I'm Back & Have Pneumonia

Hello again everyone! I haven't posted since Jan 2010, but still see lots of familiar names. Kept getting infections while I took Remicaid, so we switched to Orencia & it's worked great until recently. Over the past 10 months my pain has decreased significantly-so much so that some of my cognitive abilities have returned 'cos they're not overwhelmed by my physical pain. So I started thinking again a couple months ago-like coming out of a fog-and started seriously thinking about doing freelance technical writing from home-I felt THAT GOOD! Except for the fatigue. I had reached a point where on a good day (most days until recently), I had 4-6 hrs of "good" time when I could be out & about running errands, having lunch with friends, shopping (frugally), whatever, and I felt pretty normal but easily fatigued. Somewhere between those 4-6 hrs though, I hit a wall and have to go home & rest, but just being able to do that is a HUGE improvement from this time last year. I even went to a literary convention for a weekend last month & did great! I met a potential employer who needed a grant writer & I was all set to set up to talk to them at their office a week later when I got hit totally out of the blue with a stinking head & chest cold that kicked my butt! So all that extra energy was gone, but still my pain level is fairly low so it's not all bad. But when I got a fever, rheumy put me on a 5-day Z-Pak, which didn't work very well. All 5 days I ran a low-grade fever, but day 6 my temp was normal & I felt a bit better so I thought all was well. It wasn't. Fever returned, so I got a chest x-ray yesterday and diagnosis of pneumonia. Early stages, so it should respond to new antibiotics, but I'm so discouraged! I was doing so well, having less pain, bit more energy, and with enough coffee I felt almost normal (at least for a few hours), like I really wasn't all that disabled, but apparently I still am. I'm really so much better than I was at this time last year as far as my pain levels go, and my energy level was much better, but now it feels like I've taken several steps backwards. RA S**KS!

Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and common sense. Looking back with 20/20 hindsight, I did really overdo everything because it was the first time since I was diagnosed with RA (Mar 09) that I've had so many good days (weeks, actually) in a row. I guess that I just wanted to be well so much that I got carried away when I started feeling healthier & wasn't taking care of myself well enough. Thanks for helping me see things in their proper perspective. I felt so discouraged when I wrote my post, but reading your post has simplified my situation immensely and I feel better. I just overdid it. I'm learning how to deal with new aspects of this disease, and now I have no choice but to take care of myself. Well, I live & learn. Thanks very much for your help-I wish you well : )

Post Edited (ladywriter) : 11/21/2010 5:48:09 PM (GMT-7)

Welcome back & sorry to hear of the pneumonia. My nephew had a real stubborn case back in September & he is a big strapping, healthy man. Landed in the hospital needing a chest tube and everything!
Try to get a lot of rest and drink lots of fluids. I know that sounds like a commercial but I find it really helps. All the best to you.

If you're still running temperatures go back to your doctor, because we have weakened immune systems it often needs IV anti biotics to fight off pneumonia. Don't ignore it! Go back and see your doctor now!!!
I'm worred about you LW, golitho