just another update

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I am sitting here in bed waiting to fall asleep.. Hopefully sooner than

later! J.

Anyway, I thought I'd share with everyone what has been going on with me the

last few weeks. First, outside of having to go off of Actemra and not going

on any other IV or Shots for at least three months because of my reaction to

Actemra (Extreme Lymph gland swelling), and then Second, having a reaction

to the pain med I have been on for years (duragesic) (It seems my body

decided to reject it finally and use that to cause fevers. I could tell,

because I went down to a lower dose, but my pain was bad, so they increased

it back up. Within weeks - boom fevers - but different than the standard

stills fevers).

So, We (My husband and GP and I) talked to my GP first, then Pain specialist

and Rheumy and all decided that the duragesic had to go. So at the same

time I was due for Actemra (which helped my energy and pain, but caused very

scary problems) I am in the process of going off of duragesic, which can

have bad side effects. And I found myself not wanting any more pain

medicine other than aspirin if necessary. (Not ever wanting to have to go

through this again..)

As we discussed this with my GP, we asked her if reflexology would be

something that may help me both in the short term and long term. She is

very open and said yes, that she thought it would. I have now had two

reflexology treatments (luckily in town) so we don't have to go to Nashville

for it. I have kept an open mind, having been so use to tradition medicine,

but I must say, even after just two treatments with the right person, I am

hooked. My lymph glands were so bad that I really could not rest my arms

down and now they are almost not swollen at all. I didn't tell him much

about what I had, and he diagnosed everything I hand and things I didn't

know. He called me a train wreck and that I will be on a slightly different

schedule than most people (which is normally your first treatment, then one

in 3 days, than 10 days, than a month, then when you feel like you need it.

For my it will be the same for the first three, but then 3 or 4 at 15 days

and a couple at a month, then when I need them. Anyway, I am sharing this

because most of you that know me, know that I have had many hospital stays,

and have not really had a remission since getting sick in 2000-01. If

anyone is interested in more information or just wants to talk to me

personally about this, you can contact me directly at my email above. I am

really hopeful that this is going to help me and wanted to share. I think

that as American's we are sometimes afraid of Natural/Alternative medicine,

I know I was and I am not pushing anyone into this at all. I guess I am

just happy I finally opened up enough to talk to my GP about what I could do

to help other than just what we were doing and she listed a few things and

suggest this as the first thing to try.

Hugs to all.

Alli