RA and change in altitude

[Guest guest]

In the summer we spend half the week up in the mountains at 7300 feet, and the

other half at 1000 feet. I feel fine up in the mountains, but the day after I

come home, I can hardly move and it is just beginning to get better when we go

back up again. Anyone else have problems with change in altitude?

I have only been dealing with this for about a month, and it seems like I have a

" Joint of the Day. " One day my pinky fingers are so sore I can hardly move

them. The next day they will be better and my right ankle swells up like a

baloon, then the next day it is my thumb, etc. I never know what to expect

every morning when I wake up. I go back to the rheumatologist on the 13th and

he is going to start me on MTX or Palanquil (sp?) or both. He wanted to do more

blood tests first and I am just on naproxin now. (He is testing for parvovirus!

I thought only dogs got that!)

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,

Yes, the changes in altitude can affect you - I've noticed it as

well. It seems to be mostly changes in barometric pressure, so it

can be a change in altitude or a change in the weather that's

responsible. I also notice it when I'm flying somewhere - air plane

cabin pressure isn't the same as it is on the ground.

The type of joint problems you describe often occur with RA, but

also with a lot of other things - including parvovirus. One of the

many challenges in finding relief from this disease - finding out

whether or not you really have it.

Hope you find answers soon.

Beth

> In the summer we spend half the week up in the mountains at 7300

feet, and the other half at 1000 feet. I feel fine up in the

mountains, but the day after I come home, I can hardly move and it

is just beginning to get better when we go back up again. Anyone

else have problems with change in altitude?

>

>

> I have only been dealing with this for about a month, and it seems

like I have a " Joint of the Day. " One day my pinky fingers are so

sore I can hardly move them. The next day they will be better and

my right ankle swells up like a baloon, then the next day it is my

thumb, etc. I never know what to expect every morning when I wake

up. I go back to the rheumatologist on the 13th and he is going to

start me on MTX or Palanquil (sp?) or both. He wanted to do more

blood tests first and I am just on naproxin now. (He is testing for

parvovirus! I thought only dogs got that!)

>

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon, here. I also have trouble with changes in altitude, weather and barometric pressure. I am very climate sensitive. I was in Peachland for much of this summer and the Kamloops area of BC and while I am up there (hot and dry) I feel fantastic and then when I get back to the coast (vancouver) I feel very tired and joints flare for weeks.

I like the effect methrotrexate has, though it doesn't work 100%. I do get some pretty crazy side effect from taking it though. I find that plaquenil does nothing for me, but have heard others say that it works GREAT. Unfortunately most drugs don'g work well for me and we are now running out of options and I am forced to go on drug trials, which is kinda scary... I am only 24 and feel like guinney pig.

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[Guest guest]

The altitude doesn't seem to bother me as much as does weather changes. We live at about 5600 feet and go higher or lower for trips or vacations. We just got back from 4 days at about 1000 feet altitude and I am very stiff and sore, but we had a lot of weather variations. Now it is hot again <sigh>.

Hugs, Jacy

~Dogs have owners but Cats have staff.

jacymail@...IM: jacygal - ICQ: 96949087www.geocities.com/mtn_rose

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-----Original Message-----From: Sharon Wertz [mailto:sbwertz@...]Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 19:57Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: RA and change in altitudeIn the summer we spend half the week up in the mountains at 7300 feet, and the other half at 1000 feet. I feel fine up in the mountains, but the day after I come home, I can hardly move and it is just beginning to get better when we go back up again. Anyone else have problems with change in altitude? I have only been dealing with this for about a month, and it seems like I have a "Joint of the Day." One day my pinky fingers are so sore I can hardly move them. The next day they will be better and my right ankle swells up like a baloon, then the next day it is my thumb, etc. I never know what to expect every morning when I wake up. I go back to the rheumatologist on the 13th and he is going to start me on MTX or Palanquil (sp?) or both. He wanted to do more blood tests first and I am just on naproxin now. (He is testing for parvovirus! I thought only dogs got that!) Sharon