Re: wearing off of medicine

[Guest guest]

: I don't know about the redness and flakiness, but ANYBODY who has the

kind of fall that you had is going to feel bruised and banged up and achy. I

think sometimes we tend to blame every symptom we get on PA and it's not always

the case.

Even without PA, you might not ever be able to become the athlete you were 15

years ago - just because you're 15 years older. Who wouldn't want to be able

function like we were 15 years younger??? Age takes a toll on everyone. Are

any of your friends who were athletes in college with you able to function at

the level they were then?

Exercise is good but with PA, you need to be careful that you don't over do.

There is stress on your joints already from the disease, even if Enbrel or

whatever drug you're taking is working. Let your body be your judge.

Joanna Hoelscher

[Guest guest]

Hi Micheal, it doesn't sound weird to me at all. I have experienced similar

experiences with MTX. It has worked wonderfully for me for over 6years. I too

like to stay somewhat physical. I am a competitive skater. I no longer can do

jumps or other stressful things but I do still enjoy competing, however it takes

several hours of training , a few days per week. I definitely know when I need

to cut back and spend less time as my joints start to get achey and I know that

I am courting a flare. When I ignore these warning aches, as I have a couple of

times, I rusk going into a full fledged flare that cause me to completely stop

skating until I recover. Your fall triggered a flare. I would say that for us

folks with PA what you experienced is probably normal. I know that I risk

triggering a flare with any fall that I have, luckily I try to be careful and

have had few bad falls. You may want to adjust your cycling. Maybe scale it down

a bit and avoid situations that are aggressive. You can not avoid them

completely, but you can try to minimize your risks .

Stay well

[Guest guest]

Hi Joanna,

I find exercise at this time impossible for me, My Rheumy gave me the ok to

start the Humira again but I have to go and have my liver checked next week to

see if the Humira is affecting it again. I am at the point that I had to take

disability leave from work, I am so tired and almost every joint in my body

hurts. I have gained so much weight in the last 2 years, none of my clothes fit

and I don't know how to get it off. I watch what I eat but again I do not

exercise and I am 41 plus I am on a ton of medication which might add to the

weight gain. It is a hopeless situation made worse by PsA. What weight loss

and/or exercise tips might you or anyone else in the group have for those of us

who struggle with our weight?

Lori in AZ

[Guest guest]

As to the weight loss, I too am at a loss! I am eating 4-5 300 calorie meals a

day and have gained 10 lbs in the last month! Really frustrating. As far as the

exercise, find a local YMCA that has water therapy for arthritis. It is

wonderful. The water has to be at Because it is done under water, it is soooooo

much easier on your joints. Afterwards we sit in the hot tub. Well worth every

penny spent...plus the Y isn't expensive anyway!

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

I've been reading/watching for a long time, but don't comment often. Your

e-mail got my attention. My advice for anyone with arthritis, no matter how bad

is to get to a yoga studio. The quicker the better. I did yoga once a week for

about three years and noticed I was much stronger and flexible. I dropped out--

don't know why for a few years. Last summer I came back to it, and go

faithfully 3-4 times a week. (5 when I can manage it.) 10 years ago when I was

diagnosed, I had a hard time walking upstairs and cleaning the house. Getting

up and sitting down hurt. Now, I am able to do stretches I never dreamed of

being able to do, plus, I can do a handstand, and a backbend (in progress- I can

push up far enough to get my head up off the floor.) Push ups are no problem

now. My rheum and chiropractor are both noticing the difference. The great

part about yoga is that you start where you are, and you only do what you can.

As you become stronger and

more flexible, you do more, gradually, little by little. I took since last

summer to do the handstand if that's any indication. I even took my 65 year old

mother, and she loved it too, so even age isn't a barrier. It's safe because

you only use your own body weight and do what you can. I have not hurt myself

at all. In addition, traditional yoga classes end with a meditation session.

Our classed are 75 minutes, and the last 10-15 is meditation- which is very

helpful to those of us with these issues. If you want to learn more about yoga,

look online for classes near you. You can check out the site for the studio I

go which gives some helpful information. www.redsunyoga.com

Hope you feel better soon. Om shanti, shanti, namaste',