Re: Lots of meds

August 29, 2003

---Hi Anne,

I agree it sure can be frustrating talking to the Docs. I try to

look at their side of it but it seems the people on the board who are

happy have Docs who listen and take their reports of pain seriously.

I ran into a problem with my last visit because sed rate was down to

14. Doc just said everything good before he even talked to ,me or

examined me.

Racoons and cat sound cute!

Marti

August 30, 2003

Hi Anne --

Good Luck with the Arava. I had very good luck with it so I hope it kicks in

quick and lets you put that cane back were it belongs, in the closet! It sounds

to me like you deal very well with your doc. We have to keep in mind that " we "

are the " customer " . Without us they can't pay their bills. They work for " us " !

I am very fortunate that I have a really great doc, but if I wasn't happy I'd go

shopping for another.

You're wildlife sounds like a lot of fun. The area surrounding Seattle is so

beautiful, I envy you. Here on the east side of the state it is hot and drier

than I can ever remember. I am surrounded by wheat fields and have a

significant amount of wildlife but mostly the nocturnal type. I have plum trees

and the coyotes & deer come down at night and eat the fallen fruit. It drives

our dog crazy so sleep is short this time of year but I wouldn't trade it for

anything.

Take care of yourself, Cheri :-))

[ ] Lots of Meds

It is really interesting to me to hear of other people who are on 3-4

arthritis meds and if they have pain it isn't the arthritis it is

fibromyalgia. I went to the doc a short time ago and had to ask for a

change of meds because my knees were getting worse. His only offer was to

increase the Methotrexate so I countered with how about Arava. He said that

was a good suggestion and changed the med. It has been 3 weeks since I

stopped the MTX. My knees are killing me, even had to get out my cane,

which I haven't used since my knee replacement 5 years ago. That is another

long story for another time. Called the doc office and they have upped pred

and are doing a sort of loading dose of Arava. Has been three days now and

I think things are getting better. Doc seemed to think that if you are on

meds it should be better. Didn't help that my sed rate was only 17, told

him didn't care what that said, I know I hurt. Docs are frustrating.

On a more fun note we have had a family of raccoons take up residence at

night in our back yard. One of our cats has taken to sitting in the small

sink and watching for them. The cat is so funny. The raccoons scared my

son to death materializing outside the kitchen window on the rabbit hutch.

We live in a suburb of Seattle so really didn't expect wild animals here.

Anne

September 1, 2003

Hello Anne: Good discussion topic on pain even with various medicatons running

through our veins. My rheumi (whom I adore more and more everytime I read the

Group Emails), told me that two things are going on in my joints: 1)

Progressive inflammation from the progression of the disease; and 2) deformities

from already damaged joints causing pain, gimpy walking and appearance. The

Remicade and MTX works on stopping the progression of the disease and control of

inflammation. The NSAID (Arthortec) works on the pain I experience from already

damaged joints. Also, too much sitting can cause stiffness and achiness in

joints (better if I recline, lay down, than sit when resting). Good sturdy

shoes, even though, as a teenager at the mall behind me pointed out, " those look

like my grandma's shoes. " Oh well, fashion victim of shoes I will never be

accused. I do wonder if some of our swollen joints press on nerves that cause

added pain than what just eminates from the joint--before Remicade, I felt like

I was getting carpal tunnel in my wrist/arm but that twingy, pain feeling went

away. Recumbant exercising is helping: stationary bicycle, rowing machine

(hard to hold onto the handles with my gimpy fingers) and a Pilates abdominal

workout thing that strengthens my torso, legs and arms. I've also found my

feelings of pain and fatigue match my hormonal cycle--a few days before up to

getting my menstral cycle, I feel better and a week after I can feel lousy. I

wonder if guys have hormonal effects at different times of the month (although I

know their hormones are different than female hormones and they don't have the

low iron issue)? I have heard of one woman who, during her pregnancy, went into

remission of her Rheumitoid Arthritis and did not require medications through

the pregnancy--resume a little while after giving birth. So, is there a

hormonal link with PA (and RA)?

Inquiring minds gotta know!

Later gater,

Sally in Grass Valley.