To Ann

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kathy, I got the feeling that people didn't feel it was worth

pulling out the stories. But hey...like I said with my daughter gone, I

have time on my hands..so maybe I will just go ahead and do it.

I've been meaning to tell you that my sister recently moved to Houston.

She was in town (Boston) yesterday because her husband was here on

business. I was teasing her that I thought I had more friends in

Houston than she does.

I hope to visit her and meet some of you Texas gals - perhaps next

Spring. I keep hearing about the rodeo.

Best, Ann

> Ann,

>

> I, too, just love your art work. But I want to thank you for not

making

> that woman too skinny! LOL

>

> Are you still going to pull out everyone's " story " and put it in the

> file in front? I really like that idea. Thanks for all you do to

> contribute to this site.

>

> Txbluebelle

> Kathy

[Guest guest]

You are having a time of it I had cancer and my immune system needs the gamma

globulin, my psoriasis was so bad on my legs and I had one infection after

another, I went to an infectious disease doctor and my oncologist and my

hematologist and they worked out the treatment I am on plus I was on Zithromax

daily. I was on Enbrel before . . . where are you? This is a tough disease,

Ann Christmann <fetchinn@...>

[Guest guest]

Ann,

I wasn't sure if you were on the gamma globulin for the PsA or something

else. It sounds like you have been through it. I live just West of Butte

and currently see an internal med doc here who has kinda of sub-specialized

in arthritis and autoimmune diseases but he is not a rheumy per se but i

really like him. He sent me to Dr. Knauf for a 3rd opinion actually since I

can't seem to get any better. Dr. Knauf agreed with the diagnosis and

treatment and wants to just consult as needed to keep me from traveling so

much.

I am 40 and I was actually diagnosed about 12 years ago after much testing

trying to find a diagnosis. I was in Missouri when I was diagnosed. I then

had a second opinion in Bozeman with Dr. Saari, who felt I had primary PsA

with secondary sjogren's and most likely either overlapping lupus or RA, but

so far I'm seronegative. I have chronic sacroilltis, which is miserable and

I've had injections and nerve ablations with minimal relief. I have used

just about every med out there but Humira, which will be next. My insurance

company finally agreed to let me try Orencia which I promptly had

anaphylaxis to and was given large doses of IV steroids for days and then I

went into a steroid induced psychosis and spent 2-3 days in ICU in June.

Now we're back to square one. Narcotics give me a histamine release which

causes head to toe intense itching, even Ultram causes it. The only drug

which doesn't is the Fentanyl suckers (even the fentanyl patches do), but my

insurance is fighting me on them because of the cost and they are FDA

approved for cancer pain plus they're convinced that I'm an addict. I told

them that if i was an addict I'd be seeing more than just my usual doctor,

I'd be seeing anyone and everyone trying to get narcotics. Anyway, the

insurance company wants me to see Dr. Sechrest In Missoula who runs a pain

clinic to see if he can offer anything else. I have that appointment in

April, I have my doubts but it is one of the hoops I have to jump through

for the insurance to keep giving me the meds. I have been even sending the

case manager for my insurance company journal articles supporting the use of

fentanyl suckers in chronic pain. It's always something.

Are you in Missoula? Have you seen anyone other than Corsi? I am a nurse

midwife here and the patients that I have sent to her, love her.

Take care,

Rae