Hello...

[Guest guest]

I'm 38 and was diagnosed with RA a month ago. I started feeling pain in my feet

back in November 08. I've always led a very active and healthy lifestyle,

(jogging, working out, and professional salsa dancing) so my initial thoughts

were I was working my body too hard. Visited foot doctor and he recommended

orthodics and no more 3 inch heels! That alone was a blow to me! I have two

closets full of heels! Ugh...anyway, the pain started creeping up to one hand,

then the other, then body pain, fatigue and depression set in. I knew there was

something wrong. Went back and forth for blood work with several primary doctors

until one of them suggested seeing a rheumy which I then visited. Additional

blood work and an MRI was ordered. Finally, I'm getting somewhere...the MRI

showed some erosion in my hands and the diagnosis of RA was finally made in

February. So far, I've been on Celebrex (stopped it - stomach upset), Prednisone

(stopped it - no benefits), Ultram ER (stopped it - stomach upset), Ultracet

(stomach upset) and have been on methotrexate since my initial diagnosis. Was

going to try ORENCIA but approval for special Orencia program was delayed and I

needed to start some type of treatment besides the MTX quickly because the pain

was unbearable! I read about Enbrel and my rheumy agreed that this could be a

way to go. I received my first injection on 3/5. So far so good. My feet and

hands don't hurt as much as they did prior to the Enbrel and I definitely have

more energy which I'm happy about. However, I have had a really sore throat

which has been extremely painful. My rheumy suggested seeing an ear, nose and

throat specialist which I did last week thursday. The specialist initially

stated it could be coming from the MTX and prescribed a special throat gargle.

After having gone back to the ENT specialist a second time due to no relief he's

now stating it could be extreme stress and tension and prescibed an antiaxiety

medication. I would love to hear from anyone out there currently on Enbrel and

MTX combo who may be experiencing something similar. Actually, I welcome the

opportunity to chat with anyone who is fighting RA...the more we chat and learn

from each other the less alone we feel...I look forward to hearing from you....

All my best...

Latinflower....from New Jersey

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

 

Thank you for your well wishes! I'm actually feeling better today...I guess it

was the stress afterall.  I haven't taken to the reality of my having RA too

well so I panic about all meds that go into my system.  Weekly MTX injections is

currently what I'm getting.  My rheumy was giving me the highest dose

actually...but as of last week he brought the dose down due to the reaction on

my throat.  I'm actually thinking of switching to the pills since I hear they

give less of a reaction. 

> I'm 38 and was diagnosed with RA a month ago. I started feeling pain in my

> feet back in November 08. I've always led a very active and healthy

> lifestyle, (jogging, working out, and professional salsa dancing) so my

> initial thoughts were I was working my body too hard. Visited foot doctor

> and he recommended orthodics and no more 3 inch heels! That alone was a blow

> to me! I have two closets full of heels! Ugh...anyway, the pain started

> creeping up to one hand, then the other, then body pain, fatigue and

> depression set in. I knew there was something wrong. Went back and forth for

> blood work with several primary doctors until one of them suggested seeing a

> rheumy which I then visited. Additional blood work and an MRI was ordered..

> Finally, I'm getting somewhere... the MRI showed some erosion in my hands and

> the diagnosis of RA was finally made in February. So far, I've been on

> Celebrex (stopped it - stomach upset), Prednisone (stopped it - no

> benefits), Ultram ER (stopped it - stomach upset), Ultracet (stomach upset)

> and have been on methotrexate since my initial diagnosis. Was going to try

> ORENCIA but approval for special Orencia program was delayed and I needed to

> start some type of treatment besides the MTX quickly because the pain was

> unbearable! I read about Enbrel and my rheumy agreed that this could be a

> way to go. I received my first injection on 3/5. So far so good. My feet and

> hands don't hurt as much as they did prior to the Enbrel and I definitely

> have more energy which I'm happy about. However, I have had a really sore

> throat which has been extremely painful. My rheumy suggested seeing an ear,

> nose and throat specialist which I did last week thursday. The specialist

> initially stated it could be coming from the MTX and prescribed a special

> throat gargle. After having gone back to the ENT specialist a second time

> due to no relief he's now stating it could be extreme stress and tension and

> prescibed an antiaxiety medication. I would love to hear from anyone out

> there currently on Enbrel and MTX combo who may be experiencing something

> similar. Actually, I welcome the opportunity to chat with anyone who is

> fighting RA...the more we chat and learn from each other the less alone we

> feel...I look forward to hearing from you....

>

> All my best...

>

> Latinflower. ...from New Jersey

[Guest guest]

Hi Latin Flower:

I was glad to read that you are feeling better, and less stressed. When

I got diagnosed 5 years ago, I had never heard of RA, and was in a panic

when I first read about it. It is such a shock to have something like

this.

I started out with the MTX pills, but they made me so sick to my stomach

24 hours a day, I discontinued them, and started on the injection MTX.

That has worked well for me. No side effects at all.

It does take some time to find the right " cocktail " mix of meds. that

work well for us. I have been very successful taking MTX, Pred.,

Placquenil, and Sulfasalazine. I take the maxium dose of all the meds.

I also have taken Pred. everyday for 5 years now. My flares are farther

apart, and shorter in duration. So far, I am not in any pain at all.

My RA seems to be under control for now. I am very thankful for that.

I hope each day you start to feel better and better. It does take time

to get some much needed relief from all the pain and suffering.

Hugs,

Barbara

> > I'm 38 and was diagnosed with RA a month ago. I started feeling pain

in my

> > feet back in November 08. I've always led a very active and healthy

> > lifestyle, (jogging, working out, and professional salsa dancing) so

my

> > initial thoughts were I was working my body too hard. Visited foot

doctor

> > and he recommended orthodics and no more 3 inch heels! That alone

was a blow

> > to me! I have two closets full of heels! Ugh...anyway, the pain

started

> > creeping up to one hand, then the other, then body pain, fatigue and

> > depression set in. I knew there was something wrong. Went back and

forth for

> > blood work with several primary doctors until one of them suggested

seeing a

> > rheumy which I then visited. Additional blood work and an MRI was

ordered..

> > Finally, I'm getting somewhere... the MRI showed some erosion in my

hands and

> > the diagnosis of RA was finally made in February. So far, I've been

on

> > Celebrex (stopped it - stomach upset), Prednisone (stopped it - no

> > benefits), Ultram ER (stopped it - stomach upset), Ultracet (stomach

upset)

> > and have been on methotrexate since my initial diagnosis. Was going

to try

> > ORENCIA but approval for special Orencia program was delayed and I

needed to

> > start some type of treatment besides the MTX quickly because the

pain was

> > unbearable! I read about Enbrel and my rheumy agreed that this could

be a

> > way to go. I received my first injection on 3/5. So far so good. My

feet and

> > hands don't hurt as much as they did prior to the Enbrel and I

definitely

> > have more energy which I'm happy about. However, I have had a really

sore

> > throat which has been extremely painful. My rheumy suggested seeing

an ear,

> > nose and throat specialist which I did last week thursday. The

specialist

> > initially stated it could be coming from the MTX and prescribed a

special

> > throat gargle. After having gone back to the ENT specialist a second

time

> > due to no relief he's now stating it could be extreme stress and

tension and

> > prescibed an antiaxiety medication. I would love to hear from anyone

out

> > there currently on Enbrel and MTX combo who may be experiencing

something

> > similar. Actually, I welcome the opportunity to chat with anyone who

is

> > fighting RA...the more we chat and learn from each other the less

alone we

> > feel...I look forward to hearing from you....

> >

> > All my best...

> >

> > Latinflower. ...from New Jersey

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Glad you are feeling better, Latinflower.

Usually, people have less side effects with the MTX injections.

Not an MD

On Tue, Mar 17, 2009 at 9:53 AM, latinflower58@...

<latinflower58@...> wrote:

> Hello ,

>

> Thank you for your well wishes! I'm actually feeling better today...I guess

> it was the stress afterall.  I haven't taken to the reality of my having RA

> too well so I panic about all meds that go into my system.  Weekly MTX

> injections is currently what I'm getting.  My rheumy was giving me the

> highest dose actually...but as of last week he brought the dose down due to

> the reaction on my throat.  I'm actually thinking of switching to the pills

> since I hear they give less of a reaction.

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara,

 

I can't begin to thank you for your words of encouragement.  I'm so glad to hear

that you're no longer in pain.  Wow...I wish I can say the same thing one day

soon!  I'm also taking  folic acid, motrin 800 for pain, strovite advanced

vitamins, and even taking glucosamine chondroitin.  I'm excited about my

3rd shot of Enbrel and so I'm really looking forward to tomorrow! Wish me luck! 

I'll be doing it in the privacy of my home for the first time! 

 

 Thanks again for getting back to me and sending well wishes and thoughts! I

pray you continue to do well on your meds and may your pain never resurface.

 

All my best,

 

Daisy

From: Barbara <bcreedon@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Hello...

Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 12:19 PM

Hi Latin Flower:

I was glad to read that you are feeling better, and less stressed. When

I got diagnosed 5 years ago, I had never heard of RA, and was in a panic

when I first read about it. It is such a shock to have something like

this.

I started out with the MTX pills, but they made me so sick to my stomach

24 hours a day, I discontinued them, and started on the injection MTX.

That has worked well for me. No side effects at all.

It does take some time to find the right " cocktail " mix of meds. that

work well for us. I have been very successful taking MTX, Pred.,

Placquenil, and Sulfasalazine. I take the maxium dose of all the meds.

I also have taken Pred. everyday for 5 years now. My flares are farther

apart, and shorter in duration. So far, I am not in any pain at all.

My RA seems to be under control for now. I am very thankful for that.

I hope each day you start to feel better and better. It does take time

to get some much needed relief from all the pain and suffering.

Hugs,

Barbara

> > I'm 38 and was diagnosed with RA a month ago. I started feeling pain

in my

> > feet back in November 08. I've always led a very active and healthy

> > lifestyle, (jogging, working out, and professional salsa dancing) so

my

> > initial thoughts were I was working my body too hard. Visited foot

doctor

> > and he recommended orthodics and no more 3 inch heels! That alone

was a blow

> > to me! I have two closets full of heels! Ugh...anyway, the pain

started

> > creeping up to one hand, then the other, then body pain, fatigue and

> > depression set in. I knew there was something wrong. Went back and

forth for

> > blood work with several primary doctors until one of them suggested

seeing a

> > rheumy which I then visited. Additional blood work and an MRI was

ordered..

> > Finally, I'm getting somewhere... the MRI showed some erosion in my

hands and

> > the diagnosis of RA was finally made in February. So far, I've been

on

> > Celebrex (stopped it - stomach upset), Prednisone (stopped it - no

> > benefits), Ultram ER (stopped it - stomach upset), Ultracet (stomach

upset)

> > and have been on methotrexate since my initial diagnosis. Was going

to try

> > ORENCIA but approval for special Orencia program was delayed and I

needed to

> > start some type of treatment besides the MTX quickly because the

pain was

> > unbearable! I read about Enbrel and my rheumy agreed that this could

be a

> > way to go. I received my first injection on 3/5. So far so good. My

feet and

> > hands don't hurt as much as they did prior to the Enbrel and I

definitely

> > have more energy which I'm happy about. However, I have had a really

sore

> > throat which has been extremely painful. My rheumy suggested seeing

an ear,

> > nose and throat specialist which I did last week thursday. The

specialist

> > initially stated it could be coming from the MTX and prescribed a

special

> > throat gargle. After having gone back to the ENT specialist a second

time

> > due to no relief he's now stating it could be extreme stress and

tension and

> > prescibed an antiaxiety medication. I would love to hear from anyone

out

> > there currently on Enbrel and MTX combo who may be experiencing

something

> > similar. Actually, I welcome the opportunity to chat with anyone who

is

> > fighting RA...the more we chat and learn from each other the less

alone we

> > feel...I look forward to hearing from you....

> >

> > All my best...

> >

> > Latinflower. ...from New Jersey

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It’s difficult to determine the cause of a rash, however, Tea Tree Oil is

often a good thing to use on rashes. Check it out on the internet and you’ll

find interesting uses and benefits.

It seems surprising that your husband was not given enough of a diagnosis that

includes the stage/grade of the cancer. Call the diagnosing doctor and ask him

for the information.

Joe C.

Hi, my name is Cheryl and I'm new to this group. My husband (Dave - 55) was

diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer on the 9th of this month (December

2010). He has had a bone scan and it has not reached the bones as of yet. I do

however have a couple of major questions I need help with.

1st of all he had a nuclear bone scan on the 15th. He now has a bad rash under

his left armpit and some in the groin region. Is this normal? Has anyone else

had reactions to this kind of scan. If so we are looking for suggestions to get

rid of it. Could it be some kind of chemical or radiation burn?

2nd - how do you find out what stage of cancer you have? We've been searching

the internet for alternative treatments. Several say use this one if your stage

3 or stage 4. I have no idea what stage to look at. So we are sort of leaning

towards the Budwig-Cellect program.

which brings me to question #3 - Has anyone used the Budwig-Cellect protocol?

Thanks, Cheryl