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Finally, The Update I Promised

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Posted 4/1/2012 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I promised to let you know what all the tests have pointed to for me.  I saw the rheumy on Wednesday and they think I have ankylosing spondylitis.  I don't think so and they did say "think" so it's a guessing game for both of us!  wink    The MRI's showed mild arthritis at the L5-S1 area but I had extreme inflammation and swelling in that area...far more than what they would expect it to be with the arthritis I have.  The swelling is pressing on the nerves.  I asked the doctor if the stress and grief over losing my beloved dog would cause the inflammation and he said "yes"!  That's what I figured because I didn't have this problem before she died.  So now I'm trying to get that inflammation under control.  It's hard to do since I'm not supposed to take anti-inflammatories!  You do what you have to do.  (As a bonus, the MRI's showed a cyst on one of my kidneys.  As Rosanne Rosannadanna would say, "It's always something!  turn )

 

Things here are perking along.  I AM taking ibuprofen with misoprostol to help protect my stomach and also I take it with a meal.  I take it only once a day (600 mg) and that seems to be doing the trick for me.  I used to take 600 mg four times a day (every six hours) but I hadn't discovered the Curamin then.  I wish I had known about Curamin because maybe I wouldn't have gotten the ulcer to begin with.  Oh, well.  Hindsight is 20/20.  But, hopefully only taking one dose a day will work out and I won't get any bleeding ulcers.

 

I'm not taking ibuprofen every day yet because I want to talk to my Internist about it first.  I'll be seeing him a week from tomorrow.  So, I'm only taking ibuporfen when I need to get some things done.  The doctor might want me to take something like Tagamet or Zantac to lessen the stomach acid.  I really don't want to do a PPI because I feel that it caused the osteoporosis that I have now.  I'll do what ever he suggests, though. 

 

I took ibuprofen on Friday and went shopping...to two drug stores, Home Depot, and grocery shopping.  I came home, put everything away, and did laundry.  There is no way I could do that without ibuprofen.  Yesterday I took it again and planted all my flowers and did yard clean-up!  Again, I couldn't have done it without ibuprofen. 

 

Hopefully my doctor will agree and will help me with this and monitor me as far as ulcers go .  I really don't have any answers.  The only medication the rheumy suggests is Humira, which I can't afford and wouldn't take if I COULD afford it.  He has also suggested prednisone which would raise my blood sugar (I'm diabetic), do more damage to my bones, etc.  The only other thing is ibuprofen so I'm between a rock and a hard place.  I will just have to depend on God's help with this one.

 

So, guys, this is that latest from Sherrine's Saga.  I know all of you know what it's like to have something and keep searching for ways to help you live your life comfortably.  We WILL, too!  We are all smart, know our bodies, and will find what works best for us.  Thank God for Google!  smilewinkgrin   

 

I hope you all are having a wonderful Palm Sunday with your family. 

 

Sherrine

Posted 4/1/2012 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine,

I'm so glad to know what's going on with you! You obviously haven't lost one iota of your spunk, or your zest for life. All that planting - whew!

Google is a lifesaver, isn't it? I always feel like I need information from a broad cross-section of sources, so sometimes I get so much information that I end up more confused than when I began, but still, I'm awfully glad it's there. At least, you can see what the majority of experts believe.

It sounds like, with your meds, you're doing everything you can to have a good quality of life, and at the same time, protect your body from nasty side-effects. It's a hard tightrope to walk, and there are so many things to keep in mind.

You are in my thoughts - happy Palm Sunday to you, too.

Debbie
Posted 4/1/2012 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
You seem to have a very good control on looking out for your own health. I love how the internet has helped us have access to information that we were not privy to years ago.

I would caution you to be careful with the ibuprofen. (which you seem to be listening to your body on everything) My husband was only given ibuprofen for pain control while in the Military and then with all of the health issues, it seems like he popped them like M&Ms everyday. Now he is allergic to ibuprofen, Tylenol, salicylates and sulfa drugs. (It is so touchy that it has limited his food intakes. I really fear for his liver.)

I hope you and your doctor can come to the perfect solution.
Posted 4/1/2012 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine...

Thanks for updating us, you have been in my prayers. Sorry that you have more conditions to deal with...my heart does go out to you. I do understand the frustration regarding the med situation...it is always something :0

Please be careful of your spine and I know you know this....but remember to pace and not overdo.

I hope you are enjoying your visit with your daughter and taking some time to relax in your pool.

Take Care

Hugs, Robin
Posted 4/1/2012 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Yes pace yourself Sherrine...

You do a lot. I could never do what you do in a day.

I am sorry for the way things worked out. You are stuck aren't you? I hope that this can be worked out and you can find something for pain that you can take.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

You are spunky!!!

Hugs, Karen
Posted 4/2/2012 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Continued prayers to you as you travel along this journey. I haven't gotten to post since you responded to my thread about the sudden and unexpected loss of my husband, but your words meant so much to me. Thank you!

Vickie
Posted 4/2/2012 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
Sherrine, I hope your newest problem will resolve with time, and that it's not AS.  You are such a support to everyone here, even with all you have going on!

What are they going to do about the cyst on your kidney?  Years ago, an ultrasound of something unrelated showed that my kidneys were full of cysts.  They gave me a round of Cipro (antibiotic), and a follow-up ultrasound showed that the cysts had disappeared, leaving lots of tiny scars...weird.

Well, keep updating as things develop (or resolve!), and best of luck to you!

Posted 4/2/2012 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
Sherri, I hope you can continue to use ibprophen. I take it once a day also. I have a bad stomach from an old gallbladder removed. What I use is carafate suspension. It coats my stomach and protects it from the ibprophen. It's an old drug, but works well for me. It's a prescription and also comes in pill form. I love the liquiod better. If my stomach is on fire, it puts the pain right out. Glad to see you are getting some of your health issues taken care of. Sounds like you have good Dr's.
Posted 4/2/2012 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the encouragement!  Yes, Karen and Robin, I didn't pace myself and my body is screaming at me now.  But, I have all my flowers planted and that makes me happy.  I didn't pace myself because I do not want to be taking ibuprofen every day.  So, when I do take it, I try to get the things done that I can't physically do without taking ibuprofen.  See what I mear? 

 

Thanks, also, for some ideas.  AK Angel, I'll be checking out Carafate today.  Do you have stomach ulcers?  That's my problem.  I developed bleeding ulcers on ibuprofen.  Now I need to try to protect my stomach the best I can if I have to continue taking it. 

Kim, they probably won't do anything about the cyst.  It's pretty common from what I understand.  My Internist might monitor it to make sure it's not getting larger, etc.  I'll know more next week after my appointment with him.

 

Mrsppmrxky, I'm being VERY careful with the ibuprofen.  I seem to be able to only need one dose a day.  That's not too bad.  I think you have to be careful with whatever you are taking.  Did your husband's doctor say he developed those allergies from taking ibuprofen?  I've never heard of that before.

 

Debbie, thanks for all of your good thoughts, too.  Yes, I am walking a tightrope but hope I don't fall!  shocked    As I said before, you have to do what you have to do.  I will do the safest thing for me so I can have quality of life.  Sitting the rest of my life is not an option.  I have to be mobile...not only for fibro but also for my sanity.  Besides, you guys don't want a whacko mod, do you?  devil

 

Thanks again.  Crush and others, your thoughts and prayers really do help me a lot.

 

Sherrine

Posted 4/2/2012 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing Sherrine. You certainly have been through a bunch of stuff. I am glad you are able to find some relief, and hope you continue to find improvements.
Posted 4/3/2012 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Wow Sherrine

 You got alot of things done,

 could you send me some of your motavation turn

 I hope you have a wonderful week

And enjoy all the flowers!

(((hugs)))

always Renee

Posted 4/3/2012 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
I am not sure if the taking of the Advil for years is what caused the spiral. I suspect something from the Gulf War zone turned his immune system on itself. (I just know that the sulfa reaction has spiralled to include foods.)

I hope you feel better and find a solution.
Posted 4/3/2012 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine, thanks for the update. Glad to know you're not wondering about it all anymore. I know you miss Sabra terribly. Have you thought about getting another dog? Or are the cats enough pets? When I lost my kitten I didn't want another pet for a long while, but I'm very happy to have gotten my sister kittens. Hugs to you. Diane
Posted 4/3/2012 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Sherrine,

I didn't mention this before, but I completely understand if losing a beloved pet contributed to existing and/or new health problems.  I am very attached to my pets and would be devastated if anything happened to them.  Some people don't understand, but I just wanted you to know that I do.  I didn't "know" you at the time of your loss, but you have my sincerest sympathy.

Posted 4/4/2012 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Sherrine,

I have been thinking about you and I pray the right answers come. You are strong and get alot accomplished and I admire that in you.   Just a thought, my doctor put me on arthrotec which is supposed to protect the stomach.  I took it for a couple of months until my inflammation was under control.  Now I take fish oil  and 2000 mgs vitamin D every day and they seem to help my arthritis.  I still want to try that curcumin.  Have a blessed day!

Posted 4/4/2012 7:30 AM (GMT 0)
Sherrine, perhaps you can get a copy of that MRI? Ankylosing spondylitis is basically an inflammation disease. It causes inflammatin in muscles and joints around the spinal and pelvis area. A MRI will show inflammation, or I'd have an undiagnosed Necrotizing Pseautumor (fancy way of saying an inflammation tumor).
Posted 4/4/2012 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherrrine...I know how hard you have worked to get answers and to figure out what course of action to take.  It takes so much time and energy doing all the research...then presenting it to doctors who many time would just like to send you on your way with a handful of prescriptions.  I hope you get some relief soon and all of us here are rooting for you!

xxoo

Donna

Posted 4/7/2012 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Sherrine, you have such a wonderful positive outlook that is so inspirational. Thanks for updating us on what's going on with you.

I resonate with your ibuprofen experience and find that it is a huge help for me too, when I need to go out. I take one only, with a meal, on any days that I have to run errands and it gets me thru those four hours. I pay for the outing the next day, though, as overdoing it always means trouble after the ibuprofen wears off. We have a couple of weddings to go to next month and already I'm in 'anticipatory dread' over how well I'll be able to function when that one ibuprofen wears off after four hours ... taking two in one day is not an option for me.

blessings and peace
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