Lynnwood

Since you asked so nicely -- here is the list I presented to both my rheumy and my PCP the last week of June: Muscle fatigue – all large muscles Shortness of breath Chest pain – sternum Full body – swollen/puffy/water retention? Must prop up neck at end of day, can’t hold up Hair texture/hair loss changes Period: Mar 28-May 17 (50 days); (12 day break); May 30–June 14 (16 days) All of the resulting blood tests and pap smear turned out fine, as did a stress test that was prescribed. It's time for me to schedule my regular mammogram and bone density tests, but no reason to expect anything odd there. It was recommended that I see a gyn specialist (one I saw 2 yrs ago for basically same thing, where nothing odd was found after lots of tests, time, and $$). I've since had a regular period of July 3-7th (5 days) that occurred 2.5 wks after the last one. If the next one is normal I'm going to forget it, otherwise I will see the fancy gyn. I asked the rheumy if I could decrease the Cellcept since I thought it might be part of the water retention problem, he said ok so it's changed from 3000mg daily to 2000mg daily (2 x 500mg in AM & PM). I was already ramping down the Prednisone from 15mg, and was getting bored with him wanting to do 1 mg every 3 wks -- I went to 10 mg. Am also trying to start walking, however slowly, awkwardly, or short the walks may be. Circulation is supposed to help the bloat, since they don't think a diuretic is warranted. It turns out other things that I might have been doing that contribute to edema are not eating enough and/or not eating enough protein. So I am also addressing those issues. If the bloat remains, the only other possibility is hormones, which will also lead me back to the fancy gyn. In just 5 days of watching food and walking about an hour daily (not far, slow, but moving) the edema has decreased. (It's also been 11 days of changed meds.) Other stuff seems to be clearing up some also... either stuff has helped or some kind of flare was going on. In any case, I'm fine. Thanks for checking up on me, I can be fairly closed-mouthed!

Thanks for letting me in on a glimpse of your life. I'm glad to hear that you might not have to see a gyn, I know even with my insurance I have enough bills to choke a horse. Your still a spring chicken. (love the sunglasses) Did they give you a reason for the swore muscles. Some people here have said those are symptoms of fibro. I get those same pains and cramps in my large muscles when my breathing is real bad. It has to do with what oxygen I get goes to protecting your vital organs and bypasses the muscles and other extremeities. Summer time is real bad for me with swelling. I seem to retain a lot of water. I'm glad to hear that whatever you are doing is helping some. I have a pillow with little tiny styofoam balls in it that I can wrap how ever I need it that seems to help my neck sometimes.
You can be fairly closed mouth is an understatment! Somtimes I feel like I need to get out the crowbar! LOL.

Take care
hugs
carol