Re: What may work and why

[Guest guest]

Dear Liz and Group,

I had to go back and read our " Member Medical History " to see if we

were alike. You know,in many ways, we really are. Including that we

both were in NY at the time of first EN bout! I too had the flu-like

symptoms and then the EN. No longer do I get the flu before a flare

up. I never got tested for strep until recently , and came up

negative. I was misdiagnosed and never took any prescription meds. I

was told I had a " mild case " since my EN went into remission with

bedrest alone. I once told I had a borderline RF factor. I was also

told that my xrays show spinal arthritis and that I should be in " a

lot " of pain. However, I have never experienced back pain nor join

pain. I am borderline low thyroid too-for many years, but subclinical.

With the new guidlelines I will have to start thyroid meds.

Here is what I am getting at (finally, !) Since we are both

idiopathic (none of the related disorders), we are lucky in that our

EN is fairly straighforward with little (except your joint pain)

interferring. Could be lumps alone aren't so debiliting if is the only

thing wrong. Those with Sarc and Crohn's may feel EN is more like

insult to injury--not nearly as bad as the primary illness for which

heavy duty meds are all that has helped them.

So is severity the thing? Can acupuncture and herbs and/or bedrest be

the best treatment for uncomplicated EN?

Liz, I am in NO way saying your EN is less severe or disabling than

others, but I do know that mine is definately less severe than many in

this group.

Anyway, this could be a piece of the puzzle when it comes to what

treatments works and and for whom. Ya think?

Love,

> Hello,

> Well after three visists to the rhuematologist, he has set me free

saying

> that my acupuncture and herbs have worked as well as any drug he could

> supply. He wanted to start me on Plaquenil, but after reading about

its

> side effects on the liver and eyes and reading on this list that it

may have

> caused a flare up for someone (I don't remember who, my apologies), I

> decided against it. Good timing. I asked him about the affects of

hormones

> on inflamation and he just shrugged and told me that when women with

> arthritis get pregnant, it goes away. What is it about pregnancy? He

> couldn't answer. Go figure.

> Best,

> Liz

>

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