Responses Sunshine, Jenni & Nichole

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

This is in response to recent posts.

I'm Steph in VA. I'm 27 and have been living with inflammatory arthritis for 5.5 years, since 1999. I was dx'd in my last semester in college. Like many here, I have been on lots of meds. My current regimen is: Azulfidine EN, Ibuprofen, Folic Acid, Methotrexate, Prednisone, Flexerall and Remicade. I am also currently on 1500mg of Vicodin every 4 hours since my car accident on Tuesday. I have also tried: Naproxyn, Celebrex, Vioxx and Enbrel.

Sunshine: Welcome to the group. It is very common to have RA plus other health problems. It is unfortunate that your liver problems prohibit you from taking the normal meds. My doc has also told me I'm an interesting statistic. In addition to having arthritis, I also have a bi-fold uvala in my throat, which prevents me from taking certain meds depending on their shape.

I have been on Prednisone since I was dx'd. At my peak I was on 80 mg/day and I am currently on 3.5 mg/day. Prior to arthritis I was a dancer and was a size 4. On prednisone I ballooned to a size 18. I am currently in between a size 14 and a size 12. My best friend is getting married at the end of July and my dress is a size 12.

My meds are also very effective but I also still have pain every day. This last month has been rough for me too, with the constant increase in barometric pressure without the release of rain and rain continuously for days.

Regarding dating with arthritis, I dated a man for 3 years who also had arthritis. I thought he would understand my limitations. For many reasons, it didn't work out. I'm now engaged to a man who appreciates my abilities and limitations. He has my thirst for knowledge. He loves to join me on my rheumy visits so he can ask questions. On Sunday mornings he actually likes to fill my pill container for the week and he tests his knowledge of the drugs with their names, benefits and side effects. We have been dating for 6 months and he has been educating his family on some of the myths about living with arthritis and encourages them to ask questions.

Jenni: I was not offended by your cow comment. I don't know how long you have had arthritis & been on prednisone. I had to take 6 months off between finishing college and working, which is when my ballooning weight from Pred peaked. I know I was also dealing with depression to my situation at the time and had a tendency to lash out at others and call myself fat. Even though I am now on 3.5 mg/day and am only 15 pounds from my original weight, I had the occasional lapse of self pity.

While we are vulnerable to the occasional lashing out, I would appreciate you toning down your responses. All of us have enough stress in our lives without being distracted by a controversary in a support group. I am not plotting for your removal from the list, but I cannot speak for others.

While you listed things you believe do not work, it is insensitive to call them stupid. All of us have different things that work for us. ly, I would dance naked on CNN if I thought it would work.

It is not necessary for you to list your faith and/or sexual orientation. As we know, arthritis does not discriminate and pointing out these aspects of your life, while important to you, may cause this list to turn political and that is something we could do without.

I agree that life is short. That said, it is unnecessary to be indifferent to people's feelings.

I don't know how old you are but I'm 27 and have had arthritis for almost 6 years. We are here to support each other, not bring others down.

Nichole: The bumps you have referred to are rheumatoid nodules, a common symptom of arthritis they are bundles of inflammation that typical appear in joints that have arthritis. They are typically red and warm to the touch. They usually decrease in size with the help of meds.

Take care,

Steph in va

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