Re: Some questions please

[Guest guest]

Hello,

What were the first drugs you tried?  How well did you tolerate them?

Judith

________________________________

From: " dgd301@... " <dgd301@...>

Sent: Mon, October 26, 2009 8:36:40 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Some questions please

 

In a message dated 10/25/2009 8:34:11 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

judithbeedie writes:

My question is to you, looking back, would you have done anything

different in dealing with the RA? What advise would you give to someone who is

just

beginng this new life...with RA? >

The only thing I would have done differently is see my rheumatologist

earlier so he could start me on the drugs earlier. My PC doc at the time didn't

really listen to me and discouraged me from seeing a rheumatologist. So I

wasted about three months.

It's been about 18 months since my diagnosis now and most days I feel like

a normal person at this time. I do feel like I'm getting a cold, though and

worry about my immune system.

dd

[Guest guest]

Judith,

Methotrexate worked great for me, just wish I could have taken it earlier.  

Before I was prescribed MTX, I had tried what seemed like all the NSAIDS(at

least 6 different one), Prednisone, Plaquenil and then finally MTX was addded. 

I have been taking the MTX tablets for about 20 years. 

 

Don't give up, with medicine you will get to feeling better.

 

 

On Oct 25, 2009, at 9:30 PM, Judith Beedie wrote:

> I have been having obvious symptoms for 3 years now. I've lost the

> movement in my middle finger of my right hand and fear I'm losing it

> in my wrist.

> Today I hurt all over and feel sick I am so fatigued and don't think

> I can make it to work tomorrow. I fear of losing my job.

> So far, I haven't started the methotraxate the doctor gave me on

> Thursday. I'm dreading it but know I have to do something.

> My question is to you, looking back, would you have done anything

> different in dealing with the RA? What advise would you give to

> someone who is just beginng this new life...with RA?

> My life as I knew it seems to be over.

> It seems no one has much hope.

[Guest guest]

Hi, I would do it the same, my advise is to treat it very aggressively to get it

under control, that is the way my DR, at the time, explained it to me and it

seemed to work the best, but even that took awhile to get it under control much

your disease will allow. It is normal to feel that life as you know it is

over, because it is. It is OK to grieve for the person you were, give yourself

time to adjust to the woman you will become. It took me about a year to get

myself back together, to get a meds cocktail that worked and I am still

adjusting to the new me, my limitations. It took a while to for me to give

myself a break and stop behaving as if this made me less of a person because of

what I could no longer do. You will find your way. I don't know if you pray

but I did a lot, and I kept asking " why me " and it popped into my head " why not

me? " , that phrase changed everything for me. Yea! Why not me? God didn't

promise us a life filled with ease,and no pain, not here anyway, even

asked multiple times for the thorn in his side to be removed and it remained

anyway. The best way I have been able to view this is that maybe its not even

about ME. Maybe I am here to be a light for some one else going through the

same thing. I hope that helps. Be well

Cassy

>

> I have been having obvious symptoms for 3 years now. I've lost the  movement

in my middle finger of my right hand and fear I'm losing it in my wrist.

> Today I hurt all over and feel sick I am so fatigued and don't think I can

make it to work tomorrow. I fear of losing my job.

> So far, I haven't started the methotraxate the doctor gave me on Thursday. I'm

dreading it but know I have to do something.

> My question is to you, looking back, would you have done anything different in

dealing with the RA? What advise would you give to someone who is just beginng

this new life...with RA?

> My life as I knew it seems to be over.

> It seems no one has much hope.

[Guest guest]

Barbara, I was just going thru my mail and I see where you have also had

bleeding problems. Did they ever assign a cause for the low blood hemoglobins?

As you know, this has been the main cause of several of my hospital admissions,

the last one to the point of a 3 hgb and they really could not believe that I

was still alive. Upon admission, even with the transfusions, they could not get

my BP up or even get a pulse. That really gets their attention and mine too! I

got the usual " scoping jobs " , could not find one source of the blood loss. My

sister just told me that her hemoglobin started to drop for no explanation. She

doesn't take any RA medications, just some Type II diabetes medication. Just

another mystery of life!

Gentle, tender, angel hugs,

Debs in FL

[ ] Some questions please

" RA-support " < >

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009, 5:35 PM

I'm new to the group. I wrote my intro and had some questions in that but no one

answered them.

Right now I'm dealing with being very tired and aching from 11-9 pm at night. Is

this normal and is there anything I can do for this? When I get like this I

can't think straight and I forget things. I'm not normally like this. I also

have seasonal allergies. My allergies seem to be getting worse. When you have RA

is it harder for your body to fight the allergies? When they say this is an

autoimmune disease what does that mean? I'm sorry I don't know much about RA.

Thanks for your help,

Cheli

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

They never said Deb.  It was 6 or 8, I was so, so tired, but chalked it up to

my RA.  I had the transfusions 2x, and take Iron everyday.  My last blood

count was up to 16, where they wanted it to be.  I am due for more blood work

in a few weeks, and they will check my blood again.  The medical mysteries that

happen to us!!!!!!

 

Take care. and many hugs,

 

Barbara

From: hlhsinfo (DOT) com <hlhsinfo (DOT) com>

Subject: [ ] Some questions please

" RA-support " < @gro ups.com>

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009, 5:35 PM

I'm new to the group. I wrote my intro and had some questions in that but no one

answered them.

Right now I'm dealing with being very tired and aching from 11-9 pm at night. Is

this normal and is there anything I can do for this? When I get like this I

can't think straight and I forget things. I'm not normally like this. I also

have seasonal allergies. My allergies seem to be getting worse. When you have RA

is it harder for your body to fight the allergies? When they say this is an

autoimmune disease what does that mean? I'm sorry I don't know much about RA.

Thanks for your help,

Cheli

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

[Guest guest]

Yikes, Barbara....

I went down to 3 hgb and the doc said " that I 5 blood cells running around my

body " . I was soooooooooooooo tired and could not lift my ead off the pillow

and didn't know who anyone who was there. They woud not even let me sit up in

the ICU as I could not protect my blood pressure or pulse. I was NEVER so

scared in my life. There has to be an answer. Right now I am feeling the same

way. I see the hemo doctor. I am sure all is fine.

Talk to you soosn.

Gentle, tender, angel hugs...........

Debs

[ ] Some questions please

" RA-support " < @gro ups.com>

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009, 5:35 PM

I'm new to the group. I wrote my intro and had some questions in that but no one

answered them.

Right now I'm dealing with being very tired and aching from 11-9 pm at night. Is

this normal and is there anything I can do for this? When I get like this I

can't think straight and I forget things. I'm not normally like this. I also

have seasonal allergies. My allergies seem to be getting worse. When you have RA

is it harder for your body to fight the allergies? When they say this is an

autoimmune disease what does that mean? I'm sorry I don't know much about RA.

Thanks for your help,

Cheli

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

[Guest guest]

Yikes is right.  I so agree with you when things go bad with RA is does get

pretty scarey.  I hope you have a good check out with your Dr.  I also hope

you went with your daughter to the fair.  We all need to get out when we can. 

I sure hope you feel better, as each day we can do something, makes our life

better, and lifts our broken spirits.  That is why so many of us here can only

handle one day at a time.

 

I am finally over all the coughing, etc.  The last round of anti-biotics did

the trick.  I also hope I don't get the flu.  I am not out too often in the

Public.  If I hear anyone coughing, etc. I turn fast and go the other way.  I

have not had a flu shot for many years due to a very bad reaction one year.  I

just seem to get Bronchitis, then it turns into Pneumonia.  Our weakened immune

system for sure.

 

Our weather is so gorgeous now for a week.  65 at night, breezy, dry, and

around 75 daily.  I did go in the pool and swim, the temp. is now down to 76. 

I like it a little warmer, but still love to go in.

 

I have been very tired these last few weeks, so I went back to bed and slept a

few extra hours this a.m.  I feel much better now.

 

No plans for the weekend, just hang out here.  I live a very quiet simple life.

I had to talk with my husband the other day on the phone.  By the time I hung

up, he had me in tears, saying awful things about me.  I was crushed.  I was

trying to help him with something, and boom, he started in on me.  I said

goodbye, and will not deal with him again.  He destroys me and I start all that

crying again, that I thought I was done with.  Florida is very slow to get a

divorce.  I remined him it was he who cheated on me, destroyed out 29 year

marriage.  I have had to start a new life for myself, and I will be 70 in

Jan.  It has been a very hard year, and I will be glad when the New Year

starts.  My son was my rock, and he literally saved me.  I thank God for him,

all my family and friends, who were there for me.  I hope the day comes when

all my tears are done with.  I thought I had cried myself out.  I guess not. 

Time will heal my wounds, I

wish it would hurry up!!!

 

I hope your hubby is feeling a little better, and seeking help.  He must feel

so hopeless, which is a bad feeling to have. I know it is very hard for you to

see him like this.  I pray things get better for all of you.

 

Enjoy your weekend, and talk soon.

 

Love and many hugs,

 

Barbara 

From: hlhsinfo (DOT) com <hlhsinfo (DOT) com>

Subject: [ ] Some questions please

" RA-support " < @ gro ups.com>

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009, 5:35 PM

I'm new to the group. I wrote my intro and had some questions in that but no one

answered them.

Right now I'm dealing with being very tired and aching from 11-9 pm at night. Is

this normal and is there anything I can do for this? When I get like this I

can't think straight and I forget things. I'm not normally like this. I also

have seasonal allergies. My allergies seem to be getting worse. When you have RA

is it harder for your body to fight the allergies? When they say this is an

autoimmune disease what does that mean? I'm sorry I don't know much about RA.

Thanks for your help,

Cheli

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __