Good Moanin' HealingWell V63

  Previous thread can be reached here.. please continue moanin'!

Hi all.  I've missed everyone, and can't even begin to catch up by reading previous threads.  Yally--great news for you.  Glad to hear things are going so well for you--lots of exciting things happening. 

I want to change careers too, but it's a bit slower for me.  I happen to be the primary breadwinner in my family, so I can't afford to take a big pay cut.  Unfortunately, most of the careers I want to change to would require a substantial pay cut. 

Still doing ok on tx, but routinely experiencing residual pain and stiffness (see other post).  Not really complaining, but getting very tired of this whole game.  I just turned 40 back in February, and I'm wondering how it's going to feel when I'm 60 (given that I have days where I feel 60 already).  Have to see rheumy every couple of months, and so tired of it--but dare not cancel because of meds I'm on. 

My twin daughters just had their 6th birthday--gulp--and it's been a very bittersweet summer for me.  They are now old enough to play with their friends without constant supervision, but I worry nonetheless and spy on them frequently.  We're going to disney world in October and we're so very excited about that!!!!!!  I know I'll be very very sore, but so what--it's disney world :)  The exercise will be good for me.

Yally--maybe you can share some of your stress with me.  I have about 20 pounds I need to lose, and I'm having the hardest time losing them.  And I'm not taking prednisone, so I can't blame it on that.  I just eat too much of the wrong things and I'm having hard time exercising.

I look forward to catching up with everyone.  Hope everyone is doing well.

Elcamino

I'm Ba-a-a-ack!

My kids have all jumped on the WEBKINZ train, and my hubby is addicted to facebook, so this is the first time I have had the computer to myself in several days.  I've caught up on this thread, and it sounds like everyone's life is going along as good as can be expected.

I have been adjusting to life with RA.  I had been reacting so well to the Plaquenil that I barley had any symptoms on RA- I thought I might have been imagining the whole thing.  Then the flair got me....  I never want to feel that again.  I am now on Prednisone for another 4 weeks, Methotrexate, Plaquenil, darvocet (sp?), Motrin, lamictal, cymbalta, folic acid, dolfulix.  I still have pain and stiffness that effect me daily (hourly) and have been told that I will just need to accept that.  The pain in my fingers I can ignore pretty well.  My knees, elbows and shoulders are harder to ignore.

The side effects to the Methotrexate are hitting me hard.  Have you ever seen mentoes dropped into a bottle of Coke?  That's what my stomach feels like just after taking the pills.  I take sleeping pills, so I fall asleep shortly after.  I've taken to taking my sleeping meds 20 min before the methotrexate so I can sleep faster.  I feel sick the day after taking the pills. My stomach churns, I'm exausted and my pain tolerance goes really low. My hair is thinning.  It falls out everywhere.  I run my hand through my hair and get 10-20 strands every time all day long.  I find that I get a stomach ache after I eat some foods (brats, burgers, dogs, sausage).  I have sores in my mouth where my cheek gets caught between my teeth.  It seems not to heal as well.

I wonder if this is similar to what everyone else is feeling with the Methotrexate?  I suppose I will just learn to schedule less on the day after taking the meds and guard my energy well.  I was warned to avoid people who were ill because the methotrexate and the prednisone both suppress the immune system to the point that I won't be able to fight infection as well.  That is what will change my daily schedule more than everything else.  I now avoid touching things like banister rails, doorknobs and public pens.

One good thing that had come of all this is that I am now a stay-at-home mom for a year.  I was going to take a couple classes while my hubby worked and went to nursing school, but the flair really scared him. (and me)  According to the doc, we won't know if the methotrexate is really working till I go off the prednisone.  Then, if the pain stays away- it works.  If the pain comes back, it didn't. He felt that, for my health and because of the unknown- I should take a year off and take care of the kids and the house.  he's taking such great care of me, and is helping me get the house all up and running before school starts again.  This is the first time I will ever be home with the kids.  I have been the breadwinner while my hubby stayed home, but he makes more than I do now, and it just makes sense that I stay home.

Anyone got support / advice for me?  The transition, while nice, is a little scary.  One minute I feel like I won't be able to handle it, another I feel like my brain will turn to mush.

I hope everyone has a good day.  I hope you all feel better than I do.  I'm going to go do dishes now.

Christina, the folic acid is supposed to help with the GI side effects and the mouth sores if it is not helping what about folinic acid or asking you doctor for the L(can't spell this word rescue) which is folinic acid. Folinic acid can be purchased over the counter and taken 12 hours after the mtx should help.
Sj

I take the folic acid each day and the MTX once a week.  I've only taken it 3 times now.  I've decided to take it Monday nights since my hubby is off on Tuesdays.  Last week I sat with the pills in my hand for 20 min before I got the nerve up to swallow them.  I knew how I would feel later, and that the pills caused it.  I guess I was scared.

I've never claimed to be brave in the face of self-caused pain.  That's why I survived my bout with depression.

Part of my abdominal discomfort (according to my hubby) could also be the MO I take nearly around the clock and the Cymbalta that I take daily for depression.  Both can cause excess bleeding in the GI tract.  Add that to the slow-to-heal lining and you have a problem on your hands. (as far as I understand it)

I think I remember that I can take Napercen (Aleve) for pain instead of MO.  Is that true and is that easier on the stomach?  I've had a headache all day, and part of yesterday that the darvacit and MO doesn't touch.  Aleve had been OK for headaches before, so if I can take it, I will.  I have had several lectures on taking Aleve and MO at the same time with the MTX and the Cymbalta.  I've been told that if I like to keep my liver, I can't do it.  I made a nurse turn white in the face wen I told her I was taking them all together and the mg I was taking them at.  I wasn't taking the MTX yet, thank God.

I guess I should go to bed now.  My hubby works tonight, and I never want to go to bed when he isn't there.  I almost feel like I should stay up too, but then he gets to sleep all day tomorrow, and I don't.  Today the new water heater came in (been 10 days without hot water, 3 days with no water at all) and he woke up to put it in right away.  He's only had 3 hours sleep since he woke up @7:oo am Thursday. (almost 41 hours by now)  I hope he sleeps well when he gets home in the morning.

goodnight.

Christina,

My rheumy told me that many of his patients (not me) have to take more folic acid to eliminate the side effects you're talking about. I only take 1 microgram/day, but my doctor has patients that take up to 4/day. You can always increase the folic acid and see if it helps. It certainly can't hurt you.

El

ok wait a minute i havent posted for what 2 weeks and them i joke and tell bear it is him and not my new son and again my reputation goes down the tubes as the bad girl on this thread! hahahahaa if you all only knew the true prude i am hahahahaha but bear knows he has a special spot in my heart- the one that debates life! :)
so for all newcomers who dont know i am happily married to a great husband for 21 years who i miss dearly- with that said i cant wait for you to come to the states bear! hahaha i wil keep them guessing lol

as for my new son- i dont think i could keep up with a 17 yar old i like the almost fifty crowd if you know what i mean...... so i think i will pass on my italian boy and maybe get a 35 year old pool boy! hahahahaha actually i love grey hair truth be told it is a turn on for me! hahahaha

remeber when we use to pick a song of the day for ourselves - well i guess my would be "let's give 'em something to talk about..." hahaha

well back to RA...... injection site reaction less today! seem to have done better icing it! yeah! back still sharp and hurting? my mom is doing horrible with the RA as of late in a ton of pain and on new meds. i worry about her because she is not one to complain or call a doctor so i know she is in rough shape! i keep telling her to do a biologic but she is only on the mtx. oh well whats a girl to do but worry......

christina you have a lot on your plate! i dont know if it will help but i dont think of the mtx as chemo, i just think of it as just a pill i take so it doesnt seem so scarry. i too hate putting all that stuff in y system but we need it to walk and hold thngs in our hands. without it i am a train crash! i will keep you in my prayers. i thnk you take mtx like i take humira..... i slowly inject and push the syringe...... and then after wards i say to myself why all the dread? but our minds are a powerful thing not to waste ! extra hugs your way! yals

Voice system, Christina? That sounds great. Something for me to think about.
Yally, who would I poke fun at without you? Actually, I was telling my vet yesterday that if Tommy gets sick again I'm trading him in for two 30 year olds.
I was made an offer on the biz today. A pretty good one. I may be looking for a new job soon. Yipppppeeeeee!
I had a real pity party yesterday. I had to go to the bank and borrow money to get us through the summer. My body will not tolerate any more and money woes on top of that. I guess my prayers were heard.
I'm still on the fence about Methotrexate. My joints are huge and wake me even on Ambien. I know I don't have to decide right this minute and I can always go off of it if the side effects are too bad. I catch every little bug that goes around as it is. You all have been so much help.
Hubby is sleeping now and is whooped most of the time. I am so hoping the worst is over. Gets his staples out Monday. Later y'all. Boo

Oh Yally, me thinks thou dost protest too much!!!  You may try and fool all of the "newbies" with the "i'm a prude line" but those of us who have been around a while know you far too well to believe THAT.lol!  You and bear have been doing this dance forever...it's been the "bear and yally show" for long time...you guys were the entertainment of the thread..I'm still giggling over the washington phone call last year.....and now the italian boy...face it, my dear, you ARE the bad girl of the thread hahaha!!! (just kidding, really...you know I love ya) Truth be told, I'm a bit jealous lol.  Boo!!  So glad to hear about the offer on the business..praying it all goes through for you...an e-mail coming your way later today..I know you are nervous about the mtx..do you think your doc could give you something else instead?  There are so many alternatives....isn't working good for your sis?  CaMama, do hope you do enjoy your time with the kiddos...relax and don't get sick!! 

I think I got hit by a train this week...yuck...last three times I took a plane, got sicker than a dog after...really has been a rough (ruff?) week. All in my chest and really sore throat.  Family was doing a happy dance cuz my voice was GONE.... Hardly got out of bed yesteday..hubby made me a big pot of soup and I just rested. Broke down and started the z-pack I had on hand, and think I feel a bit better today. Needless to say, skipped the enbrel this week...hope that doesn't hit me too hard.

well, gotta go...too much to do today...hugs to you all..Yally behave!!

love,Jody

Up all night last night with scratchy throat and the beginnings of a stuffy nose.   I hate not being sick - especially at night!

Hi Everyone, I am new to the forum I suffer from spinal and hip arthritis . My back and hips are hurting bad this morning. I took my morning meds hope they kick in soon . I hope everyone has a low pain day.

moanin everyone and welcome kara! did i hear burning hips! whoo hoo well i am certain joan will agree i have burnin hips on fire these days! hahahahaha seriously welcome and yep me too! and my shoulders are just not happy either or my neck.... oh here i go agoin a moanin....... real stiff this moanin....... but today is another day!

i hope i am betterthis weekend because we are taking a bus to NY for a world wind trip! we leave in the middle of the night and return in the middle of the night all seen and done in the same day! guess i am too cheap for a hotel in the city so i am gonna be dying on sunday!

well actually feeling dead today agaon so gonna get ready slowly. havng out of town guests use your room again tonight! gotta go wash the bedding. lata hugs yals

erin you out there?

Mom, how is it that your daughter offered to sit and you're the one doing the sitting?

Got one last trip tomorrow b4 summer ends. I'm enjoying my time off work and with the kids. Kids and I are taking a 10-hour drive to visit family. Hubby smart enough to stay home! Lucky guy! Seriously, kids are excited to see cousins. I'm not looking forward to the drive by myself up and back but hope the trip goes well. Coming home Monday night. Took Tuesday off so I could rest.

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