Jay!

Hey Jay- so glad to see you posting!

Rather than hi jack Crackles thread I thought I'd start a new one.

Crackles- feel free to jump on here and add to the conversation.

I was going to ask you how you made out with school but then I read the stem cell thread and see you are doing marvelous- I'm so proud. You have a good head on your shoulders and have such keen insight to the medical world well beyond your years. I see you going big places- your parents must be busting their buttons with pride.

How are you feeling? I am hoping that the success you are enjoying did not come with too much RA presence.

I am doing great! I have been off all RA meds for 6 months now and feeling....well...no worse than when I'm on them. The doctor calls it remission. I call it freedom. I have been enjoying the summer to the fullest without MTX worries. Cocktails, BBQ, & hot tub with the heat turned off- who can ask for anything more?

Let me know how you are doing!

Hey guys,

Thanks for the well-wishing both of you :) Although Weary, you are making me blush a little!!

I did think my arthritis was in remission for about 6 months, I didn't take Enbrel (the only RA med I'm on) due to an infection, and didn't bother restarting. No worsening of symptoms or anything for 6 months, and then the morning stiffness gradually reappeared and soon turned into 'morning, afternoon and evening' stiffness... I started again a month or so ago and things are gradually easing once again. It still isn't a huge concern for me - it's like you described it in another thread - 'background noise', I'm far more concerned about the fibromyalgia, and I'm struggling to find a doctor I can see regularly who takes it seriously. I see my new rheumy next week for the first time, so we'll see what happens there... (As it isn't degenerative they don't seem to think it's worth their time. I suppose I'll have to find the cure myself.)

I do think my good luck with school was definitely in spite of FMS/PsA, although I have to admit I would now be in a totally unrelated (and far less exciting) field had I not developed these conditions. I think there's some irony in there somewhere! :)

I'm very glad indeed to hear about your remission, it's really great news! Summer has yet to arrive in the UK yet, it's expected sometime in 2018, though, so that's pretty exciting.

It's 3:30am now here, so think I'd better go - it's very good to hear from you (and of course everyone else in these parts)

take care