmas. I feel like a total scrooge that I don't want to even

decorate for Christmas, but I'm having a hard enough time just

getting through the day-to-day stuff.

--- In , " pennygruetz " <PennyGruetz@...>

wrote:

>

> Good morning,

> I am a fibromyaglia person(diagnosed six years ago) waiting for an

> appointment with a rheumatologist(Jan 2) and I am reading all

about

> the pain choices that people are on. Presently, I am only on

Tylenol

> for arthritis, and a small amount of Vicodin for breakthrough

pain.

> I also take Cymbalta for long term depression(not depressed now,

> just sick of having pain.) I like to be informed before going to

the

> doctor as a lot of times they end up doing what I suggest.

>

> I have had a few horrible pain months, starting in October, which

> prompted me to seek help beyond what my general practioner can do.

I

> have many RA symptoms and I need to get my offical diagnose to get

> more medications. I am becoming more clumsy and having trouble

with

> swelling and pain in my hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, feet,

> ankles, knees and hips. I can work the cash register just fine,

but

> it is hard to put items in the bags. I work as a part-time sales

> associate at an upscale childrens toy store-26 hours a week on the

> average.

>

> I am off work for three days straight and I am slowing picking

away

> at my simplified list of Christmas stuff to do. I am writing the

> annual Christmas letter today, working on wrapping gifts and if I

> still have anything left in my hands, making lace Christmas

> ornaments. The baking waits until Dec 22nd, so I do not eat it

all

> before Christmas and the decorating is done on Dec 17th. We go

get

> a real tree every year.

>

> I make homemade caramal corn and cut out sugar cookies. I used to

> make fudge, but I ate it too fast. My daughter's school is

selling

> cheesecakes for the music program and a 14 piece cheesecake will

> round out the selection and myself....Hugs, Penny

>

[Guest guest]

I' m amazed at some of the long wait-times I hear on this board for

initial Rheumatologist appointments... and the fast that people are

left in bad pain while they wait it out. Granted, my symptoms were

quite severe, but my PCP got me an appointment with a rheumatologist

within a week, and gave me a good supply of percocet to see m

through until I saw her. I didn't even have to ask for the pain

meds... he just looked at me and handed me the 'script. Of course,

at that point, the pain got so bad that even the percocet didn't

help that much, but at least I didn't have to wait weeks to see

someone who knew what t do about it.

>

> Penny,

> I don't know how you are putting up with the pain January 2 is

a long

> time away. When I made my first Rheumatology appointment it was a

4 week wait.

> The only thing that got me through was the fact that my GP gave me

a

> prescription for Mobic and between that and Ex-strength Tylenol

and Tylenol PM I was

> able to work,walk,drive. I hope you can find some relief, you will

be in my

> prayers.

> PS I hear you about the fudge!! lol

> Dianne

> Pittsburgh, PA

> Diagnosed with RA 10/06

>

>

>