what a week

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I have mulled over whether I should post my weeks events but I finally decided

that it might be relevant to someone. My name is AKA Shelly in

Jax Fla. We left for clinic and surgery last Monday. By that time I had been

off my plaquinil and celebrex for 9 days. I had not been feeling well for 2

days and I was pretty sure it would get worse and necessitate canceling the

surgery, which it did. The clinic was great and I got to ask loads of questions

etc. I was the first one called back to speak with Dr R. I told him of the

flare up I was having and how it started just one week after discontinuing my

meds. This concerned him and as I expected we did not proceed with surgery on

Friday. I had to begin my meds the day before clinic because of the high fever

and intense pain. Today (Saturday) I am finally feeling normal

I have had in the past pericarditis, which is a build up of fluid surrounding

the heart. It is very painful to breathe, hiccup or cough. Fevers and a

general flu feeling accompanied it. I also have, as best my rheumatologist can

determine, inflammatory arthritis. This latest episode felt like I had another

bout of pericarditis.

Dr R wants me top meet with my docs and try to determine what I was having and

how it can be controlled. Prior to April I had been on prednisone for 4 years

as well as other meds. Dr R told me that prednisone can affect our tissues and

healing for months and even years. This also concerns him. So, I will meet

with my docs and maybe even go to MAYO here in Jax to be reevaluated to find the

best approach. Meanwhile my daughter will be having her surgery in

December.

Shelly in Jax Fla