Hi, all,
As you know from previous posts, I have inflammatory spondylarthropathy (reactive arthritis or maybe AS). I have been in physical therapy for a month. I take Enbrel when I can, but I get a lot of infections. I went to an infectious disease doctor because my rheumatologist wanted me on suppressive therapy for the infections. She said she couldn't do much about the urinary tract infections without cultures but she said that a sinus infection could travel quickly through the body. She gave me 250 mg of ceftin to take every day. The other night I woke up and I felt like someone had hung a ton of bricks on my bones. For two days, I was in terrible fatigue and nauseated, and my mother says that I came into her room in the middle of the night and said that I wasn't going to make it. I believe it. I couldn't reach the infectious disease doctor so I saw my GP and she gave me 10 days of biaxin and said she thought it was a sinus infection. I was on biaxin before when they thought I had lyme. Now, I am swollen all over because that is what biaxin does to me.
I am still working to build my business. It is very difficult because I can't get on a steady path to health. The physical therapy helps. When I am exercising, I am out of the pain zone. I clearly have an inflammatory spondylarthropathy, as people with this disease feel better when they are on the move. I don't sleep well and I move around all night. I think I am in pain when I sleep. I tried sinequan, a tricyclic antidepressant, for the nerve pain but I gained 10 pounds in three weeks because I ate everything in the house. I won't take lyrica because I have had problems with similar drugs.
I ran an advertisement because I am tired of sitting at home. I got a reply from a nice guy and we have been corresponding. He knows about the arthritis but I don't want to overload him. I told him that it mainly affects my stamina which is true. I hope that I am not making a mistake by trying to date a little, but I feel better when there is a man around. I haven't dated anybody in years but I just went and had a fabulous cut and color. It has grown long because I was too ill to go to the hairdresser for two years. Just having the support of my physical therapist has made me feel like a new person. He has cerebral palsy, and he is wonderful PT. I have a minor crush on him and admire him so much for what he has managed to do. He just fell in love. Anyway he gives me courage.
Well, this is all for now. I just wanted to touch base and make contact. I am hurting right now. I had a fight with my mother this morning. She has been bugging me to go with her to buy underwear, and I told her that we could go to Macy's but that I couldn't stay long because I had to get back home. Long shopping trips leave me extremely exhausted. On the way back she threw a fit and said I was always in a hurry. I have tried and tried and tried to explain to her that I have arthritis of the spine and that it is hard for me to go shopping. Yes, I can take a mile walk and I am fine as long as I am moving, but a lengthy, leisurely tour through Macy's I cannot handle. It was a really terrible fight, and she lit into me big time. I have really tried to do good things for my immediate family, knowing that they have supported me through a tough time, but this was really difficult.
Hope all of you are managing to thrive despite the many challenges. Would love to hear from any and all about what is going on in your lives.
Eve