Re: Appointment Meredith

[Guest guest]

Hi Meredith:

It's always great to read about patient's clicking

with their doctors and staff - sometimes it takes a

few tries to get to the good ones! That is half the

battle - just having communication and trust with your

doctor is so important, and I am happy for you that

you feel positive about your treatment program.

I have RA, OA and Fibromyalgia and am also on an

anti-depressant to help with nerve pain - Cymbalta. I

was on Effexor XR for several years, but this new drug

is more effective with the pain, and actually has

given me a bit of energy too. Anti-depressants are

used quite often for pain relief these days. I also

take another drug for nerve pain, Lyrica, and also

muscle relaxants Skelaxin and Zanaflex. I take Ambien

CR for sleep. Ultram ER covers my pain meds. Whew!

I am glad that your doctor, even though you are

sero-negative RA, with possible lupus overlap, is

taking the diagnosis seriously and treating you right

away with Methotrexate. I am also on Mtx, as well as

Enbrel and Mobic, for my RA, and have been on Mtx for

about 4 years now with no problem. I hope that it is

effective for you.

Could I ask what Felty's syndrome is? I have heard of

it before, but cannot remember exactly what it is. Is

it also tied to the immune system? It does seem like

when one of these immune system diseases gets on

board, then others follow.

I hope that today is a better day for you. Take care

and good luck with your tx program!

Kathe in CA

--- Meredith Pinkerton <mlpinkerton@...> wrote:

> Well I had my appointment with my rheumatologist

> today. It was a good visit. I am sero-negative RA.

> I may have lupus overlap. I also have felty's

> syndrome. He gave me a new prescription which is a

> low-dose anti-depressant (not because I'm depressed)

> which is supposed to help with the muscle aches I

> have in my chest, shoulder and neck. He also

> increased my methatrexate to 15mg a week. I felt

> positive about this appointment. I really like my

> doctor and his staff. They all know me by name,

> which is unusual for a large city doctor. They

> always make me feel welcomed. Anyways, I was

> worried about the on-coming fall and cooler weather.

> Last winter was horrible!! I was really really

> sick. But hopefully this winter will be better. I

> hope everyone is doing well.

>

> Blessings, Meredith in Canada

>

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