Gabby (Was Re: Shoes?)

[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy,

I hope you've noticed some improvements now that you've started the new

bathing routine. How's Gabby doing? I hope she's not still too bummed

out about having to stop swimming for a while. Maybe the chlorine did

have something to do with the skin issues though and I guess eliminating

that possibility was a good idea. Sad too, though.

It can be scary when the arthritis starts becoming active in other

joints where you weren't used to seeing it. I hope the extra Motrin has

been helping. I haven't been used to seeing 's ankles swollen,

since they seemed completely well for such a long period of time, but I

keep hoping that it's just temporary and that it won't get any worse

than it is right now. We didn't reduce his steroids after our last visit

so maybe as time goes on things will settle down as he adjusts. I hope.

Oh, we're such a hopeful bunch of people *** I hadn't realized how

many times I used the word hope! ****

The shoe thing .... I can't offer any solid advice. Our doctor said

maybe we should get some high top athletic shoes but Josh only wants to

wear the low ones at this point. She didn't suggest any particular

brand. If his feet continue to bother him maybe he'll be more willing to

look for a different brand. Today, after school, was wearing two

different sports shoes. One black, one white. He said he was more

comfortable that way. Go figure?

Good luck, and all the best to Gabs,

Georgina

pablo cruise wrote:

>

> We've had an " elevated " week with Gabby. Her rheumy

> ended up prescribing a steroid cream along with

> another cream for just after bathtime plus wanted us

> to give her oatmeal baths without soap or shampooing

> her hair for 2 weeks to see what happens. She put her

> back on the motrin, double doseage twice a day for 2

> weeks then I have to call her and let her know how

> she's doing. Gabby is still complaining that her

> elbows & wrists hurt her, which has never happened

> before. You can see the swelling in her little hands

> and wrists and it bothers me, especially when I touch

> her elbows and she whinces. I suppose we might be

> used to seeing her knees swell so it doesn't bother us

> as much as her upper extremities. I guess I thought

> that this would never happen...that it would take on

> other joints. I used to say " it's only in her knees

> and the ankles sometimes " . Due to the skin irritation

> and how severe it was the rheumy requested she quit

> swim classes until after the first of the year due to

> the chlorine. I felt awful for Gabby, it was the only

> thing she REALLY looked forward to doing like a " big

> girl " with the other kids from her preschool class. I

> know " fair " is not supposed to be used, but it just

> seems unfair. The rheumy told us to wash her hair

> over the sink if it must be washed in the 2 weeks, but

> do not do it in the tub since that is very hard on the

> skin. What does Gabby do but pull the shampoo off the

> tub shelf (1/2 full family sized bottle) into the

> water with her...AHHHHHHH! It took forever to rinse

> the stinking shampoo off of her...so the progress we

> had made in the past 3 days just got reversed! lol

> Thanks for listening...hugssss! Jim, Tammy, Annie &

> Especially Gabby (3 year old with Systemic JRA)

>

> Oops - What I had originally wanted to ask was since

> she's having such an awful time with her feet (they

> hurt and she won't leave her shoes on) can anyone

> recommend special/comfortable/childrens orthopedic

> tennis shoes? They suggested we get her better ones

> but I'm at a loss other than Adidas, Nike, Reebok, etc.