Re: [RA] Digest Number 5652

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I have just returned from the hospital and was dx with mild

pneumonia. Last night I had excruciating chest pain, very difficult

to breathe. I also had a fever. I wondered if it was RA, as I've

read that it may involve the chest. Went to the ER at the suggestion

of my

Dr. and am now in bed.

I " m bummed big time. I have an art show tomorrow and can't go, will

have to have my spouse take care if, thank goodness she's willing to

go ahead.

Which brings me to my occupation(s0 I retired from a job with the

state as a drug and alcohol counselor for people with brain injury.

I was there for 7 yrs and thought my boss would work with me. I

asked to go part-time and they refused. That really broke my heart,

I had no choice

but to retire. My job involved taking clients places and I was just

too tired to do it anymore. At that time I hadn't been dx'd with RA,

was told by

a Dr. that even though I had a +RA factor, I did not have it. Even

though every joint in my arms and shoulders were in pain. He

attributed my pain

to 15yrs of wear and tear on my joints from pushing the wheelchair.

i've turned my hobby of jewelry making into a business, I do about 5

shows a year, sometimes more or less. I have adapted all of my tools

for my comfort.

I'll do this until I can't any longer, which I hope is never.

I was granted disability on the pain and fatigue alone. That was a

BIG relief for me. Several months later, still in pain and not

getting better I was referred to another

Rheumy. After 5min he said he was positive I had RA and put me on

prednisone to calm down the inflammation and then MTX.

That was 5 yrs ago and now I'm up to 17.5 mgs of MTX and 200mgs of

Celebrex two times a day. When they took vioxx of the market, my

pain got worse but my

ulcer got better !

I've tried Arava, I had awful neurological side-effects and felt

faint most of the time. Now he wants to put me on ??? drawing a

blank here (cough medicine must be kicking in)

it's the malaria drug. I'm scared of the side effects and haven't

filled the prescription yet. I better go now.

I love this group.

Peace,

River