Re: what do I do from here?

September 4, 2008

Ali:

I would say that at this point, you could have a better quality of life. Most

good docs want to see you at a five/six pain level, three/four is even better.

I understand that you do not want to take pain meds with the ambien, but people

can and do take them successfully together all the time. I am one. If you are

just not comfortable, you might think about asking your doc for a pain med to

take at other times of the day, or just as a " rescue " med when your other meds

just aren't working on a particular day.

You have a lot of options ahead of you. I hope you and your doctor can work

together as a team and come up with what's right for you.

--

Dodge

Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic

with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and wrong, because sometime

in your life you will have been all of these.

Read my blog at:

http://jumpthis.wordpress.com

---- ali3787 <ali3787@...> wrote:

=============

Hi everyone. Sorry, I feel like I don't ever have much to contribute in the way

of helping

anyone else. I am still new to this disease and have so many questions still.

I am going to

the dr next Fri and am wondering what to ask. I have been on mtx again for 6

weeks now. I

went through my journal and the first time I took it I had total relief in the

3-4 week range. I

had to go off of it for surgery and stayed off for 3 months and then started

back again. I

don't get any bad side effects from it but I feel like all of my joints are on

fire. Like there is

glass in them. The prednisone is keeping the inflammation at bay but I have

7/10 pain

constantly and if it shoots higher it pretty much stops me in my tracks. My

drugs are mtx,

prednisone, celebrex, plaquenil, folic acid, and ambien to help me through the

night, though

it isn't really doing much to keep me asleep. My question is how long do I go

on like this or

do I ask my dr about the biologics? I am affraid to take any pain meds with the

ambien.

Anyone have advise or a similar story? And do you continue to take mtx with the

biologics? I

hope I remember all these thing to talk to the dr about. Thank you for any

shared thoughts.

Gently,

Ali

September 4, 2008

Thanks Dodge. Are you taking the biologics? How do they even chose one for

you? Fight any good fires lately? Any saves or just the frequent fliers. I

wish I could work again. I just need to be alright enough to care for my

family. I have a two and a three year old girls that make me work harder than I

ever did on the road. We may get a call while we are using the facilities but

at least I am going by myself and there is no toddler wanting to inspect my code

brown and the other has sinched my belt tight around my ankles so I couldn't

move fast if I tried. Flip side is their bodily functions don't bother me a

bit.

>

> =============

> Hi everyone. Sorry, I feel like I don't ever have much

> to contribute in the way of helping

> anyone else. I am still new to this disease and have so

> many questions still. I am going to

> the dr next Fri and am wondering what to ask. I have been

> on mtx again for 6 weeks now. I

> went through my journal and the first time I took it I had

> total relief in the 3-4 week range. I

> had to go off of it for surgery and stayed off for 3 months

> and then started back again. I

> don't get any bad side effects from it but I feel like

> all of my joints are on fire. Like there is

> glass in them. The prednisone is keeping the inflammation

> at bay but I have 7/10 pain

> constantly and if it shoots higher it pretty much stops me

> in my tracks. My drugs are mtx,

> prednisone, celebrex, plaquenil, folic acid, and ambien to

> help me through the night, though

> it isn't really doing much to keep me asleep. My

> question is how long do I go on like this or

> do I ask my dr about the biologics? I am affraid to take

> any pain meds with the ambien.

> Anyone have advise or a similar story? And do you continue

> to take mtx with the biologics? I

> hope I remember all these thing to talk to the dr about.

> Thank you for any shared thoughts.

> Gently,

> Ali

September 5, 2008

Ali,

I am sorry that the pain level is staying that high. I know that you

are weary of hurting. Keep on with your journal and list all of your

questions in it also. I feel certain that your rheummy has some sort

of time frame that he is looking for results in. If you have not

stressed to your rheummy how bad the pain is staying, you need to.

I think the reason my rheummy decided to try stronger meds is

because of my extreme fatigue and my wrists changes. It was pretty

clear that the MTX was not controlling it. I will be taking the MTX

in addition to Enbrel.

I can only imagine how hard it is for you with the two little ones.

God Bless you, Sweetie. Motherhood is difficult for totally healthy

women.

Don't be concerned that you feel you don't have much to contribute.

I have seen you post support for others when they are having a hard

time. I know that it is appreciated.

I pray that you have a better day today.

Shirley

>

> Hi everyone. Sorry, I feel like I don't ever have much to

contribute in the way of helping

> anyone else. I am still new to this disease and have so many

questions still. I am going to

> the dr next Fri and am wondering what to ask. I have been on mtx

again for 6 weeks now. I

> went through my journal and the first time I took it I had total

relief in the 3-4 week range. I

> had to go off of it for surgery and stayed off for 3 months and

then started back again. I

> don't get any bad side effects from it but I feel like all of my

joints are on fire. Like there is

> glass in them. The prednisone is keeping the inflammation at bay

but I have 7/10 pain

> constantly and if it shoots higher it pretty much stops me in my

tracks. My drugs are mtx,

> prednisone, celebrex, plaquenil, folic acid, and ambien to help me

through the night, though

> it isn't really doing much to keep me asleep. My question is how

long do I go on like this or

> do I ask my dr about the biologics? I am affraid to take any pain

meds with the ambien.

> Anyone have advise or a similar story? And do you continue to

take mtx with the biologics? I

> hope I remember all these thing to talk to the dr about. Thank

you for any shared thoughts.

> Gently,

> Ali

>

September 5, 2008

Shirley,

Thank you for your prayers and loving words. I will keep my notes in my journal

and bring it to my appt. I don't know how I would keep all of this in my memory

otherwise. Let me know what you think of the Enbrel. I keep a watch on what

others are saying about all the biologics and I keep doing my research. Is it

common to have the pain migrate from one set of joints to another? It seems

like the pain is always present at some level but it moves from my hands and

feet towards the core of my body. Anyway, take care and you will be in my

prayers too.

Ali

From: nana2livi <s.p5315@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: what do I do from here?

Date: Friday, September 5, 2008, 4:37 AM