Re: Re: in a bad flare (was question on pain)

[Guest guest]

I stopped diet coke and any other form of aspartame last year and it has made a

world of difference. That was the only thing I had changed-no med changes. I

have have RA for almost 8 years and feel better now than any time since dx.

________________________________

From: Terzo <sarah5775@...>

Sent: Mon, March 21, 2011 10:57:22 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: in a bad flare (was question on pain)

things have really been hard. The steroids didn't help the pain very much,

if at all. I remember reading somewhere that if you don't respond to

treatment for RA within the first year, you won't respond at all -- or least

are less likely to ever respond at all. Is that true? What I really want

is for someone tell me that this gets better. I can imagine living another

40 years like this -- Has anyone ever been in a really bad flare like this

and recovered -- I'm trying to tell myself it just takes a while to find the

right medication -- I've only been under treatment for a year and are still

medications I haven't tried. Is there any possibility of this ever getting

better? does this disease really go into remission -- even if you had it

bad for year? I'm just waiting for this pain to lessen. I can barely walk

and my hands hurt very much. Like I said, I can imagine living another 40

years like this, Has anyone been in a bad flareup and then recovered and

gotten better? How long do these flares usually last?are they a regular

part of RA and do they come and go? I decided to stop drinking diet soda as

much as possible, because my sister said she read something that it

aggravates and autoimmune disorders. Has anyone heard that? I'm also going

to start taking a multivitamin -- are there any other supplements that work?

I heard someone mention vitamin D. Surely there must be something I can

do.

Thank you again for all your support

PS I type this with my Dragon NaturallySpeaking software -- it's a real

godsend and I recommend it to everyone

On Sat, Mar 19, 2011 at 8:50 PM, althea foster <altheafoster@...> wrote:

>

>

> , I am so sorry that you are in such pain. I have had RA for almost 15

> years now and I go up and down. I have had numerous RA doctors as they keep

> stop taking my insurance. But I have a good one right now!

>

> I have never had any good results from steroids - except my appetite

> increases and I gained weight that I couldn't get off.

>

> Right now I am on MTX and Enbrel - I give myself a shot of Enbrel once a

> week - and it helps so much. I find that when I am in a bad flare up as I

> was for the last couple weeks that the best thing I can do is stay warm - I

> keep the house warmer then normal during these times and I sit with 2

> electric throws - one underneath me and one above me.

>

> For my feet, I always have a pair of socks near me that I put on - I use

> the diabetic type socks - they give me just a little support and it really

> seems to help - I was sent to a neurologist and a podiatrist and was

> diagnosed with early onset stress fractures... nothing they did helped me

> till I found the diabetic socks and for some strange reason they work.

>

> I would advise trying to rid yourself of diet drinks if you drink too many

> like I do - it is my last really bad vice - gave up all the rest and this

> one is my hardest to kick - but when I am drinking just water I find that I

> do much better.

>

> I hope that you find relief soon -

> Oh one other thing that my Doctor did right after I started seeing him was

> give me a massive dose of Vitamin D to take for a month - 10,000 IU per week

> - so now I have added Vitamin D to my regimen of vitamins.

> God bless,

> Thea

>

>

>