RE: Let me introduce myself...

[Guest guest]

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I started the challenge on 1/22 and just knew there had to be an

> eGroup. This one seems pretty active compared to some of the others

> so, being an extrovert, here I am!!!

Welcome aboard, Marie! I'm fairly new here myself, but this place is

rockin'! Seems to me when I joined there weren't quite 400 members,

but I just checked and there are now 440!

> I usually prefer to do my eating a little later in the day...is

> anyone aware of the recommended latest meal time?

I'm no expert by any means, but my understanding is that it doesn't

matter if you're sticking rigidly to the program. Personally I think

I might lower the carbs as the day wears on.

Cheers

Andy

[Guest guest]

I feel that it is best to try and eat your last meal no later than 8:00

PM. I must say however that I have eaten as late as 9:30 PM many of nights

and I have still achieved great results.

I went from a size 18 to a size 12 by the time I entered my 9th week on

the program. I feel from my own experience that as long as you stay within

the guidelines of the BFL program most of the time you will achieve results.

Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome!! I just joined this week. I am 36 and I have had PA for 8

years. My P is bad so my dermatologist is putting me on Humira - I am

ready for anything at this point. I live in Florida and the humidity

is very bad. I sometimes think certain foods trigger my P but I think

too it's the humidity. I am hoping to learn alot from this group.

Amy

[Guest guest]

,

I had extensive foot surgery in March on my rt foot. They

straightened my 2,3,and 4 toes. They fused my mid-foot and cleaned

out my ankle. I ended up with three plates and eleven screws. It is

an extensive procedure so be prepared for a long recovery period. I

was in a wheelchair exclusively for ten weeks. They said going into

it that the foot would be none weight bearing for six-ten weeks. The

bones in my feet are really soft due to the arthritis damage so I was

on the ten weeks end. Then you start walking little by little. Five

months later and I am walking pretty well. I am still wearing two

different shoes. It may take a few more months for the swelling to

go down enough for me to get a pair of shoes. It takes a good year

to completely recover. It was well worth it for me. The pain in

that foot had been unbearable for quite some time. I will get the

other foot done in about a year. I am forty years old and the Dr's

say they want to see if we can wait ten years to replace my ankles.

Hope this helps some.

-Eileen

[Guest guest]

,

I have PA and OA and am scheduled for a right hip replacement on Sept 15.

I am on Remicade and Arava.

How did you deal with going of biologics and then coming back on them

around your surgery date.

Are you at all concerned about an increased risk of infection of your

replacement joints because you are on Humira?

Thanks,

DC

[Guest guest]

DC, I was advised to stop the biologics a week prior to surgery.  Then, I was

advised to start it a week after surgery but I decided on my own to go a little

longer.  I'm not suggesting you do same but I wanted to give my body time to

heal before starting again.  Honestly, I haven't given it a lot of thought about

getting infection at the prosthesis sites, as I haven't had a lot of infections

on biologics.  (Perhaps,I shoudl be thinking about this.)  I was originally on

enbrel, then remicade, then hurmira.  I had some infection trouble with enbrel,

as I would get sinus infections and ingrown toe nails with infections.  On

humira, I have gotten a stubborn bladder infection for the first time.  I must

say, when I get sick, it tends to hard to shake.  My " colds " are worse too. 

When I get an infection, I do stop the drugs until I'm recovering.  You may know

that you're required to take antibiotics during certain procedures, dental

cleanings,

biopsies, colonoscopies, etc.  My primary dr. gave me a prescription to hold

for pre-treatment procedures.  My dentist and prirmary dr. told me that

antibiotics are necessary for up to two years after the surgery.  However, my

surgeon prescribes it for life.  He said, it's not worth the risk.  Personally,

I'd rather take four antibiotic pills occasionally and not risk it too.  I wish

you an easy HR surgery!  You'll soon be better than new. 

[Guest guest]

Your doctor will ask you to go off any drugs that suppress the immune system a

week or two in advance of the surgery and stay off them until the threat of

infection is gone (in this case, likely when the incision is completely healed -

usually a couple of weeks.)  My ortho told me - when I was considering whether

or not to go on Enbrel - that he had operated on a number of patients who were

on the drug and had never had a problem. 

If there's any way to check, my biggest concern would be the kind of post-op

infection rate the hospital has.

 Joanna Hoelscher

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for the info.

I will be off of Remicade for about 3 weeks when I have the surgery

and may get another infusion about 1 month after surgery.

'

This will be a big experiment as I normally get Remicade on a monthly

basis.

Yet, I will stay on the Arava through out.

Did you ever think that the surgery caused your PA to flair?

My surgeon is pretty good, but he does not seem well versed with PA,

so I am trying to anticipate things.

Thanks,

DC

[Guest guest]

The American Orthopedic Association recommends only two years so your doctor

really is being extra, extra careful. 

 Joanna Hoelscher

[Guest guest]

Yes, I know.  My primary and dentist told me 2 years so I asked during a follow

up visit.  I wanted to be sure I had it correctly.  They told me that infections

can be severe and they felt that it was better to be extra cautious.  Other than

dental cleanings 2x/yr, I should hope I wouldn't need antibiotics so often that

it would be worrisome.  With 3 joint replacements and the recommendation, I

rather take them.

Gilchrist <gilchrist414@...>

[Guest guest]

After my hip surgery and being off the Humira, I was starting to flare. 

However, I felt better after being on it.  After my knees, it was less of an

issue and I suspect it's because my hip and knees were my biggest problem.  I'm

feeling it a bit in my hands and back again but nothing too terrible.  Keep in

touch, as I'd love to learn how you're doing. 

Gilchrist <gilchrist414@...>