Monster Flares

[Guest guest]

I have to say that I have ever hardly been out of a flare. My RA came and

steadily got worse. I have never responded to " conventional " meds or the AP

yet. My sed rate has been up around 80 for years and right now my RF is

about 670. I find that all I can do to get by is to rest. I get so weak and

tired, (also have been anemic for quite some time) and so run down that on

some days it is an effort to walk across the room without resting. The

doctors say it goes with the RA, anemia and long term disease.

I have had to learn to let things go and believe me that wasnt easy as I

was always a perfectionist with my house. One thing thrown around and I'd

have something to say about it. (Probably needed an attitude adjustment in

that dept and this is God's way of letting me get one. LOL )

I've learned though that if I dont rest and just push myself through, I will

pay by being extrememly exhausted for a few days with more stiffness. I had

to get in the habit of making myself lay down and rest at least one time

during the day. I work part time too, so its been harder since I started to

do that.

I " m good to go for a few hours (gently) after all morning meds and then

of course the predisone before bed at night. I wouldnt be walking or getting

up at all right now if it wasnt for that. (I've fallen asleep twice without

taking it the last few years, and I have paid dearly) But in the afternoon,

I absolutley have to lay down and rest for an hour and sometimes even more.

There are some days when all I can do is walk in a flop down. But the key is

making myself flop down even on the good days. And also not fretting about

things not getting done. Thats the hardest part.

I'm depressed alot when the flares are bad. Like the last couple of weeks

since starting the Zithromax, I've been flared generally over all joints and

somedays really badly in my foot or knee or wrist where it is just

concentrated in one joint for a few days. Then I do the ice and moist heat

thing, alternating them every 20 minutes or so for at least an hour or two.

I am bound and determined not to back down on these meds though and try

to just get through this really bad time. I believe in the AP and I have to

respond to it someday!!!

So Rest and do what your body tells you to do when you can. I cant stay

in bed for days or I get stiffer too it seems. Just get plenty of rest if

possible. And of course looooooooooots of water, right gang??))

HUGS:)

Carol**