Guest guest Posted January 1, 1970 Report Share Posted January 1, 1970 on 11/24/01 8:13 AM, at Matsumura_Clan@... wrote: > Welcome, Ellen! > > Sorry that you and your mother have had such a challenge for so many years. > > I think you'll find a lot of animal lovers and other people who can relate > to your situation here. You sound very busy! > > I'm worried that you have so much pain despite your medications. Does your > doctor know how bad your pain is? Maybe a change of meds or a change of > doctors is in order? > > > > > [ ] first time member > > >> I have been diagnosed with RA for 18 years, and within the past two years, >> diagnosed with lupus (discoid and systemic) and Sjogrens Syndrome. My > mother >> suffers from the same and at this time she is unable to swallow most foods >> and liquids. This is due to the sjogrens and the other diseases. I am a >> single mom with an 18 year old daughter, who is terrific. We have a horse, > 4 >> sheep which she shows for FFA , a goat, 2 dogs, 3 cats and a rabbit. I am > a >> teacher of mentally handicapped children and have been so for 22 years. I >> try and stay as busy as possible cause I am afraid if I rest too much then > I >> cannot move!! the depression is pretty hard at times but somehow I deal > with >> it all ok. I do not know anyone else with mixed connective tissue disease. >> I am on methatrixate (have been for 8 years) and I think that is what has >> prevented any bone or joint deformities at this point. (I am 47 years old) >> and I am on celebrex, medrol as needed, pain killers as needed and various >> others to offset the side effects of the above. >> I just want to be able to communicate with others who have some idea of > what >> i am going thru every day of my life. The pain is daily, really bad at > night >> and I am constantly knicking my skin - it is like paper from the medrol. >> Enough for now, my hands are hurting. I put up Christmas decorations > today. >> Look forward to hearing from everyone out there!Ellen > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2001 Report Share Posted November 23, 2001 hi ellen and welcome!!! everyone here is really nice. i'm kathy. 42 (tomorrow) widow with an 18 year old son. i have an inflammatory arthritis. had carpal tunnel and tarsal tunnel surgeries. have tried many nsaids and dmards including enbrel and remicade. have had many side effects with medications and now have an bleeding ulcer, and currently roseola (yes measles!!!) my last tarsal tunnel surgery was about a month ago and my staples are starting to pull. that is very painful so i try to stay off my feet as much as possible. hopefully i'll be able to get them removed tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2001 Report Share Posted November 24, 2001 Welcome, Ellen! Sorry that you and your mother have had such a challenge for so many years. I think you'll find a lot of animal lovers and other people who can relate to your situation here. You sound very busy! I'm worried that you have so much pain despite your medications. Does your doctor know how bad your pain is? Maybe a change of meds or a change of doctors is in order? [ ] first time member > I have been diagnosed with RA for 18 years, and within the past two years, > diagnosed with lupus (discoid and systemic) and Sjogrens Syndrome. My mother > suffers from the same and at this time she is unable to swallow most foods > and liquids. This is due to the sjogrens and the other diseases. I am a > single mom with an 18 year old daughter, who is terrific. We have a horse, 4 > sheep which she shows for FFA , a goat, 2 dogs, 3 cats and a rabbit. I am a > teacher of mentally handicapped children and have been so for 22 years. I > try and stay as busy as possible cause I am afraid if I rest too much then I > cannot move!! the depression is pretty hard at times but somehow I deal with > it all ok. I do not know anyone else with mixed connective tissue disease. > I am on methatrixate (have been for 8 years) and I think that is what has > prevented any bone or joint deformities at this point. (I am 47 years old) > and I am on celebrex, medrol as needed, pain killers as needed and various > others to offset the side effects of the above. > I just want to be able to communicate with others who have some idea of what > i am going thru every day of my life. The pain is daily, really bad at night > and I am constantly knicking my skin - it is like paper from the medrol. > Enough for now, my hands are hurting. I put up Christmas decorations today. > Look forward to hearing from everyone out there!Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2001 Report Share Posted November 24, 2001 Hi there Ellen - welcome to the group! Sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time - you have come to the right place, everyone here is wonderful and you will find a lot of support and very good information. I'm also quiet new here and a bit lazy on keeping up on all the posts as I have just started a new job, which is great but eating up all my energy! You seem to have a mini farm going there - it's sounds like fun! I'll try and give you a quick introduction to myself - I'm 25 years old, South African now living in Mauritius (get out that atlas! LOL!) with my husband and our 18 dogs (so obviously have no cats!). I was diagnosed with RA earlier this year and take Prednisone which was working wonders, but I've been in a flare since last week so my Rheumatologist upped the dose and added Celebrex. I can’t take any disease modifying drugs till I've had a baby - which by the way is my major mission in life at the moment! (not because of the drugs, we started trying quiet a while before I was sick). I look forward to getting to know you. Have a great day! Heidi _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2001 Report Share Posted November 25, 2001 Ellen Welcome to the group. You'll find a lot of support here Ohio-Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 27, 2001 Report Share Posted November 27, 2001 Welcome Ellen and Sherri, My name is Becky and 59 yrs old, was away on vacation for 2 weeks, then Thanksgiving, so I'm still trying to catch up with e-mail. You two have found a place to be encouraged, to release your anxieties, and FRIEND who understand what you are going through. I've had RA for about 5 yrs. now, with two major flare-ups. But at this time it is under control (Thanks to my Lord). I had 3 treatments of remicade with no side effects that I'm aware of and feel fairly decent. Been on disability for 2 years. Also in May 2000 I had Breast Cancer and had a mastectomy, 8 treatments of Chemo, lost my hair. Have finished all treatments for cancer except taking Tamoxifen, hair is back, and of course I've gained too much weight. Overall I can't complain as I see in my support groups so much suffering. I just give Thanks for each day. I know it is hard on you being so young. Hang in there, both of you. We'll Cheer you on. Be Blessed Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 30, 2001 Report Share Posted November 30, 2001 Hi Ellen,welcome to our group. Look forward to getting to know you. I have had RA for 17 years and in a week or so will be starting Enbrel. Do you take any medication to help with the skin? I take Rocaltrol which is supposed to help with thinning skin. Hugs June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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