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Posted 7/21/2008 12:40 PM (GMT 0)

As always....So very good to hear from our Bear.  That's the icing on the cake at the beginning of my vacation week.  I am counting the days (months?) until you visit the States.  I am getting rested this week until the surgery on Friday.  Very emotional right now, I guess the knowing what could happen. 

I spent the weekend at a retreat at the local monastery/university.  Gave a talk to a large group of women, then proceded to eat my way to oblivion.  They prepare a lot of food at these things and I certainly don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.  The "rebellion of my body" kicked in Sunday morning, too much of the wrong foods and not sleeping in my own bed.  Walking like a question mark is a good indication that I'm operating on borrowed time.  But I needed the weekend to cleanse my mind and act like a teenager at a slumber party.  I haven't been away from hubby since the explosion in April and I have to admit, I spent Friday afternoon on the side of my bed at home, crying and thinking I couldn't go to it because my brain would be here with him.  He still has horrible days and I was afraid to leave him.  He told me he needed me to go.  I know he was lying but his heart is so big.

Joan (do I have the right person?  I'm not good at keeping my mind straight), I met some very interesting people from Brooklyn.  I kept drawing near these women to hear their accents.  They were a hoot.  

Have a great Monday, everyone.

Boo      

Posted 7/21/2008 9:56 PM (GMT 0)

yum yum! tongue

I don't really have a fun reason or excuse why I'm eating up a storm!

Boo, sounds like you needed the break and I'm glad you were able to take it. Hang in there.

Posted 7/22/2008 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
hi boo, the brooklyn accent is very distinctive. ya no wat i meen!

i am overeating alot and hiding out in the ac. did wash, watered plants and need to strip my bed. i am looking forward to my swim this evening.
Posted 7/22/2008 6:30 PM (GMT 0)

I've been gone for the last several days.  My internet went down and I felt lost and disconnected.  On thursday I go to spend the weekend on the lake and I won't have internet there either.  (what will I do?) 

I feel a lot better than I did the last time I posted.  I got up the nerve to start the methotrexate last week, and I take my 2nd dose tonight.  I took my last unit math exam today and my final exam is Thursday AM before I leave for the lake.

I will be tent camping, and the more that I think about being up there the more I wish that I could back out of it.  All of the family from the surrounding area will be there, and it is one of the biggest family gatherings of the summer.  I still have some knee and hand/wrist pain, expecialy when I am out in the humidity.  At home I can hide in the AC, camping I am just stuck.

My husband has offered to have me drop my class next semester and just focus on the house, kids and gym.  It would give me 6 months to "rest" by not including classwork on top of these things.  He wonders if I would like to just stop going to school for the degree and transition to a homemaker and stay a single income family.  On one hand I think that it would be wonderful to stay with the kids, do more with them, volunteer at the church and hve and easier time than trying to do all of it on top of going to school and then holding down a job.  The meds leave me with less energy, so I would need to focus on what's important, right? 

On the other hand, I have always strove for a career.  I have never considered staying home.  I used to be the main breadwinner before I started school.  I have always pushed hard.  Each stage of my life has had me work a little harder, push a little more, than the stage before. Doing something because it is a little easier, might give me more time, seems like backing down.  it tastes a bit like failure.

My firends say I should do it for my health and that if I am going to continue to have flairs, (or even just bad days) that make me have to take time away or even send me to bed I sould have a lifestule that doesn't have me dropping out of work or school for a week at a time because of it. 

I dropped my class, so now I am just dealing with the second guessing of the desision that I have already made.

Abyway, speaking of eating a lot- I have found that I have the MUNCHIES on the prednisone.  I have already gained weight on my waistline- I don't even want to go near the scale.  I got some healthy snacks in the house, but it doesn't seem to be helping.  I'm afraid to give up the prednisone in 6 weeks, but I'm afraid of what size I will be by then!

Posted 7/22/2008 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
I want some of that extra appitite everyone seems to be having. Now that I am off pred I am losing weight much to fast. Oh well maybe the brownies will cure that problem.
Christina, it may be pushing it to give the pred up in six weeks although that is exactly what happened for me. Week eight of mtx I dropped to 2.5 mgs of pred two weeks later off of it completely. You may also find that with the mtx you don't flare as often and have more energy ( although plaq is the only thing that ever improved my energy level-it also is why I don't eat much so twice as nice). As for camping by the lake I am jealouse. I miss Lake Ontario-there is nothing like the great lakes and Ontario is so dark and moody in the fall its like a living breathing creature.
As for hair falling out, RA flares always make my hair thin out-I shed horribly during flares-the mtx has stopped that so I actually am shedding much less on the mtx.
I hope everyone has a good week.
Sj
Posted 7/23/2008 5:11 AM (GMT 0)
Christina, don't second guess your decision regarding school. Enjoy the break and see what happens. If you choose to go back to school after next semester, do it. In the meantime, you're body is going through SO much adjustment right now - get yourself stable first, enjoy the kids, and (hopefully) a little less pressure. Figure out exactly how much b vitamins and folic acid you need daily to help the energy levels. Don't forget your water, water, water (i cannot stress that enough!) Prednisone does some funky things, and hopefully once you are off it, adjusted to the mthx, etc, you won't need it anymore. The hunger, the fog, the jitters and lack of sleep, whatever....it can cause it all. At least in my case.

I hear you on the camping. Up and down off the ground....no so easy or fun anymore. I hope you have a good time and your joints behave while at your family gathering.

***

Posted 7/23/2008 11:50 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Camama.  Good to hear from you.

Christina, count your blessings (we need them wherever we can get them) that you have such a supportive spouse.  He sounds great.  What a sweetie.  Just think of this as a vacation that your body needs to restore.  You may be avoiding a catastrophy and don't know it.  I know I've hit many a brick wall and had to miss school, work, etc. then play catch up and it's so hard to do with this disease.

I am going to go ahead and set up an appointment with the rheumy.  My right index finger feels like the joint is crushed/broken whatever.  The pain even breaks through the Ambien.  I guess I always thought I'd be able to wait until I'm an old woman before moving on to the Methotrexate.  I AM an old woman, 55 next week.  It's time to save the joints now.  Don't know why I have such a block about this.  Does this compromise the immune system?   Boo 

Posted 7/23/2008 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to see everyone posting, it is a busy summer here, so hopefully I will catch up on the posts.  Right now I have some kind of urinary tract infection and went to urgent care over the weekend so  another round of antibiotics for me, and no Enbrel.  However, the pills don't seem to be working, and I'm still downing the Azo's.  If isn't one thing it's another!

Christina, what are you going to school for? This sounds crazy, but for me I'm working toward a degree with no intention of really getting a full time job, it is more the satisfaction of obtaining the degree.  So there is nothing wrong with taking a break, deciding to stay home with your children,  or second guessing.  My children are older (youngest is 11) so it's a bit easier to go to school, but maybe consider a part-time schedule? You have to do what is best for you and and your familiy. (Also your health!).  Sometimes as moms we put ourselves last, and with RA you just can't.   I do  enjoy being home with my kiddos because they will never be the ages they are again, and I just don't want to miss out :-)

Boo...I'm glad you are going to the rheumy, and  you are not old my dear!! The lady who teaches my weight training class is 56:) I know many ladies in their 50's, I hardly consider it old :-) How is your hubby?

Happy Hump Day Everyone!

Posted 7/26/2008 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
i am still here and swimming almost every day. so long gang
Posted 7/27/2008 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
hi everyone! sorry been mia for so long havent even peeked at the posts been so crazy here. daughter is safely back from India- not a moment too soon with the terrorism happening right now there. hubby was in ok and kansas but now in tx. never here and his mom has taken ill and i have been staying with her and she has no computer access. hubby was home for a day and we hardly saw each other as we took shifts at his moms. also just doing some reorganization around the house so i have been very busy!
as far as the ra goes i guess i am having injection reactions to humira and i have HUGE welts on my stomach and legs from it. i was told to take zertex? and it is not helping still have the welts.

how is everyone else doing?
jody should be home i think?
well i will catch up soon hugs to all and keep well i think of you all often in my busy day....yally
Posted 7/27/2008 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
christina...what good would a career be is you felt sick? just a thought.

am ok, swimming, sending out poetry and keeping my joint tidy. tomorrow will take my friend out for lunch. it is her birthday and i got her a nice book too.
Posted 7/28/2008 5:37 AM (GMT 0)

Yalinda, since Zyrtec is OTC now, I have to wonder if they lessened the dose from the old Rx version. Sometimes I think good old Benedryl is the best for allergic reactions, only you have to take it every 4-6 hours. Are you itchy? Have you tried rubbing some hydrocortisone on your welts?

Boo, these days 55 is not old! Not everyone has a problem with methotrexate, nor do they only give it to old people if that is what you were implying!  nono  I  took it when I was 31 and thought I felt ancient, I'd like to think I'm not!  tongue ...I cannot stress enough to everyone, the best thing to do is make sure you drink LOTS of water on a daily basis, take the folic acid and B complex in daily, and know to take it easy the day after you take it, don't drink alchol around that time of week either.

****

Posted 7/28/2008 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
i am 63 now ... young at heart but old in body!
Posted 7/28/2008 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone

Like Sj said, drink lots of water on mtx day, and the following day.  Someone told me that a while back, and boy did it ever help!!!  Plus I took it at lunch instead of breakfast.  I live in Muskoka, Ontario, I dont think fall is up here is dark nor moody, it is breathtakingly beautiful on the lakes.  Also, now that you are on mtx, do you still take plaquinal?  My rheumy took me off of it once I was on the mtx for 3 months, for some reason that I forget tongue

CaMama, I thought we were allowed no alcohol when taking mtx?  Some say after the 3rd day is ok, but when you read up on the mtx, it says you can get cirrohsis of the liver if you do drink.  I would love to know if I could safely have a drink or 3 (hehehe) in the summer.  I miss it in the summertime...those yummy cooler's I miss the most.

Hope you are all having a pain-free morning

Gentle hugs,

Diane

Posted 7/29/2008 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone.. sorry for my absence.. things have been chaotic around here.. I've had several deaths in my (and hubby's) family.. it's summer and the kids have been keeping me busy... my new job has me just wore OUT by the end of the day.. I've been in a flare for what seems like a month now... and I've been bombarded with migraines.. luckily, my migraine medicine has been changed, so at least that may be taken care of (hopefully).. I am hoping that things will slow down in the next couple weeks or so..

Sounds like all of you are doing well and keeping busy, I just wanted to say hey and that I'm still around and lurking... I'll be on more, soon, I promise..

Love to all.. Duck
Posted 7/29/2008 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Oh Ducky, I'm so sorry to hear about what has been going on with you sad Keeping you in my thoughts...I posted to you under another post, but just get back to me when  you can! No rush! I'm so sorry you are hurting and that your family is going through a stressful time.

Busy here with my daughter and 4-H, this week is county fair and we took her exhibits for show today and she interviewed, so it was a busy day, and also finished up the cake decorating class.  We learned a lot and hope to decorate more cakes in the future.  I've been fighting an awful UTI/bladder infection and my round of antibiotics didn't work, so I go back to the doctor on Thursday.  At first, I thought they gave me a yeast infection so I tried something for that, but still the yucky burning continues, and no relief in sight.  I called the rheumy in hopes of getting relief for my joint pain since no Enbrel and all they called in were more pain pills so I will add them to the bottle I already have eyes My husband told me he would pick up my prescription up on his way home but I told him there is no rush!! My rheumy is a stubborn one, it is next to impossible to get a script for pred sad .Anyway that is my whine for the week.

I hope everyone else is well, and Boo...MTX is hardly for old people and is pretty much standard procedure in the course of RA, and most of us have taken it, young and old.

 

Posted 7/29/2008 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Technically, you are not supposed to drink at all on methotrexate. It does enough to your liver as it is. However, I recall someone here saying they really wanted to have a drink now and again. I think if you are careful, you might be able to have a glass of red wine or something...but I am not a doctor and don't take my word on it!!!!!! And I certianly wouldn't not recommend having it around the day you take the methx. And if your liver enzymes are on the high side - I wouldn't even attempt it!

I think I tried to have a small drink now and again when on it and it made me feel AWFUL while on the meds. I don't typically drink much as it is, so I just stopped drinking altogether. At this point, I MAYBE have 3 drinks a year tops, and that is probaly really only 1 1/2 as I usually only drink 1/2 of whatever it is I'm having.

****

Posted 7/29/2008 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Ducky, good to hear from you. Sorry things have been so rough.

Mom2-3, I hope you feel better soon.

***

Posted 7/29/2008 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
Camama..Thank you :) Me too!!! How are you??? As for the drinks, I think one every now and then is okay but not on the day of your dose or the day before or after, especially the day of!!! I learned the hard way on that one and ended up really sick with just one small drink from a Christmas party sad The next day it felt as if I had indulged in five margaritas instead of the half of one! Not good!
Posted 7/29/2008 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
hi everybody...am swimming and sending out poetry everyday. am doing ok ... the heat is sort of hard for me to deal with and can't wait for the fall...my favorite season and so beautiful here in upstate new york.
Posted 7/29/2008 2:39 PM (GMT 0)

Hee hee...yeah, I think that was the same with me...I had one very rare (for me) 'good' drink and the next day was not a fun one!

As it turned out, the methotrexate was upsetting my liver.....drinking pretty much off my list in general...now I'm on Arava and shouldn't drink either.....luckily, it is not affecting my liver long or giving me awful side-effects as long  as I keep the dosage really low.

Not that I was ever much of a drinker, but I went on methotrexate right after nursing my son, which was right after 3 1/2 years of being pregnant, nursing, pregnant, nursing....so I was already used to passing on the cocktails! tongue  

Posted 7/30/2008 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
hi again everyone. just poping in to give a gentle hug to everyone and let you know i am stll alive! hahaha no party drinks on this end boo hoo! virgin margaritas for the house! wait i think that is limeade then hahahaha take care nothing new on this end. hope everyone feels beter soon ...... hugs yals
Posted 7/30/2008 7:30 PM (GMT 0)

Happy Hump Day everybody!!

Back home and back at work sad !  Why do vacations have to go so fast??? Actually, I'm glad to be home, missed my hubby and the boys, it's the work part that I'm pouting about lol....takes some time for the little ones (and me) to get back into the routine after some time away.  Our time in Michigan was so nice..was wonderful to spend time with my sis, and visit with alot of family I hadn't seen in a few years.  The weather was gorgeous, nice to be away from the heat..and Michigan is a beautiful part of the country.  Mom did great, the trip was really, really good for her, Ithink, her spirits are way up.

Did I miss out on a party???All this talk about margaritas??? No fair drinking without me!lol.  Mom, Ducky, sure hope you guys are feeling better!!Ducky, sounds like you have been having a terrible time of it..please know my heart is with you dear.  Boo, how's the hubby? Yally dear, I promise we will conect, I'm so sorry we keep missing each other....how was the baby girl's trip?  CaMama, are you ok out there?  Hope none of that stuff was anywhere near you.....

Came home from our trip and had a barrage of dr appts....rhuemy on Monday..she said that all is well, doesn't want to see me for three months YEAH! (now, of course I have a sore throat and a cough lol..) then yesterday a mashogram , the gyn, and the dentist...literally, the head to toe  overhaul.  Glad to get it all overwith though.,whew. What a way to finish a vacation.....

Hey..if anybody watches the news, my own dear Clearwater Beach should be on national coverage tonight..that escape artist/illusionist Criss Angel is supposed to try and escape from a motel that they are imploding tonight, weather permitting. Right now it's pouring rain, so not sure it will happen or not.....all sounds a bit strange to me anyway. Why would somebody WANT to be in a exploding building, on purpose???

Well...little ones are getting up from their naps...so gotta go...hugs to you all!    Jody 

Post Edited (babyplace) : 7/30/2008 3:28:19 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/30/2008 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
hi...got another submission...this time they will take three poems for their October issue and will use more of my work in their spring issue. very exciting stuff. am doing ok and keep up swimming, etc.
Posted 7/31/2008 7:44 AM (GMT 0)

congrats, Joan!

Jody, I'm thankfully not near the fires. Let's hope we'll be spared this year.

I think I'm starting into a flare....got the scalp all gross again, stiffness, lots of various problems....all happening at once. Not a good sign. I have sick people all around me and doing my best to stay healthy.

Take care everyone***

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