Re: newbie here!

[Guest guest]

hey rita and welcome!!! i am 41 and just recently developed stomach bleeds

from the meds too. i have inflammatory spondyloarthropy, had carpal tunnel

and tarsal tunnel. been home on disability since december but will probably

go back at the end of the month?!?! i am on enbrel and was supposed to start

methotrexate, but haven't been able to afford any neww meds. i have a 17 yr

old son also learning to drive and i am a widow so i get all the stresses!!!

you will find a loving caring bunch of people here.

kathy

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the warm welcome . I don't mind answering any questions at

all. My shoulder started bothering me several years ago where it would lock

up a bit when lifted. I would rotate it loose and then resume whatever I was

doing. Then one day I dropped a tool from the garage on it and it went from

bad to worse. I had surgery on it and they found the rotator cuff to be

somewhat torn. I went to PT after that, but never got better. Next I had a

manipulation and more PT. My Ins. stinks so I ended up owing over $600 out

of pocket for the PT and I still can't lift that arm much at all. It was my

right arm and I fear all the time I will lose the other one next.

As far as other damage goes, mostly deformaty in my hands and feet. I need

surgery on my feet and had scheduled some back in Oct. but had to cancel it

to get a job to pay for household bills since my husband is a cumpulsive

gambler. I'm on a quest right now to figure out a way to take care of me

without him. I haven't worked much during our married years, so I am in

quite a spot with the RA progressing as well. Anyway, for the moment I am

not on any other meds but the methotrexate. I'm not crazy about being on

that and would prefer to go back to my old diet and feeling the way I was.

I'm working toward it.

Rita

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

You sound like you have your hands so full! A friend of mine has been

trying to get me to look into disability. I've heard what a pain it is to

try and get and I am hesitant. Any advice? What do I need to know? I may

be alone soon myself with this disease and a teen!

Rita

[Guest guest]

i am really not sure what to tellyou there. i am home on medical disability,

i went to my rheumi with my ss disability papers and she said i would not

qualify. so i guess i will have to go back. thank god for fmli!!! it's the

only thing that saves my job.

kathy

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Rita!

Glad you were brave enough to take the plunge and introduce yourself. You

have nothing to fear from any of us. Don't worry about nastiness - that's

not what we're about (and, besides, we won't stand for it!). This is a very

compassionate, smart group. Five boards - you are a busy woman.

So sorry that you've had RA for so long. We have several members who have

dealt with RA for many, many years, some who have been newly diagnosed with

RA, others with other diseases and combinations of problems, and others

(like me) who are still looking for a solid diagnosis (I have a highly

questionable RA diagnosis among others!!).

What exactly happened to your shoulder and what is its status now? Do you

have any other joint damage? Besides MTX, are you on any other meds? Don't

answer anything you don't want to. I'm just very curious. I have one bad

shoulder and another on the way.

We've had a lot of discussion about traditional versus alternative meds

lately. I think you will enjoy talking about that issue with us.

I have a 16-year-old daughter and 14 and 9-year-old sons. The driving thing

IS stressful! It won't be long before child driver number two is giving me

more gray hair than I already have.

Glad you found us,

----- Original Message -----

From: <EndlsBreze@...>

< >

Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2001 9:13 AM

Subject: [ ] newbie here!

> Hi all! Just thought I would jump in and intro myself. I'm Rita and I've

> been on egroups/groups for about 3 years now. I belong to 5 other

> groups, but decided it was time to reconnect with other RAers out there.

I

> was posting for a long time a few years back to a message board, but that

> group began to get so nasty! I found myself more upset being in it than

> anything.

>

> About me.....I'm 36 and have had RA for 12 years. I've been on tons of

> different anti-inflammatory drugs which have now messed up my stomach. I

> lost the use of one shoulder 3 years ago. I've been on prednisone,

> plaquenil, ridaura and now methotrexate which I was trying to avoid. A

few

> years ago I dropped all meds but the plaquenil and went veggie with no

dairy

> adding mega vitamins with MSM and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate. I felt

> the best doing that. Unfortunately I've had a ton of stress in my life

this

> past year and my diet has not been what it should be and I have been back

to

> flaring and feeling bad.

>

> I've been married for 16 years (the source of my stress! LOL) and have a

15

> year old son who is learning to drive (yep....another source!) I work at

a

> vet hosp as a receptionist part time and have 2 other very part time

> jobs.....all of which wear me out!

>

> I'm just hoping to connect and share with others who are in my position.

> From what I have read today, you sound like a very caring and fun group.

I

> look forward to participating.

>

>

>

> Rita in cincinnati Oh

[Guest guest]

Rita,

You have certainly come to the right place. Iam a mom of a 12 yr old boy with

systemic JRA. His name is jesse. He is the second oldest of my five boys.

Most everyone in this group knows my boys pretty well. I have been with this

group for over a year now. I came here looking for new info about jesse's

illness. You would think that him having it for over 6 yrs that i would be an

expert. well i sure wasn't. I have learned so much here in the group and when

i feel helpless or stressed out i come here and express my fears instead of

keeping it in. iam able to deal with jesse alot better because i am not

holding my fears in. you see my boys are very sensitive to what my feelings

are so if iam stressed jesse really gets stressed.

Everyone here is great. If it wasn't for this group this past yr i surely

would have lost my mind. even says the group is like our own special

family.

sure glad you joined.

shelly and jesse

[Guest guest]

Welcome Rita!!!!

You'll like it here. Really a lot of great people and they always

care.

Ohio - Terry

[Guest guest]

Hi Rita,

Welcome to our group. You find a lot of answers here, plus very helpful

people.

Me Mom

----------

> From: EndlsBreze@...

>

> Subject: [ ] newbie here!

> Date: Sunday, April 01, 2001 10:13 AM

>

> Hi all! Just thought I would jump in and intro myself. I'm Rita and

I've

> been on egroups/groups for about 3 years now. I belong to 5 other

> groups, but decided it was time to reconnect with other RAers out there.

I

> was posting for a long time a few years back to a message board, but that

> group began to get so nasty! I found myself more upset being in it than

> anything.

>

> About me.....I'm 36 and have had RA for 12 years. I've been on tons of

> different anti-inflammatory drugs which have now messed up my stomach. I

> lost the use of one shoulder 3 years ago. I've been on prednisone,

> plaquenil, ridaura and now methotrexate which I was trying to avoid. A

few

> years ago I dropped all meds but the plaquenil and went veggie with no

dairy

> adding mega vitamins with MSM and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate. I

felt

> the best doing that. Unfortunately I've had a ton of stress in my life

this

> past year and my diet has not been what it should be and I have been back

to

> flaring and feeling bad.

>

> I've been married for 16 years (the source of my stress! LOL) and have a

15

> year old son who is learning to drive (yep....another source!) I work at

a

> vet hosp as a receptionist part time and have 2 other very part time

> jobs.....all of which wear me out!

>

> I'm just hoping to connect and share with others who are in my position.

> From what I have read today, you sound like a very caring and fun group.

I

> look forward to participating.

>

>

>

> Rita in cincinnati Oh

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome Rita. I'm sure you'll love it here. Everyone here is so sweet and

compassionate. Many of us have been together for over 3 years now.

I made a lot of diet changes recently, and have seen an improvement in my GI

track, and have lost weight, but unfortunately it hasn't helped my arthritis. I

just started mtx too, and also shied away from it for years. I can't afford to

loose any more joints, so I had to try it in hopes to slow down this disease. I

also take Enbrel, which has helped a lot, but not enough. If diet has helped

you so much, I hope you can get back on it and have the same good luck. I'm

glad you're taking mtx too. I hope the combo of mtx and your diet gives you

relief.

My son just got his license last week, so I know about that stress.

a

----- Original Message -----

From: EndlsBreze@...

Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2001 10:13 AM

Subject: [ ] newbie here!

Hi all! Just thought I would jump in and intro myself. I'm Rita and I've

been on egroups/groups for about 3 years now. I belong to 5 other

groups, but decided it was time to reconnect with other RAers out there. I

was posting for a long time a few years back to a message board, but that

group began to get so nasty! I found myself more upset being in it than

anything.

About me.....I'm 36 and have had RA for 12 years. I've been on tons of

different anti-inflammatory drugs which have now messed up my stomach. I

lost the use of one shoulder 3 years ago. I've been on prednisone,

plaquenil, ridaura and now methotrexate which I was trying to avoid. A few

years ago I dropped all meds but the plaquenil and went veggie with no dairy

adding mega vitamins with MSM and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate. I felt

the best doing that. Unfortunately I've had a ton of stress in my life this

past year and my diet has not been what it should be and I have been back to

flaring and feeling bad.

I've been married for 16 years (the source of my stress! LOL) and have a 15

year old son who is learning to drive (yep....another source!) I work at a

vet hosp as a receptionist part time and have 2 other very part time

jobs.....all of which wear me out!

I'm just hoping to connect and share with others who are in my position.

From what I have read today, you sound like a very caring and fun group. I

look forward to participating.

Rita in cincinnati Oh

[Guest guest]

Welcome Rita!

Everything said is true! You'll love it here. I've been on board for

over a year now and don't know how I got along without everyone. I've made

some life friends! I was diagnosed at 13 with JRA (juvenile rheumatoid arty)

and now am just plain ole RA at 32. 19 years. All my joints are affected and

I am pretty crippled and bent, and that's just in my head! No seriously, I

am pretty crooked from all the damage. I've been on SS/SSI since I was about

19 and I don't even really remember filling out papers. My Dad started the

process for me and got me through that. At the moment, I'm under disability

review! I got the packet of papers on Saturday. I went through this four

years ago and they said then that they felt my disability would improve. My

b/f, Ryder, laughed and said does that mean all your arthritis is gonna

magically go away?? In four years I have gotten worse. I don't drive myself

anywhere anymore. I'm more dependent on people now than I was then. ANYWAY,

the only advice I can give you is to just jump in and see it through to the

end. If they deny you, appeal! Oh, and make copies of everything you send

them for your own records! I set up a special file for them when all this

started way back when I was younger and am SO GLAD I did. I've needed to get

into it several times to prove them wrong. I did and I won. =)

Go to this link: http://www.ssa.gov there is a link there to apply for

benefits, and check things out. There is also a toll free number you can

call to talk to a live person. =) 1-800-772-1213 You can call and get them

to send you the forms you need. Be prepared to sit on hold " for the next

available representative. " hehe.. Get something to drink and a book to read.

I was on hold for 30 minutes yesterday.

If you think you'll be alone soon, START THE PROCESS NOW. It takes time. If

I remember right, it took about 6 months for me.

Hmm.. can't think of anything else at present. Ask anything you like. =)

Again, WELCOME RITA! =-)

~Rainy Sue

rainysu@...

----- Original Message -----

> Kathy,

> You sound like you have your hands so full! A friend of mine has been

> trying to get me to look into disability. I've heard what a pain it is to

> try and get and I am hesitant. Any advice? What do I need to know? I

may

> be alone soon myself with this disease and a teen!

>

> Rita

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the advice and the warm welcome Rainy Sue. I know what you

mean about not knowing how you ever got along without everyone. I have

another board that I post to that I feel that way about. We had a get

together in Chicago last year and it was a blast to meet some of them! I

hope I find the same kindship here. I look forward to connecting more with

all of you.

Rita

[Guest guest]

--- In , " erinnbrett00 " <erinnbrett00@...>

wrote:

>

> Hello everyone!

> My name is . I live in PA and was just diagnosed with

> Fibromyalgia last week when I first vistied a Rheumaltologist.

> I was diagnosed with DLE Lupus last year at a Dermatologist after they

> did a biopsy of my facial rash. I am 30 years old with 4 children and

> alot of pain!(not from them lol) I also get headaches so bad to the

> point that I just stay in bed all day.. I am so tired all the time its

> so frustrating to me! I hate this!!

> I also have terrible sinus problems , which i think is a big part of

> my headaches. As well as anxiety issues and a weight issue. (not over

> terribly over weight but if i gain a pound i dont eat for days!)

> Now that I am done rambling here I will get to my question! (sorry)!!

> The Rheumy put me on Trazodone... he says its for

> depression,anxiety,pain and my sleep problems and was the least likey

> to have me gain weight.

> Has anyone here been on that? If so did it work?? I still get up every

> single morning with a headache ( and stuffy nose so its probably

> sinuses) and I am so tired!!!

> Any suggestions?? I go back to the Rheumy in a few weeks and have no

> clue what questions I am supposed to ask!

> Thanks so much for listening to me venting here.... I am looking

> forward to meeting you all!

>

>

Welcome My Name is Janet I too have Firbo and RA. along with

other thing, I take Trazodone 75 mg @ night It works alittle but not

that good. I still am up all night but I also have IC that keeps me up.

good luck with you DR. and Welcome to the group. their are some nice

people here I too am new about 1 wk.

Janet IN IL