(no subject)

[Guest guest]

Well, a month on Enbrel now. Instead of stopping the pain meds I am

tapering off like a good girl. When I tried to stop cold I got terrible

temperature problems. My internal thermometer went on the blink. I'm at

20mg of Oxycontin now instead of 40mg. Could probably cut more but don't

want the " heat " . I stopped all anti-inflammatories and blood pressure

and sinus problems are going away. Have to remember to tell Doc. I told

her the Celebrex gave me problems and I ended up at the Emergency room

and this certainly helps confirm my thinking on it causing the problems.

Vioxx also gave some problems. Anti-inflammatories can cause more pain

if taken when I'm not swollen. This past weekend I did more and got out

more without always thinking about the joints. I have had hours of no

hip pains. I even had a few hours where it felt I was getting the bounce

back in my step. Will be nice to see how long this lasts. After the

blow-up of the red blotchy injection sites at two weeks I have not had

the all-over rosie colored skin the day after injecting. Strange. I can

still feel slight stomach queasiness the day after.

All while the weather can't make up it's mind whether to be cod or warm,

dry or humid. Usually weather fronts cause major pain. So far so good...

Gill,

Seven years between big flares? Reminds me of the " seven year itch " in

marriage. Here I just thought it was an old wives tale.

A few rasins and you might lose sight of the computer til next year. LOL

I think the 12 sour cherries mentioned were to be the toppings on drinks

for maximum effectiveness.

I'll admit to ONE whiskey sour at the company party monday night and I

ended up yawning the rest of the night. I took my pain meds EARLY that

day and waited until the middle of the night when I woke up with a bit

of pain to take the next dose. Also, it hapened to be the day before

Enbrel so no worries there. Had a big dinner right after the drink.

Vice President asked about being able to drink. His wife was his

designated driver from six months before they got married. Makes for

interesting speeches at the partys. She claps the loudest when he sits

down. She said I was noticeably getting around better lately and that

recently my eyes looked like I was feeling better.

Take care,

PAt B

Interesting....

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.

In the room of 200, he asked, " Who would like this $20 bill? " Hands

started going up. He said, " I am going to give this $20 to one

of you but first, let me do this. "

He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, " Who

still wants it? "

Still the hands were up in the air.

" Well, " he replied, " What if I do this? " And he dropped it on the

ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked

it up, now all crumpled and dirty. " Now who still wants it? "

Still the hands went into the air.

" My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter

what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease

in value.

It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped,

crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the

circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But

no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose

your value.

You are special - Don't ever forget it!

You will never know the lives it touches, the hurting hearts it speaks

to, or the Hope that it can bring!