update

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone, sorry it's been a while...  wanted to check in and catch up on

everyone.  I have been having so much pain in the past few weeks and my meds

aren't really touching it.  Sometimes I feel like I just sit there and grit my

teeth all the time just to get thru it.  The worst  of it is the arthritis in my

back along with the nerve protrusion I have from the sponylolisthesis.  It's

been over a year since my last MRI and I am afraid to call b/c I know they will

want a new one to see if I have gone from Grade 1 to grade 2 (or worse).  I find

myself walking in a " bent forward " position more and more, which I know is not

good but it is the only way I can walk.  I have a cane for when I really need

it.  The neurosurgeon at the Norton Leatherman Spine Institute said that surgery

is a reality but that he waits for his patients to tell him when they are

ready.The thought of two steel rods and four screws holds me back on that

decision.

 

So, will be talking with my Rheumy about the Kineret.  I don't think it's

helping me much.  My hands stay swollen a lot and are painful & stiff.  It's

time to move on to something else.  I am down to 5 mg of Pred and that could be

why I feel kinda crappy, so I am trying to use the wait and see approach, lol...

 

I have always been concerned about my two kids having autoimmune issues.  My

daughter has shown signs for some time (she is almost 20).  Add to that on her

dad's side of the fam is Crohn's disease.  She went to the doc yesterday and

they are about 90% sure she has Crohns.  Doing biopsy to confirm, but she has

lost 20 lbs in the last couple months (she attributed this to starting her new

job as a CNA, but the doc says that's not normal) and she has had rectal

bleeding and all the other things that point to it.  For those of you that do,

please keep her in your prayers, as I know that if this is confirmed, she is

facing a lifetime of treatment, some of which I have experienced myself.

 

~sigh~  So, just wanted to check in.  My husband has stabilized somewhat but we

have to see a neurosurgeon next week to see if they want to remove one of the

tumors from his brain that is causing some issues.  They told us he could

possible lose some or all of his vision if they do this, so we are facing that

as well.

 

I am sure the stress of everything is taking a toll on me, but they are

stressors that can't be helped, they just ARE.  Hang in there, everybody, and

hope you are all doing well.

 

Love to all,

Gail (KY)