Re: Re: Prednisone, etc

[Guest guest]

Barbara and Everyone; and dd too

 

Wow Wow Wow My goodness gracious .

Wow wow again Barbara. What a life experience again. Sometimes when I read these

letters, I don't know if their mine or someones else, Because they sound like

me. But I know it isn't when I hear a specific disease I never had. Some times I

don't realize its even my letter till I see something I said pertain to me or my

family. This means we can help each other with our experience bouncing back. I

know a lot of letters I have used what they said about getting better for

myself. Thanks guys.

 

Your right Barbara at first we think we are dieing while we are suffering

UN-imaginable pain and than once we realize we are going to live. We begin to

get positive about life. The key word I saw you write is praying to Father God.

Than positive attitude. I am so sorry you can't do your needle work again, but

that was real smart of you to find a replacement craft. Painting is great. I

would love to see one of your paintings. No I can't paint. lol.

Haaaaaaaaaa a crazed person in 5 days. I can imagine. Cause I have had life

experiences like that before. I know about a foot of snow, I lived in Ohio for

about 40 years since I was about 2 years old. One of the reasons I moved south

was the snow.

 

dd you been through a lot too. Gosh so have I. My entire adult life was having

pain. Prayer and a positive attitude got me through it. And some pain pills. At

first its hard to have a positive attitude, but after things calm down than the

positive attitude needs to kick in. As I said before Prayer First. Its easy to

pray when all is hope is gone. Don't forget to pray and remember Father God when

all is well. For those who believe. And those who don't believe take a Leap of

Faith and try God. He is real.

 

Haaaaaaaa, the first time I got on prednisone. I knew this is the drug for me.

till i couldn't stop eating and I felt like a water balloon about to burst lol.

And learned about all the side effects. At least it's good to know one can take

it at low doses safely. Those that can take it.  I believed I was at a point

where I couldn't make my life any better till I read you guys letters. I was

feeling hopeless. And my support group, ( you guys)  said exactly what I was

going through and said there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Said we have

good days and bad days, Said we can get through it. God sent me to this support

group cause I couldn't take it anymore. (Thank you God your right when you said

you won't put more on me than I can bear. Cause when I began to think it, you

showed me all these  letters. Amen) And thank you for the support group. I look

forward each day to everyones letters. Welcome all new guys and gals. I read

every letter. some of

them I skim through. When there is a list of 75 letters haaaaaaaaaa

 

 Please have pain free days.

kindly to all the support group

Clora May

 

From: Barbara <bcreedon (DOT) com>

Subject: [ ] Re: Prednisone, etc

@gro ups.com

Date: Sunday, July 20, 2008, 11:35 PM

Hi DD,

I suffered horribly with Ulcerative Colitis, many hosp. stays, etc. Was

on the verge of a total Colostomy, etc. I finally got into remission

about 10 years ago. I know how awful you suffered with Crohn's and glad

you are in remission too. We really had to go on high doses of Pred. at

that time. I have no regrets at all.

I tried a few meds. for my stomach, but Prilosec has worked so good for

me. I also have had Hypothyroid since I was 10 years old. My RA came

on suddenly, and I went from a totally functioning woman to a crippled,

swollen all over, pain crazed person in 5 days!! I couldn't get up out

of bed, stand on my feet, walk without screaming, dress myself, feed

myself, hold a glass, etc. I thought I had a brain tumor, and would be

dead very soon. My hands swelled so much, and both hands went into a

claw-like tightness, and I couldn't open them. I got a dr. appt. for

the next day, it took everything in me to get up on my feet. My hubby

dressed me, combed my hair, brushed my teeth, washed my face and hands,

put some creme on my face, and got me to the car. I thought I would die

from pain just getting into it. Plus, there was a foot of snow on Cape

Cod, and bitter cold.

My PCP was shocked when he saw me.....I saw him 2 weeks before. He

pretty much knew I had RA, did blood work, etc. I had never heard of it

before. He started me immediately on 60mg. of Pred., and got me an

appt. with a Rheumy the next day. The rest is history.

I was 64, and retired also. I never could have worked at that time. I

had to move from the Cape to S.W. Florida, as I couldn't take the

weather there anymore. I was almost in a wheelchair, house bound, and I

too thought my life was over. Boy, was I wrong. I had to really get

back my positive thinking, and go forward. I love life, and enjoy so

many things life has to offer.

I have always done so many hand crafts, making quilts all by hand,

crochet, needlepoint, stenciling, painting, wallpapering, sewing, etc.

I love all crafts, but knew I would have to find the one I cared about

the most, and could do. So, I do folk art painting. I am going to try

to paint tomorrow for a short time.

I guess we all come to the point when we can change our life, and try to

enjoy the things we can do. I had to get out of pain first, then I

focused on what I could do, and then, I had to learn to pace myself

every day. That was hard for me to do. I have always been a " doer " . It

was a big day when I could feed myself, another big day when I could

shower, etc. I never gave up hope. I prayed my heart out. I have come

a long way from the grim future I thought I had. Life is good no matter

what. I feel it is essential to try and stay positve, think of what you

can do, even if you hurt, which is hard to do. Good days come

eventually. It just takes time to find the right meds., right pain

meds. I never thought I would reach the day that I finally had managed

my pain and RA. I thank my wonderful Rheumy for that. I had to get my

RA in order, before I could get my life in order. I still deal with

being so tired all the time, so I rest as much as I can each day. My

Rheumy said it is so important to get as much rest as you can. I

totally agree.

I just take one day at a time, and when I have pain ridden days, I take

it minute by minute. I get overwhelmed so badly, that I can't do

anything. RA has taught me to draw from inside myself, so I can face

whatever my day has to offer.

I wish everyone here pain free days. You all deserve it, and need it so

badly. You are all truly a wonderful group of caring, loving, and

compassionate people. I am so happy to be a member.

Hugs,

Barbara

>

>

> In a message dated 7/20/2008 5:54:36 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

> bcreedon@... writes:

>

> I have had bad problems with my voice, and voice box. I have acid

> reflux, take 2 Prilosec a day. I have Polops on my vocal cords, and

> have had months of hoarseness, when I couldn't even talk. Have seen a

> ENT specialist, throat scoped, biopsies done, and the conclusion was

all

> from GERD. The 2 Prilosec a day has taken care of this totally.

> Haven't had any trouble since.

>

>

>

> I also have Crohn's Disease and was on mass amounts of prednisone

about 30

> years ago for that. It is mostly in remission right now, but I've been

on meds

> for reflux for a long time. Most recently two Nexium a day. Prilosec

quit

> working, then we did Prevacid. This worked, but the insurance company

wanted me

> to try Nexium (2 a day). It was ok until I started taking the RA

drugs. Then

> the reflux was awful. So my doctor added Ranitidine (2 a day). And I

still

> have occasional reflux, but not nearly as bad.

>

> I'm supposed to have a colonscopy and endoscopy, but they aren't

scheduled

> soon.

>

> So right now, I'm dealing with RA, reflux, past Crohn's, borderline

> hyperthyroid and some skin stuff I haven't even bothered to schedule.

>

> But before I was started on Prednisone, I was unable to get out of a

chair,

> couldn't take a bath, could barely get out of my car -- mostly because

I

> couldn't open the door. I went to the clinic and pushed the button for

the

> elevator and the door opened. I couldn't get in the door before it

closed. He gave

> me a prescription for 25 mg of prednisone that day. He wasn't sure

which

> thing I had, but said that the beginning treatment for all the

possibilities was

> prednisone. I took the pills at 3:30 and by 6:00, I could teach my

line

> dancing class. There was one woman who saw me the night before and

after I took the

> pills. She said it was a miracle.

>

> I know it's not good to stay on a high dose for a long time.

Previously, we

> were told that anything over 5 mg a day can cause your body to stop

producing

> natural cortisone. So I'm glad I'm down to 5 mg.

>

> I'd also like my cheeks and back to get less swollen again. But that's

> pretty much cosmetic.

>

> I just would like to have energy. Although the fatigue is not as bad

as it

> was before I was diagnosed, it's bad enough.

>

> dd

>

>

>

> ************ **Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for

> FanHouse Fantasy Football today.

> (http://www.fanhouse .com/fantasyaffa ir?ncid=aolspr00 050000000020)

>

>

>