Re: Hi new to the group - me, too!

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I am also new to this group and have only " lurked " for a few minutes at a time.

I just turned 53, and prior to migrating joint pain that started about 6 years

ago, I was a really healthy person. My primary sent me to a rheumatologist

after my first swollen, painful joint. The rheumatologist said it was

palindromic rheumatism, all my labs were negative, and he assured me that I was

in a a lucky minority of people. Whenever I had any joint pain, up until about

a year ago, it would last no more than about 48 hours and disappear completely.

So I was able to stay really upbeat about it, because I always knew it would

disapear. Then last year I started having more bad days then good, and then

pretty much no good days, just bad and worse! I know probably all of you know

what I mean. I have still completely perfect bloodwork that baffles everyone,

but now the symptoms never go away. My hips and shoulders feel like they are in

a vice, the morning stiffness lasts for hours, some of my fingers and both of my

thumbs are rapidly becoming deformed, and it feels like the balls of my feet are

breaking. I have a complete intolerance of all NSAIDs as well as narcotics -

that's been lifelong. Can't tolerate even one 200mg Ibuprofen on a full

stomach. I took Celebrex once about 3 years ago, and it was the best 2 weeks of

my life - I could literally jump out of bed and felt like I was 20 instead of

50. That was followed by a horrible 3 months living on Prilosec, having to

discontinue the Celebrex and having an endoscopy. GI doc and rheumy say Tylenol

only, which of course does nothing. So now the diagnosis is seronegative RA and

fibromyalgia. I did a trial of Cymbalta last month that was horrible. No pain

relief and a multitude of side effects. I see my rheumatologist tomorrow. I am

a well-educated,informed, professional woman, and I've conducted over 500

disability evaluations, but I really hate this and I am super reluctant to put

any powerful chemicals into my body - they all scare me. I see the preview of

coming attractions, and its not pretty. Am I the only one who hates looking at

everyone else in the waiting room at the rheumatologist's office? Thankfully, I

have an extremely supportive husband, and I am self-employed so I can work when

I want to. I frequently remind myself that we don't get to pick what we get,

and this isn't fatal, but it sure is going in the wrong direction.

I'm open to any advice or suggestions.

Deborah

>

> Hi, my name is Phyllis and I just joined today. I've been diagnosed since

> 2003. Of course I suspect I've had RA longer. I'm sero negative so my RA

> was discovered through surgery to remove Rheumatoid nodules. I have this in

> pretty much all the joints. My knee is osteoarthritis. I have little use

> of my left thumb. The doctor suggests joint replacement. I read about

> having leg cramps. I also take magnesium daily and it does help the

> stop the cramps. I've been taking it for 16 years now.

>

> I started with sulfasalazine and mobic, separately. Of course neither

> worked and I began using mtx and folic acid. I switched doctors and he

> included mobic to the mix. I take 6 pills per week. 15mg. I usually take

> them before bed to sleep off any side effects. It seems to help.

>

> I've had throat problems that I always suspected was from the RA. Recently

> a friend sent me a link that mentions Cricoarytenoid arthritis. I'm going

> to ask my doctor about this when I see him in two weeks.

>

> That's the short of it.

>

> Phyllis

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Deborah,

I hear you and boy do I understand. I started not feeling well in 2006

and they could not figure out what was wrong. Finally in 2009 they

diagnosed me with Lupus and RA in April 2010. The Rheumatologist tells me

that the two sometimes run hand and hand. I too cannot take a lot of NSAIDs

as well as narcotics because of my GI troubles. I am terribly sensitive to

meds - Prilosec sends me to the ER with sever GI pain. I am on Protonix.

I have been on Plaquenil and Methotrexate. Two weeks ago they took me off

Methotrexate it did not agree with me. He tried me on Enbrel but it was not

strong enough. I just started on Cimzia - will see how I do.

I understand your fear because I am there too. These medications have a

lot of adverse reactions. All I can do is trust in God to help me through

this...it is not easy! I too have the feeling my feet, my legs, my hips, my

arms are in a vice. The pain keeps me up at nights and joints in both hands

are showing signs of deformity. What is worse for me is the constant

exhaustion that I feel in addition to the pain. Some days is hard to get

out of bed. Thank God I have a supportive husband who helps me so much with

our little boys.

Like you, prior to all of this I was healthy. Could do so many things - did

not require a lot of sleep. You are right although the diseases are not

terminal it sure takes a toll on you. It is not just the medications is the

fact that your life has been turned upside down. The hardest part for me

has been coming to terms with the fact that my daily routine has totally

changed. Now I just take things a moment at a time...and sharing with both

my Lupus and RA support groups has been a big blessing...you do not feel all

alone. There are others who are going through the same things we are and

have been in this journey longer and that alone gives me lots of hope for a

better tomorrow.

Hang in there - God Bless

Vivian

[Guest guest]

Does anyone take Celebrex and Cymbalta together? Regina Burns

[Guest guest]

I do. I have been on Cymbalta 5 years and Celebrex 7 or 8..... No problems!

From: Regina Burns

Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 7:07 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Hi new to the group - me, too!

Does anyone take Celebrex and Cymbalta together? Regina Burns

[Guest guest]

Sorry! Forgot to sign post! I hate Windows Live mail!

Kami

From: Regina Burns

Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 7:07 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Hi new to the group - me, too!

Does anyone take Celebrex and Cymbalta together? Regina Burns