A Doozie of a Time the Past Few Days.

take it easy erin, if you remember, the regular (not stomach) flu hit the whole household here in January - and it knocked me down for 6 weeks! And, honestly, I'm still not 100%. I've been very very tired this week as well - so, just relax, get LOTS of rest, drink LOTS of fluids (I know that doesn't feel good coming out, but you were recently dehydrated and that will make you so much worse!)

I hope better days are in your future soon!

***

thanks so much for the care & concern.

well, i showered today! gotta start somewhere right?  took about 5 hours to stand up long enough to do it.  something weird with my legs...can not walk properly. how you normally roll from heel to toe and all...i shuffle and can't bend my ankle to "walk".

so i took it upon myself to start prednisone again.  wasn't able to get to the docs for an injection...so i hope it helps my legs.

the pain in both legs was still severe last nite...bad pain still in the small intestine area (right below left side of my rib cage).

if the legs get any worse i'm calling my GI. i really do not want to mess around with any neurological after effects a virus may leave, and these legs worry me some.

hah! Mad...you say i seem to suffer quite a bit?  in fact....i rarely get "sick" LOL.  nice trade off eh? Get a chronic disease at it's worse state....and never get sick!LOL  the last time i had a cold was in october and before that...wow, maybe a year or so? so as long as i do not have complications from this or it doesn't spread/get worse i'm happy.

this had just caught me so off guard ya know? because i didn't know if it were just a bad Crohns flare up or what. now i know why some docs throw their arms up in bafflement! i don't blame them! i give up too!

all 4 cats accounted for in bed.

dear Jess,

hi & welcome! thank you for your post.

if you have cervical spond. you could see a spine specialist or even a rheumatologist. a rheummy will be familiar w/ this issue.

have you an autoimmune disease?

a cure i am not sure there is...but there are definitely therapeutic help, medicines, and medical interventions that can help this problem.

is your c-spine causing a lot of pain?

as i tell many....quick action, early treatment, being aggressive.....keeps a lot of problems from arising and prevents things from getting worse.

what type of MD do you see currently?

take care & don't worry...school's almost through! SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!!!!

sincerely,

erin

awe...gosh you really hit the nail on the head! yeah, i would say see at least a rheumatologist. i mean, sounds like it's extensive osteoarthritis and degenerative arhtritis! even a bone and joint hospital would be an excellent place for a consult if you can find one.

i feel though, that neurosurgeons are too "scalpal happy" you know? but depending on the compression of the c-spine, you really can't fool too much with that.

so do you think all of this is sports related? injuries? you sound quite the athlete.  it's really the pitts when young! i'm 25 and been dealing with the worst of this RA since 22. from 16 to 20 it was OK because i could still workout, work, have a social life, and do everything!....at 25 i say, "oh what i would give to be 17 again!"

pain management is critical. whether it be NSAIDs or other analgesia....it's a lifesaver in regards to performance & quality of life.

what do you take now for treatment? or haven't they started anything yet?

thanks for your kind words about the ordeal with my "father" if ya can call em that.  but nah...i'm wiping my hands clean of him. i've always left my arms & heart wide open to him...but he makes no attempt. what can ya do? i am not letting it weigh heavily on me, i can't physically afford that. (truthfully...he's making the wrong friends! i mean, his daughter's in the nursing field?....wouldn't ya WANT to be nice, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED HELP ONE DAY POPS! LOL) but i will not allow any emotional abuse in my life from him.

i love my grandmother. she lives far away so i see her not often. she's a big support to me. she called me "her hero" when she was beating Colon Cancer! now that's a compliment!

so let us know how this week goes with your docs and calls and all. healingwell is great, especially the arhtritis forum. we've all grown tight-nit real fast, even brand new members. all types of RA, OA, PA, autoimmune diseases, discs...YOU NAME IT, YOU'LL FIND IT HERE! hah!

have a goodnight.  erin

I feel redundant in saying that because evreyone says that. but again...I HATE STEROIDS! can't stinkin' sleep!

the whopping doses i took did get me walking (well, a good enough shuffle to be considered a walk). thank God. and has reduced the joint & leg pain.

still though...a bad pain in my abdomen, left upper middle side(twisting cramping sharp pain) and also right in the middle of my abdomen as well...burning pain.

but no big "D" for a whole day. can eat a little at a time.

Seeing the rheummy monday to get my knees done (huh...sounds like i'm going in for a face lift) and to tak about adding MTX to the combo.  need something more in addition to what i'm already on to get NEAR a remission state of somewhat.

I wanna go swimming.

here's to a better tomorrow.

so i have to wait till May to get that Promethius test for my Imuran level; am keeping on the Humira every 4 days still. now i have to decide if i want to approach my rheummy with starting MTX.  my GI last week suggested it. i'm confused.   they were all gung-ho on starting the Remicade...but now they're talking MTX in combo w/ Humira and Imuran.

maybe give it a shot? it does say in plain ol english that Humira works best in combination w/MTX. so why am i not on it? so that'll be friday april 7th's appointment.

this ain't easy!

also still no word about my appeal for SSI/Dis. been over 2 months. perhaps they are actually LOOKING at my case this time and not just my age.

hope everyone has a peaceful night.

thanks for listening.

with love,

erin