Re: repeated sinus infections

[Guest guest]

Every time I am put on a disease modifying drug I get very sick with a sinus

infection (although they say there is no connection)Last year while on

Enbrel for 8 months, I was also on Augmentin 875 mg continously for that

itme as I kept getting sinus infections.And Augmentin is $145.00 for 2

Weeks!!!

The interesting part of this nightmare is when I was diagnosed with RA(first

time with sore hands and feet) 18 yrs ago, I was in the middle of the worst

sinus infection I have ever had.. a month of antibiotics.yet they still say

there is not connection-I do not believe it..

They are getting to be worse and more often and last longer.Now I am getting

sick about every 6 wks..I am positve for the mycoplasmas

s. pneumonae and ferments (not sure of spelling) and I am wondering if

there is any connection there...and if anyone else has this problem who also

has RA . Also, any sites you may have that could help would be greatly

appreciated.. I am desperate as I am sick from RA and sinus infections

continuously. and the Internist says " You have a rotten immune system "

UGH!!!

Thanks

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Joanne-

I am not sure I offer any words of wisdom...but I have

had the same experience. I have a constant sinus

infection. If I went in every time I suspected that and

what now is an almost constant bladder infection...I

would be in the doc's office every week. I too have a

screwy immune system. My RD is now talking possibly

trying Enbrel...it scares me to death because of how

prone I am to infection...Oh well enough moaning but

realize at this somebody is experiencing the same

frustration.

>

>

> Every time I am put on a disease modifying drug I get very sick with a sinus

> infection (although they say there is no connection)Last year while on

> Enbrel for 8 months, I was also on Augmentin 875 mg continously for that

> itme as I kept getting sinus infections.And Augmentin is $145.00 for 2

> Weeks!!!

>

> The interesting part of this nightmare is when I was diagnosed with RA(first

> time with sore hands and feet) 18 yrs ago, I was in the middle of the worst

> sinus infection I have ever had.. a month of antibiotics.yet they still say

> there is not connection-I do not believe it..

>

> They are getting to be worse and more often and last longer.Now I am getting

> sick about every 6 wks..I am positve for the mycoplasmas

> s. pneumonae and ferments (not sure of spelling) and I am wondering if

> there is any connection there...and if anyone else has this problem who also

> has RA . Also, any sites you may have that could help would be greatly

> appreciated.. I am desperate as I am sick from RA and sinus infections

> continuously. and the Internist says " You have a rotten immune system "

> UGH!!!

> Thanks

> Joanne

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Joanne,

I hope it's not something that happens to those of us named Joanne!

(Mine is Jo-Anne) I have RA and chronic sinus infections.

And I've been to ENTs, DOs, and a variety of others. Allergy tests

don't show anything which would make sense. Blood test don't help. They've

even analyzed the mucous. And I've heard that I have a lousy immune system

so many times it's ridiculous.

Allergy pills don't help.

Have you had an MRI of your sinuses? They did one on me to see if the

nasal passages to the sinuses were open enough. The idea was that if not, I

was really getting the same infection back. The passages were fine.

I rarely take antibiotics because I'm building up an immunity to them.

So now it's one unending sinus infection, but as long as it doesn't travel

anywhere, I'm learning to live with it.

Wish I had something better to say. BTW I never get colds. I guess the

bacteria wins the battle with the viruses!

Jo

From: " boop " <boop@...>

Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2001 12:16 AM

Every time I am put on a disease modifying drug I get very sick with a

sinus

infection (although they say there is no connection)> They are getting to

be worse and more often and last longer.Now I am getting . . . . .

.. . . . . . sick about every 6 wks..I am positve for the mycoplasmas

s. pneumonae and ferments (not sure of spelling) and I am wondering if

there is any connection there...and if anyone else has this problem who

also

has RA . . . . . . . . .

[Guest guest]

,

I know that somehow(in my situation) the sinus infections are related to the

RA. As crazy a it sounds it is so. My RA started with the worst sinus

infection ever and it was at that time I developedvery sore hands and feet

at the same time. that was 18 yrs ago and since then the Ra has progressed

and the sinus infections continue to worsen and occur more often. I am sick

always it appears...Do we know of any immune boosters that may help? i

don't know about you ut I am desperate.

Re: Enbrel...I would be very careful. After 8 mo on Augmentn (the entire

time I was on Enbrel! I had to stop due to sinus infections. I believe that

respiratory infections can be one of the side effects...

As for me, it has now happened on Arava too...so I must get the sinuses

figured out before going back on disease modifying drugs.

Thanks

Joanne

[Guest guest]

i have alot of sinus problems too the past several years. my ears are always

popping, dizzyness, they have told me i am allergic to dust mites and my

senses went overboard after i stopped smoking. i take zyrtec and flonase, but

still suffer to some extent. wonder if they are related? kathy in il

[Guest guest]

I too have a lot of sinus problems. In fact, today was a BAD day for my

sinuses and I had a flare up. Too much stress with school, work and my

father's passing I guess.

gentle hugs,

Colleen

Check out my website at: http://www.geocities.com/callyanne21/

>From: kringlemom@...

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: [ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

>Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 16:47:58 EDT

>

>i have alot of sinus problems too the past several years. my ears are

>always

>popping, dizzyness, they have told me i am allergic to dust mites and my

>senses went overboard after i stopped smoking. i take zyrtec and flonase,

>but

>still suffer to some extent. wonder if they are related? kathy in il

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

Have you read the Road Back site? http://roadback.org/Index1.html

It has a lot of information about the antibiotic therapy for RA and other

autoimmune diseases. Since you test positive for mycoplasma, you may be

one of the lucky ones that benefits from this treatment. I have tons of

abstracts and articles about antibiotic treatment of arthritis on my broken

computer, but I can't access them until my part comes in. Many of the

articles are at the Road Back site. They also have a list of doctors

that use the ab treatment. At one time I had gone to an AB doctor, but

didn't follow through with the IV antibiotics. If I had been tested and

was positive, I definitely would have tried the IV's but the doctor I went

to didn't run any tests at all, and I wasn't comfortable with him. There

are a lot of people that say they have benefited from AB therapy. There is

an international support group with several thousand members, so there must

be something to it.

a

[ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

Every time I am put on a disease modifying drug I get very sick with a sinus

infection (although they say there is no connection)Last year while on

Enbrel for 8 months, I was also on Augmentin 875 mg continously for that

itme as I kept getting sinus infections.And Augmentin is $145.00 for 2

Weeks!!!

The interesting part of this nightmare is when I was diagnosed with RA(first

time with sore hands and feet) 18 yrs ago, I was in the middle of the worst

sinus infection I have ever had.. a month of antibiotics.yet they still say

there is not connection-I do not believe it..

They are getting to be worse and more often and last longer.Now I am getting

sick about every 6 wks..I am positve for the mycoplasmas

s. pneumonae and ferments (not sure of spelling) and I am wondering if

there is any connection there...and if anyone else has this problem who also

has RA . Also, any sites you may have that could help would be greatly

appreciated.. I am desperate as I am sick from RA and sinus infections

continuously. and the Internist says " You have a rotten immune system "

UGH!!!

Thanks

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Hi a

thank you so much..however, I did the antibiotic therapy (Minocin) for 18

months including IV clindamycin for many months(every 5 weeks I would have

the IV for a week at a time) and I had no success just a lot of medical

bills. Interesting that it did not take care of the mycoplasmas, isn't

it...I honestly now do not think that therapy helps anyone unless it is new

onset disease. I at one time belonged to the many followers of Dr. Franco

who precribed this treatment to everyone with either RA, Lupus, and

Scleraderma...unfortunately after about 2 yrs...i saw no one get well who

had been diagnosed years ago.

But thanks for thinking of me..I appreciate it

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

Most of studies I read also said that it is most effective in the first 2

years.

That is part of the reason I never followed up on it. I've had this for

over 25 years

so it has a very strong hold on me and I don't think AB's are the answer in

my case.

I read your email wrong and thought you were looking for AB information, but

you wanted

sinus infection articles and has already posted them for you. Did you

still have

problems with constant sinus infections while on the AB's? My girlfriend

had chronic sinus

infections for years, and tried everything known to man without relief. She

had surgery last

summer on her sinuses and she is like a new person. They went inside her

sinuses and scraped them. She said bacteria was deep seated in the lining

of her sinuses, and scraping them removed

the bacteria.

a

Re: [ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

Hi a

thank you so much..however, I did the antibiotic therapy (Minocin) for 18

months including IV clindamycin for many months(every 5 weeks I would have

the IV for a week at a time) and I had no success just a lot of medical

bills. Interesting that it did not take care of the mycoplasmas, isn't

it...I honestly now do not think that therapy helps anyone unless it is new

onset disease. I at one time belonged to the many followers of Dr. Franco

who precribed this treatment to everyone with either RA, Lupus, and

Scleraderma...unfortunately after about 2 yrs...i saw no one get well who

had been diagnosed years ago.

But thanks for thinking of me..I appreciate it

Joanne

[Guest guest]

i was diagnosed with glaucoma 12 years ago. i had laser surgeries on both

eyes. still i must takew ee drops every day to keep my pressures in line. i

was about 30 at the time. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Joanne and a,

I'm assuming what we are also talking about here is how chronic sinus

infections are related to RA or if they are at all.

Because rhinosinusitis is so common even in those without rheumatic

disorders, I'm not sure that these questions have been sufficiently

investigated. It's a difficult task. I'm having trouble finding studies or

articles that directly link rhinosinusitis to RA, but that doesn't mean they

aren't out there or that there is no association. I did find documentation

suggesting the relationship between rhinosinusitis and other specific

rheumatic conditions (for example, Wegener's granulomatosis), but not RA

yet. I found references to bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia

(coincidentally known as BOOP, Joanne!!) and its association with RA, but

that's not the same animal at all.

As Joanne recounted, her RA diagnosis came at a time during a very severe

sinus infection, and serious recurrences arose during treatment with both

Enbrel and Arava. I gather from what you said, Joanne, that these weren't

the only times you had sinus infections though, right? We do know that

susceptibility to upper respiratory infections can be a side-effect of

several DMARDs.

This is also part of the larger issue - rheumatic disorders and infection.

Chicken or egg or neither? Is infection the cause of rheumatic disease, the

result of the disease, an effect of the treatment, or is there a very

complicated interconnection between infection and rheumatic disease? Much

has been written on this topic, but I don't believe we have very good

answers there either. I tend to think it's the last option, but it remains

to be seen.

[ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

>

>

> Every time I am put on a disease modifying drug I get very sick with a

sinus

> infection (although they say there is no connection)Last year while on

> Enbrel for 8 months, I was also on Augmentin 875 mg continously for that

> itme as I kept getting sinus infections.And Augmentin is $145.00 for 2

> Weeks!!!

>

> The interesting part of this nightmare is when I was diagnosed with

RA(first

> time with sore hands and feet) 18 yrs ago, I was in the middle of the

worst

> sinus infection I have ever had.. a month of antibiotics.yet they still

say

> there is not connection-I do not believe it..

>

> They are getting to be worse and more often and last longer.Now I am

getting

> sick about every 6 wks..I am positve for the mycoplasmas

> s. pneumonae and ferments (not sure of spelling) and I am wondering if

> there is any connection there...and if anyone else has this problem who

also

> has RA . Also, any sites you may have that could help would be greatly

> appreciated.. I am desperate as I am sick from RA and sinus infections

> continuously. and the Internist says " You have a rotten immune system "

> UGH!!!

> Thanks

> Joanne

[Guest guest]

Among all the OTHER junk I have...

I also have the chronic sinus.

Chronic inner ear.

And tell me this... how many of you are experiencing vision difficulty? Like

say, the pigment dispersion leakage...forrunner to Pigment Glaucoma? I was just

diagnosed with this also.

It starts out as a slight " dulling " of color perception in one eye (mine is only

one eye). If you turn around and start to walk...you only " see " a gray veil,

and " Think " you are running into something! And the transparent " gray veil "

always seems to be there...you just instinctly " rub " your eye trying to " clear "

it. At least I do. It is really bothersome. That is what made me seek Eye

doctor about this. That, and also I paint, and noticed (well...my daughter

noticed!) that I was not " Mixing my colors " of paint correctly for my paintings.

I would say, I *THOUGHT it was BLUE or RED or GREEN!!!! Ha! But according to

others...NOT! And it is also interfering with my depth perception somewhat.

Anybody else??????

I don't think mine is side effect of meds for all my health problems, as I don't

take any... just try them, then usually have to stop. And my doctor still has

not put me on any for the arthritis. Even though severe pain and joint problems.

Go figure!

Susie

wrote:

> Joanne and a,

>

> I'm assuming what we are also talking about here is how chronic sinus

> infections are related to RA or if they are at all.

>

> Because rhinosinusitis is so common even in those without rheumatic

> disorders, I'm not sure that these questions have been sufficiently

> investigated. It's a difficult task. I'm having trouble finding studies or

> articles that directly link rhinosinusitis to RA, but that doesn't mean they

> aren't out there or that there is no association. I did find documentation

> suggesting the relationship between rhinosinusitis and other specific

> rheumatic conditions (for example, Wegener's granulomatosis), but not RA

> yet. I found references to bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia

> (coincidentally known as BOOP, Joanne!!) and its association with RA, but

> that's not the same animal at all.

>

> As Joanne recounted, her RA diagnosis came at a time during a very severe

> sinus infection, and serious recurrences arose during treatment with both

> Enbrel and Arava. I gather from what you said, Joanne, that these weren't

> the only times you had sinus infections though, right? We do know that

> susceptibility to upper respiratory infections can be a side-effect of

> several DMARDs.

>

> This is also part of the larger issue - rheumatic disorders and infection.

> Chicken or egg or neither? Is infection the cause of rheumatic disease, the

> result of the disease, an effect of the treatment, or is there a very

> complicated interconnection between infection and rheumatic disease? Much

> has been written on this topic, but I don't believe we have very good

> answers there either. I tend to think it's the last option, but it remains

> to be seen.

>

>

>

> [ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

>

> >

> >

> > Every time I am put on a disease modifying drug I get very sick with a

> sinus

> > infection (although they say there is no connection)Last year while on

> > Enbrel for 8 months, I was also on Augmentin 875 mg continously for that

> > itme as I kept getting sinus infections.And Augmentin is $145.00 for 2

> > Weeks!!!

> >

> > The interesting part of this nightmare is when I was diagnosed with

> RA(first

> > time with sore hands and feet) 18 yrs ago, I was in the middle of the

> worst

> > sinus infection I have ever had.. a month of antibiotics.yet they still

> say

> > there is not connection-I do not believe it..

> >

> > They are getting to be worse and more often and last longer.Now I am

> getting

> > sick about every 6 wks..I am positve for the mycoplasmas

> > s. pneumonae and ferments (not sure of spelling) and I am wondering if

> > there is any connection there...and if anyone else has this problem who

> also

> > has RA . Also, any sites you may have that could help would be greatly

> > appreciated.. I am desperate as I am sick from RA and sinus infections

> > continuously. and the Internist says " You have a rotten immune system "

> > UGH!!!

> > Thanks

> > Joanne

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I absolutely believe that RA is the result of infection. You're right,

there is a lot

written about it and it makes sense. There are just to many of us that can

trace the start of

their disease to an infection or a procedure that could have produced an

infection. Strep throat is very high on the suspicion list. In my 20's when

this all began, I had recurrent bouts of bronchitis. Could it be as simple

as an upper respiratory infection? Woman are more susceptible to

autoimmune diseases. Is this because woman have historically been the

primary caregivers and are exposed to more germs?

Has anyone ever investigated tampon use? Is it really true that root canals

open the door for infections to enter the body? I think about other

diseases that are caused by infection, but for years it was been denied by

the medical community. Is RA the same way? Will we one day find out that a

simple antibiotic could cure this? If the AB treatment works well in the

first 2 years, isn't this proof that it is caused by infection? Once

untreated for a long period of time, it spreads from the joints into the

muscle tissue causing Fibromyalgia. At this point it may be able to be

cured by antibiotics, but could take years. I guess we can go around and

around about these issues, but the bottom line is FIX IT!!! I want my life

back!!!

a

Re: [ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

Joanne and a,

I'm assuming what we are also talking about here is how chronic sinus

infections are related to RA or if they are at all.

Because rhinosinusitis is so common even in those without rheumatic

disorders, I'm not sure that these questions have been sufficiently

investigated. It's a difficult task. I'm having trouble finding studies or

articles that directly link rhinosinusitis to RA, but that doesn't mean they

aren't out there or that there is no association. I did find documentation

suggesting the relationship between rhinosinusitis and other specific

rheumatic conditions (for example, Wegener's granulomatosis), but not RA

yet. I found references to bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia

(coincidentally known as BOOP, Joanne!!) and its association with RA, but

that's not the same animal at all.

As Joanne recounted, her RA diagnosis came at a time during a very severe

sinus infection, and serious recurrences arose during treatment with both

Enbrel and Arava. I gather from what you said, Joanne, that these weren't

the only times you had sinus infections though, right? We do know that

susceptibility to upper respiratory infections can be a side-effect of

several DMARDs.

This is also part of the larger issue - rheumatic disorders and infection.

Chicken or egg or neither? Is infection the cause of rheumatic disease, the

result of the disease, an effect of the treatment, or is there a very

complicated interconnection between infection and rheumatic disease? Much

has been written on this topic, but I don't believe we have very good

answers there either. I tend to think it's the last option, but it remains

to be seen.

[ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

>

>

> Every time I am put on a disease modifying drug I get very sick with a

sinus

> infection (although they say there is no connection)Last year while on

> Enbrel for 8 months, I was also on Augmentin 875 mg continously for that

> itme as I kept getting sinus infections.And Augmentin is $145.00 for 2

> Weeks!!!

>

> The interesting part of this nightmare is when I was diagnosed with

RA(first

> time with sore hands and feet) 18 yrs ago, I was in the middle of the

worst

> sinus infection I have ever had.. a month of antibiotics.yet they still

say

> there is not connection-I do not believe it..

>

> They are getting to be worse and more often and last longer.Now I am

getting

> sick about every 6 wks..I am positve for the mycoplasmas

> s. pneumonae and ferments (not sure of spelling) and I am wondering if

> there is any connection there...and if anyone else has this problem who

also

> has RA . Also, any sites you may have that could help would be greatly

> appreciated.. I am desperate as I am sick from RA and sinus infections

> continuously. and the Internist says " You have a rotten immune system "

> UGH!!!

> Thanks

> Joanne

[Guest guest]

AMEN a!!I too would like my life back. Everyone says, " Boy, are you

lucky that you don't have to work " I would give my left arm to return to

work. I raised 3 children alone and had a very well paying job at a Burn

Center...now I am living at poverty level and every month is a struggle to

survive...not to mention the pain that goes along with this wonderful

disease. The good news is that I have lost 20 lbs in the last 2

months...trying hard..Hang in there!!!

Just a note about depression: I have been on Wellbutrin for over a month now

and for those who are interested, this medication gives you a little energy

and is not like the other meds which can cause tiredness. Although

expensive, it works well.

Joanne

[Guest guest]

AMEN Joanne! I am NOT lucky to not have to work! I'd much rather be out

working any day. I'd much rather be WELL! I am NOT lucky to be sick. I've

tried working, but it didn't work out. Right now I'm working 1 day a week.

It's better than nothing, but I wish I could return to work full time. On

the other hand, I feel bad for those that continue to hang on to jobs

despite severe pain and disability because they have no choice, and those

that wait for SS to be approved and have no money for medication and basic

needs.

Congratulations on your weight loss. I hope you have continued success.

I'm on Prozac during the day and Trazadone at night, so I'm covered as far

as ADs. Prozac isn't making me sleepy, but if it does I'll keep wellbutrin

in mind especially since they report the added benefit of loosing weight.

I like the energy part too.

a

Re: [ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

AMEN a!!I too would like my life back. Everyone says, " Boy, are you

lucky that you don't have to work " I would give my left arm to return to

work. I raised 3 children alone and had a very well paying job at a Burn

Center...now I am living at poverty level and every month is a struggle to

survive...not to mention the pain that goes along with this wonderful

disease. The good news is that I have lost 20 lbs in the last 2

months...trying hard..Hang in there!!!

Just a note about depression: I have been on Wellbutrin for over a month now

and for those who are interested, this medication gives you a little energy

and is not like the other meds which can cause tiredness. Although

expensive, it works well.

Joanne

[Guest guest]

haha! I am sorry a, I had to laugh... and thanks for that laugh. I sure

needed it! I have been really down low the last few days. Really bad, you all

just don't know what I am going through right now.

I am so grateful for your TAMPON theory! This brought me to laughter, and fond

memories...

But you are so right about wondering about them. My Grandmother even use to

question the healthy part of using them! I am 47, and I can still remember my

grandmother & my Mother both saying that " those things can't be good for

you...you need to let it flow OUT, not hold it IN! " I remember, at age 14 being

SO embarrassed at them talking about that in front of me! I was never allowed to

buy them!

And as I got older and married... I just never used Tampons. I think my Mom and

Grandma warped my mind on them!

Heck ya'll, I still call Sanitary Napkins... KOTEX.

To me...no matter what the Brand Name... they are all " KOTEX " to me!

And what about panty liners??? For those " light days " !!! It is awful when you

remember when you did NOT have those! And what is even more scary... I remember

BEFORE they made Kotex that " stuck with tape " to your panties. I remember the

" belts " .

Heck! Speaking of Belts...I even remember BEFORE " Panty Hose " !!!

Well... enough of this! I am going to start missing my youth.

I will shut my mouth, and say not another word! I Promise. I don't want this to

lead to off topic silliness... or do I? Because it sure helped me! Why, I think

I am going out to my garden now. I hate to waste this Big Smile you put on my

face. It needs to be in the Sunshine.

Susie

a wrote: Has anyone ever investigated tampon use?

[Guest guest]

Susie,

Although humor was not intended, I'm glad you found it so funny. Your

response has me laughing, and I know what

you mean about needing a laugh. We are the same age, and I have all those

same memories, and yes, all sanitary

napkins are Kotex!

It brings back a really funny story of my childhood. At the time it wasn't

funny, but now I can look back and laugh.

My mom DID use Tampax and when I was around 12 or 13? I asked my mom what

they were. She told me that when I

got older she'd tell me. So I asked dad. He said when I was old enough,

mom would tell me. So I went to school and

asked one of the " older " girls on the playground. Her and her group of

friends decided to have some fun with me. They

told me that when I got to a certain age, if I didn't have one I would bleed

to death. I was so scared that I ran all the way home

from school, which was about 8 miles or more, to get one. When the school

got wind of what happened, all the girls were

shown " that movie " . I was surely at the age that mom should have told me,

but she didn't talk about those

things. Maybe that was paybacks for the time I brought TROJANS to school

and passed them out as balloons LOL!

I was a joyful child.

I hope you enjoyed your gardening and the sunshine.

a

Re: [ ] Re: repeated sinus infections

haha! I am sorry a, I had to laugh... and thanks for that laugh. I sure

needed it! I have been really down low the last few days. Really bad, you

all

just don't know what I am going through right now.

I am so grateful for your TAMPON theory! This brought me to laughter, and

fond

memories...

But you are so right about wondering about them. My Grandmother even use to

question the healthy part of using them! I am 47, and I can still remember

my

grandmother & my Mother both saying that " those things can't be good for

you...you need to let it flow OUT, not hold it IN! " I remember, at age 14

being

SO embarrassed at them talking about that in front of me! I was never

allowed to

buy them!

And as I got older and married... I just never used Tampons. I think my Mom

and

Grandma warped my mind on them!

Heck ya'll, I still call Sanitary Napkins... KOTEX.

To me...no matter what the Brand Name... they are all " KOTEX " to me!

And what about panty liners??? For those " light days " !!! It is awful when

you

remember when you did NOT have those! And what is even more scary... I

remember

BEFORE they made Kotex that " stuck with tape " to your panties. I remember

the

" belts " .

Heck! Speaking of Belts...I even remember BEFORE " Panty Hose " !!!

Well... enough of this! I am going to start missing my youth.

I will shut my mouth, and say not another word! I Promise. I don't want this

to

lead to off topic silliness... or do I? Because it sure helped me! Why, I

think

I am going out to my garden now. I hate to waste this Big Smile you put on

my

face. It needs to be in the Sunshine.

Susie

a wrote: Has anyone ever investigated tampon use?

[Guest guest]

I just don't know what to think caused my RA. Other than a cesarean when my

daughter was born 41 yrs. (Oct. 11), ago; at which time I also had my

appendix to rupture which gave me a battle for a while, I came home from the

hospital weighing a mere 93 lbs.; I had not been sick but very few times. I

had the usual such as colds, PMS discomfort, and tonsillitis; which did

hospitalize me back in 1990, this was the 1st time I ever had a cortisone

shot. Always had a strong immune system when it came to childhood diseases,

if I got them it usually was a mild case.

I really think it might have been caused as much from stress as any infection

I might have had. In the late 80's and early 90's my husband and I were

having problems with our/his son; which created some serious times between

us. Thank goodness this is all behind us now and he has been super during

this trying time with my health problems. My first major flare started in

June 1999. From then until about Dec.'99 I was BAD. Had just got to feeling

pretty much normal when in April of 2000 found lump in left breast, had

mesectomy, 8 chemo treatments, and then just a month (Dec. 2000) after last

chemo had another major flare. It took me until about March 2001 to begin to

do anything much. Like I said my husband has been really great; he tells

everyone that he has become just a house husband.

Had my 2nd " Remicade " Friday. I do believe it is making a difference. I've

cut my prednisone to 4mg; MTX to 7.5mg weekly, and so far I'm not taking but

maybe 1 pain pill a day. I really like my RA dr. and his nurse practitioner.

Got my notification from SS last week concerning Medicare. I've been on

disability since Dec.'99. I by the grace of God was approved quickly for

disability SS. Hope this works to my benefit as our insurance has been

paying very good. I dread having to change everything over to Medicare as our

primary. I guess it won't be as big a problem as I think it might.

Fall is in the Air!!! We're having some beautiful days, the leaves are

beginning to turn and fall.

Enjoy,

Be Blessed'

Becky

[Guest guest]

I, too, enjoy this and they will always be KOTEX. This brought back memories,

as I also remember the " belt " and the garter belt for the hose. Guess by now

you know I'm no spring chicken. haha!

Isn't it amazing what we talk so freely about today that was soo TABOO back

when. My mother wrote me a letter telling me about the birds and the bees and

never did talk to me. She never did sit me down and explain anything and I

was too embarrassed to ask. Whew ... glad I survived.

Be Blessed,

Becky