Hi, new to the site, old to PA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/9/2004 1:00:49 PM Pacific Standard Time,

dickparr@... writes:

It's just good to find others that

know what you go through each day.

Welcome! I am so glad you found this list! It is a Wonderful group of

people with lots of information and support to share.

K

Adrienne's mom

[Guest guest]

I don't know why I never looked for a support group on the internet

before? I guess it goes along with everything else.

A little bit about myself (turned out it isn't just a bit, sorry); I

was diagnosed by my GP in 1989 with arthritis because of the all the

stiff joints I was getting. About every 6 months I had to go in to

have fluids removed from my knees and cortisone injected in its

place. At 39 I thought I was a little young but I found out all

ages get arthritis. He referred me to a rheumatologist to get a

better diagnosis. After tests, x-rays and blood work, I was

diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (PA), Reactive Arthritis/Reiter's

Syndrome (ReA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). The blood work also

showed I was HLA-B27 positive. The joints that are affected are;

fingers, hands, wrists, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, feet and

toes. I have large knots/bulges at the base of my neck which I have

been told is from muscle tension in the neck. All I know is that it

is getting harder and harder to move my neck and it is in constant

pain. My back has pain in the lumbar area, the middle of the back

and in the neck

In about 1992 I really started having trouble with my feet. Bad

enough that I couldn't walk on them and it wasn't joint pain. To

make a long story short, I went through about 4 doctors and 18

months of being on prednisone before a podiatrist determined that I

had what they call a Neuroma between the toes. Turned out over the

next four years I had 4 of them, two in each foot, so I had 3

operations to remove them. Feet are better now.

Over the years I have gone through the normal meds. After the

Tylenol and Aspirins didn't work any more I went to Celebrex, next

was Vioxx and then on to Mobic which I take now. Next was to add

Sulfasalazine which didn't do anything and then on to Methotrexate

which did some good. I was put on Enbrel about a year ago which

does do wonders for me. I take the folic acid to go with the

methotrzate or I get a bad yeast infection in my mouth (had 2 of

them) which is no fun. Take blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds,

and since I was on prednisone for so long, I now get to take water

pills each day for the extra water retention. Potassium to make up

for the water pills and Nexium for the reflux. I know the Enbrel

and Methotrexate work because twice I have had infections and had to

stop those two meds until the infection cleared up. Boy did I hurt

after about 3 days of not taking Enbrel and Methotrexate, I could

not wait to get back on them. About 6 months ago the pain was

getting so bad that I needed something for it. Taking Hydrocodone

helped but I didn't want to have to take it every day. So my

rheumatologist started me on Ultracet which makes day to day living

tolerable. Only need the hydro every once in awhile when I really

over do it.

One of the best things my rheumatologist prescribed for me and the

wife (she has arthritis also) was a hot tub back in 2001. When I am

really hurting I just got in for about 20 min and fell a lot better

when I get out. Before the Enbrel, I would use it up to 3 times a

day. It was the only thing that could get me walking in the morning

and it was what helped me to sleep at night.

Now to add to the fatigue that the PA cause's, in December last

year, I was diagnosed with sever Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). So

now I get to sleep with a VPAP machine at night wearing a full face

mask. Took to it better then I thought I would.

Valentines Day will be my first anniversary since I was forced to

stop working. I continued to work through all the above until I

went on a business trip last January and got some type of a virus.

Even after the entire set of tests the doctors did, they still don't

know what kind I had. It caused me to swell up to the point that I

thought my skin was going to brake open. It also made it very

difficult to breath. It then made is so that I could not stand for

very long or sit for very long. I have 4 different types of

cushions that I use to sit on now. Since last January all my

symptoms have really kicked in. My rheumatologist said that what

ever I got, it sure did play heck with my system. My memory lose

has gotten worse and my concentration is about half of what it was.

I passed all of the breathing tests they gave me, but failed the

Echocardiogram. They said I have an abnormal left ventricle and a

large heart. Still not bad enough to have anything done with it

yet, I just have to watch it and get checked now and then. Since

last January, I have also been diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in my

knees. They do a lot of crunching and popping when I bend over or

sit down.

Still fighting social security for my disability, but hopping for it

soon.

Well sorry; I guess I have talked enough, and it's awhile to type

this up so I better post it. It's just good to find others that

know what you go through each day.

Thanks for listening,

Dick

[Guest guest]

Dick,

Good luck with getting the Social Security disability. I really hope you

get it. Appeal, appeal, appeal if you have too (I don't have it, just know

people who've gone through it).

I can really relate to your story. I'm on Vioxx, Enbrel, a beta blocker for

the pressure and heart, Remeron and Ambien for nighttime pain, and Prilosec

and Zantac for the heartburn all the other meds. cause. And, I'm only

turning 41 tomorrow. People who don't deal with this have no idea.

Good luck and please keep posting.

Janet in San Francisco

ReA since 1973; diagnosed 1997; HLA-B27+

[Guest guest]

Thank you Janet, and Happy Birthday.....