Re: Re: I guess I'm starting Humira

[Guest guest]

I do use a cane lots of the time but my preference right now is the power

chair. Unfortunately I was in the carport getting the ramps to load the

chair and my right leg doesn't listen to me and wouldn't lift enough to

clear the part I tried to step over. Maybe it's mad at me. Most of the thigh

is numb, the knee joint has a problem or 2, the shin always has sores on it,

it has very obvious varicose veins and serious swelling all the way to the

toes, a rough patch of skin that's like leather, rough and darkened in a

large area (just appeared recently). I'll have to go to a few specialists at

$21 per whack so I've got to be careful with money. My back treatment has

been all been done by the same doctor and he can't/doesn't do surgery, I'll

have to get another for further treatment.

I've gone from 6 mg of Prednisone at the first of May to 3 1/4 mg this week.

I've had real problems before trying to wean off it and haven't been lucky

and given up at 6 mg. At this rate, I'll be off it completely in a couple of

months, especially if the Humira does well. We'll see,

Dennis in eastexas

On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:22 AM, Mimi <mimi212@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi Dennis - no apologies necessary - I think we all wax and wane from time

> to time depending on how we feel. I'm so sorry to hear you fell again. Do

> you use/have a cane? I'm sorry the shots in your back are not helping - my

> aunt swears by them and has good luck with them. Did you have a different

> doctor doing the injection this last time? Maybe they didn't get it in the

> right place. Have you called them back?

>

> I've had 3 Enbrel shots so far and am disappointed that I've not felt any

> relief yet - although I had a big ole flare come up last week, had to do a

> few days of prednisone and gained 7 danged pounds - maybe that could be why

> I've not had relief yet. We'll see how it goes this week. My prayers are

> that things will turn around for the better for you once you start on the

> Humira.

>

> Take care. Love to Betty.....Doreen

>

>

>

> >

> > To begin with, I must apologize for not posting on other topics I

> > just left hanging. It's nothing new for me and this won't be the

> > last. LOL

> >

> > I got a call from the pharmacy the Rheumy sent the script to and

> > they wanted to ship it to get here tomorrow but we're tied up all

> > afternoon. I had shots in my back a few weeks ago and I'm suffering

> > more than before. This is the second thing that hasn't worked for

> > me. On top of that, I fell again Saturday but don't think I did

> > more damage to my back this time. I just

> > scraped my right leg, the one with 'suspected' Echler-Danlos (?)

> > wounds that won't heal, vasculitis that might be, and a few other

> > problems including being uncooperative when I tell it what I want

> > it to do. I skinned a big portion of skin from my shin and it's so

> > sensitive that blowing on it will hurt!

> >

> > So I got ahead of myself about the Humira. I don't know what has

> > been planned, so I will have to call the Rheumy and find out what

> > he's expecting. I don't think I have any confusion about what to

> > do, ice pack, click and watch, etc. Should I watch for anything in

> > particular? I'll report when there's something to say. And, I'll

> > try to fall less often.

> >

> > --

> > Dennis in eastexas

>

[Guest guest]

Dennis,

I'm so sorry that you're having so many falls lately. Your leg sounds

like a disaster zone. What do your doctors say about the swelling, the

sores, and leather-like skin? I know I've mentioned the possibility of

diabetes to you before, but you say you've been checked for that.

Maybe they should check again; prednisone does raise blood sugar.

Congratulations on your battle with prednisone. I've been told by a

doctor that your body makes a certain amount of similar stuff, and the

weaning process is intended to let your body get back to making its

own. I do hope you succeed this time. I also hope the Humira is your

miracle drug. Good luck! And stop falling!

Sue

On Jun 16, 2009, at 5:16 PM, Dennis W wrote:

> I do use a cane lots of the time but my preference right now is the

> power

> chair. Unfortunately I was in the carport getting the ramps to load

> the

> chair and my right leg doesn't listen to me and wouldn't lift enough

> to

> clear the part I tried to step over. Maybe it's mad at me. Most of

> the thigh

> is numb, the knee joint has a problem or 2, the shin always has

> sores on it,

> it has very obvious varicose veins and serious swelling all the way

> to the

> toes, a rough patch of skin that's like leather, rough and darkened

> in a

> large area (just appeared recently). I'll have to go to a few

> specialists at

> $21 per whack so I've got to be careful with money. My back

> treatment has

> been all been done by the same doctor and he can't/doesn't do

> surgery, I'll

> have to get another for further treatment.

>

> I've gone from 6 mg of Prednisone at the first of May to 3 1/4 mg

> this week.

> I've had real problems before trying to wean off it and haven't been

> lucky

> and given up at 6 mg. At this rate, I'll be off it completely in a

> couple of

> months, especially if the Humira does well. We'll see,

>

> Dennis in eastexas

[Guest guest]

Hi Dennis:

     I sure know what it is like to have your leg/knee fail you.  That is what

caused my fall in Aug. resulting in a broken shattered shoulder, and a broken

foot.  Again the last fall was caused by the knee just collapsing the day before

my knee replacement surgerey,  Got 9 stitches in my shin.  Even if I was on my

walker, I still would have fallen.  Damn discouraging.  It seems no matter how

careful we are, things arise with this beast RA, and down we go.  I know you are

pretty banged up, and I am sorry about that.  Like you need another fall or

problem.

     I am glad you are successful so far with decreasing your Pred.  Wishing you

better luck than I had.  I got down to 2.5, had one more dose to go, and bingo,

my RA flare was in full swing.  I so thought that time I would be able to get

off it.  I will try again in the future when my knee surgerey is fully healed. 

I am pain free now, so I don't want to disturb that.

     I so pray that Humira is the right drug for you, and you start to feel

better and better.  You so deserve it.

     Please take care of yourself, and like me, please no more falls!!!  We have

had far too many!!!

     God Bless you, and I will pray for you to be pain free soon.

Hugs,

 

Barbara

>

>

> Hi Dennis - no apologies necessary - I think we all wax and wane from time

> to time depending on how we feel. I'm so sorry to hear you fell again. Do

> you use/have a cane? I'm sorry the shots in your back are not helping - my

> aunt swears by them and has good luck with them. Did you have a different

> doctor doing the injection this last time? Maybe they didn't get it in the

> right place. Have you called them back?

>

> I've had 3 Enbrel shots so far and am disappointed that I've not felt any

> relief yet - although I had a big ole flare come up last week, had to do a

> few days of prednisone and gained 7 danged pounds - maybe that could be why

> I've not had relief yet. We'll see how it goes this week. My prayers are

> that things will turn around for the better for you once you start on the

> Humira.

>

> Take care. Love to Betty.....Doreen

>

>

>

> >

> > To begin with, I must apologize for not posting on other topics I

> > just left hanging. It's nothing new for me and this won't be the

> > last. LOL

> >

> > I got a call from the pharmacy the Rheumy sent the script to and

> > they wanted to ship it to get here tomorrow but we're tied up all

> > afternoon. I had shots in my back a few weeks ago and I'm suffering

> > more than before. This is the second thing that hasn't worked for

> > me. On top of that, I fell again Saturday but don't think I did

> > more damage to my back this time. I just

> > scraped my right leg, the one with 'suspected' Echler-Danlos (?)

> > wounds that won't heal, vasculitis that might be, and a few other

> > problems including being uncooperative when I tell it what I want

> > it to do. I skinned a big portion of skin from my shin and it's so

> > sensitive that blowing on it will hurt!

> >

> > So I got ahead of myself about the Humira. I don't know what has

> > been planned, so I will have to call the Rheumy and find out what

> > he's expecting. I don't think I have any confusion about what to

> > do, ice pack, click and watch, etc. Should I watch for anything in

> > particular? I'll report when there's something to say. And, I'll

> > try to fall less often.

> >

> > --

> > Dennis in eastexas

>