Re: Hi group!

[Guest guest]

Welcome ,I hope to get to know you, and I hope that you enjoy

the group. It is wonderful, and very helpful. I live in Oklahoma,

and was diagnosed with RA, Aug. 2002, but has been with me much

longer, just never got a diagnose. I have two daughters,ages 21 and

9. So I do know what you go through with your illness and raising

kids, it isn't easy. Along with the RA, I also have quite a few more

ailments, don't we all. I recently started Humira so I am looking

forward to some relief, and some normal. That is great that your

hanging in your job, that sounds tough. I think you should follow

your dream, and do the best that you can. It sounds like you have a

wonderful caring boyfriend to me. As you know everyone is so

different at coping with illness. My hubby loves me, and is great,

but really don't know how to deal with me,lol I hope that you have a

very Merry Christmas, and enjoy the group, Tawny

> Hey everyone!

> My name is and I am new to the group. I live in a

> suburb of Detroit with my two children, ages 12 and 18. I have

> rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia-the RA for 5 years and the

> fibro for 2 1\2 due to a serious car accident. I was in the early

> stages of remission when my accident happened, and the trauma

caused

> the RA to worsen more than it had ever been and also tacked on the

> fibro. I had been on Methotrexate injections for several years, but

> didn't get much relief. I have been on Arava for a few years and

> Remicade for almost a year now. I have spotty relief from that-

> mostly right after my infusion, but still can't get that wonderful

> remission state back. I manage a dental office on 15-20 hours a

week

> because that is all I can work, and it is difficult because we are

> not computerized (will be soon, though!) and I have to type

> everything and also cram 8 hours+ into a 5 hour day. I am a college

> student-I have missed two semesters on my rheumatologist and

general

> physician's advice-trying to slow down a little, but it is hard as

I

> have been a student since '99 and don't want to lose my dream. My

> major is architecture-I had planned on being an architect, but as I

> am really losing my function in my hands, I am leaning more towards

> the teaching of architectural history. I am so glad to see that

> there are others out there with the same uphill struggle as me-I am

> the only person in my world with RA or fibromyalgia. I have a

> wonderful boyfriend who has been around as long as the RA, and

would

> like to be a permanent addition to my life-it is hard to believe

> sometimes that anyone would really sign on to be co-pilot knowing

> how this disease affects people, so I am struggling with wanting to

> give in to his pleas. He has been through surgery, illness,my

> accident...all the every day stuff and has always been there no

> matter what, so I am hoping to " let down my wall " so to speak and

> accept that he could handle the difficulties of being married to

> someone with such a situation. I was married for 10 years

previously

> and this would be his first marriage. Anyway, I hope I can learn

> about how others deal with this and also how the

spouses/significant

> others deal with it as well. Happy holdidays to everyone!

> Durbin in Detroit

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, , and Happy Holidays!

I live in southern Indiana, Connersville--a tiny town of about

15,000, depending on how many aunts and uncles are visiting from

Kaintucky.

I have fibro and Dercum's Disease, the fibro diagnosed about a year

ago, the Dercum's just this past July. My husband has Parkinson's

Disease, which was diagnosed a year ago. WE have one daughter who is

married with a 3-year old son and 9-month old triplets. We have been

married almost 28 years, so we have learned to support each other

through our difficult times, and rejoice when there is progress or at

least a lack of pain. He's held my hand through 3 surgeries this

year, plus a broken ankle and badly injured arm, so it hasn't been

easy for him, besides losing his beloved aunt at the age of 103.

If your boy friend has supported you through all your trials, and is

willing to marry you still, then he really must love you or he would

have walked away long ago. It's hard to trust after a bad

relationship, but he sounds like a winner to me!

Peace,

Judi

[Guest guest]

Welcome . Glad you found us but sorry for the reasons you are here.

Hopefully you will find that remission again and be able to continue with

your education. RA put an end to my nursing dreams, but I still plan on

getting my degree in the future. Online courses have been helpful for me.

I know it is hard to understand why your boyfriend would want to be with

someone who has medical problems. I found it hard to believe as well. I

had 2 men marry me knowing I was sick and knowing how it could progress. I

lost one husband to cancer when he was just 40. Funny that we always

figured that I'd be the one to leave him with the children, not the other

way around. When a friend of 20 years proposed to me, I couldn't believe

that he would want to marry me with all of my health problems. Some men run

as fast as their legs can carry them at the first sight of medical problems

in their spouse and others are just the opposite. You are very loved in

spite of having RA and FM and I hope you can just accept it and not worry

about why. You are a special person to him and that is all that matters.

Since you're not getting any relief from your meds, maybe it's time for a

change. You've definitely given it enough time to work. Have you

considered Enbrel, Kineret or Humira?

a

> Hey everyone!

> My name is and I am new to the group. I live in a

> suburb of Detroit with my two children, ages 12 and 18. I have

> rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia-the RA for 5 years and the

> fibro for 2 1\2 due to a serious car accident. I was in the early

> stages of remission when my accident happened, and the trauma caused

> the RA to worsen more than it had ever been and also tacked on the

> fibro. I had been on Methotrexate injections for several years, but

> didn't get much relief. I have been on Arava for a few years and

> Remicade for almost a year now. I have spotty relief from that-

> mostly right after my infusion, but still can't get that wonderful

> remission state back. I manage a dental office on 15-20 hours a week

> because that is all I can work, and it is difficult because we are

> not computerized (will be soon, though!) and I have to type

> everything and also cram 8 hours+ into a 5 hour day. I am a college

> student-I have missed two semesters on my rheumatologist and general

> physician's advice-trying to slow down a little, but it is hard as I

> have been a student since '99 and don't want to lose my dream. My

> major is architecture-I had planned on being an architect, but as I

> am really losing my function in my hands, I am leaning more towards

> the teaching of architectural history. I am so glad to see that

> there are others out there with the same uphill struggle as me-I am

> the only person in my world with RA or fibromyalgia. I have a

> wonderful boyfriend who has been around as long as the RA, and would

> like to be a permanent addition to my life-it is hard to believe

> sometimes that anyone would really sign on to be co-pilot knowing

> how this disease affects people, so I am struggling with wanting to

> give in to his pleas. He has been through surgery, illness,my

> accident...all the every day stuff and has always been there no

> matter what, so I am hoping to " let down my wall " so to speak and

> accept that he could handle the difficulties of being married to

> someone with such a situation. I was married for 10 years previously

> and this would be his first marriage. Anyway, I hope I can learn

> about how others deal with this and also how the spouses/significant

> others deal with it as well. Happy holdidays to everyone!

> Durbin in Detroit

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, !

Sorry that things have been so challenging for you, but you sound very

strong and determined. Seems as if the odds are good that you will

realize your dreams.

As for the man in your life - please take the encouragement you've

already received to heart. Remember, too, that there are no guarantees

that his physical state will remain the same. Would a decline in his

health status change the way you feel about him or your desire to be his

partner?

[ ] Hi group!

> Hey everyone!

> My name is and I am new to the group. I live in a

> suburb of Detroit with my two children, ages 12 and 18. I have

> rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia-the RA for 5 years and the

> fibro for 2 1\2 due to a serious car accident. I was in the early

> stages of remission when my accident happened, and the trauma caused

> the RA to worsen more than it had ever been and also tacked on the

> fibro. I had been on Methotrexate injections for several years, but

> didn't get much relief. I have been on Arava for a few years and

> Remicade for almost a year now. I have spotty relief from that-

> mostly right after my infusion, but still can't get that wonderful

> remission state back. I manage a dental office on 15-20 hours a week

> because that is all I can work, and it is difficult because we are

> not computerized (will be soon, though!) and I have to type

> everything and also cram 8 hours+ into a 5 hour day. I am a college

> student-I have missed two semesters on my rheumatologist and general

> physician's advice-trying to slow down a little, but it is hard as I

> have been a student since '99 and don't want to lose my dream. My

> major is architecture-I had planned on being an architect, but as I

> am really losing my function in my hands, I am leaning more towards

> the teaching of architectural history. I am so glad to see that

> there are others out there with the same uphill struggle as me-I am

> the only person in my world with RA or fibromyalgia. I have a

> wonderful boyfriend who has been around as long as the RA, and would

> like to be a permanent addition to my life-it is hard to believe

> sometimes that anyone would really sign on to be co-pilot knowing

> how this disease affects people, so I am struggling with wanting to

> give in to his pleas. He has been through surgery, illness,my

> accident...all the every day stuff and has always been there no

> matter what, so I am hoping to " let down my wall " so to speak and

> accept that he could handle the difficulties of being married to

> someone with such a situation. I was married for 10 years previously

> and this would be his first marriage. Anyway, I hope I can learn

> about how others deal with this and also how the spouses/significant

> others deal with it as well. Happy holdidays to everyone!

> Durbin in Detroit

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Henry!

Sorry that you aren't feeling good. I'm not sure where you are, but the

best advice I can give you is to go see a good rheumatologist if there

is one available in the area, with a translator if necessary. There are

so many possibilities that it's wise to let an experienced

rheumatologist do the guesswork.

It could be an infection. Or maybe reactive arthritis (Reiter's

syndrome). Or perhaps fibromyalgia.

Arthritis Research Campaign

" Reactive Arthritis "

http://www.arc.org.uk/about_arth/booklets/6034/6034.htm

As you point out, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is possible. And there are

people who have rheumatoid arthritis who also have psoriasis.

There is a relationship between some types of acne and arthritis.

Doctors sometimes call acne associated with musculoskeletal problems

" acne arthritis. " There is a specific syndrome called SAPHO = synovitis,

acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis.

The authors of the following article suggest a link between SAPHO and

psoriatic arthritis:

Rheumatology 1999; 38:463-467

" SAPHO syndrome or psoriatic arthritis? A familial case study " :

http://rheumatology.oupjournals.org/cgi/reprint/38/5/463.pdf

a, our group owner and lead moderator, has created a Web site with a

lot of excellent information on RA, PsA, fibromyalgia, and related

conditions and topics:

http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/

Minocycline has been reported to induce some cases of

arthritis and/or arthralgia and other rheumatic syndromes. Here are a

few NCBI listings:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Link & db=PubMed & dbFrom=PubMed & f\

rom_uid=12948923

There are many, many causes and types of arthritis. That's why I urge

you to seek professional help and let a smart physician try to figure it

out.

Good luck! Please let us know what you decide to do.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Hi group!

> Hi - I just found this group, and thought I might ask you people

> here for some friendly advice.

>

> My name is Henry, I'm 25 and about 1 month ago I got a sharp pain in

> my left elbow that wouldn't go away. It was bad enough that I

> couldn't fully straighten my arm out for about 3 days, but then it

> slowly faded. I just assumed I had sprained it somehow, playing

> soccer. A few days after this I started waking up with aching bones;

> fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders in particular, but a little in

> the knees and back, too. I thought I might be sleeping wrong, need a

> new bed or something; but this seems too widespread across all my

> body, without apparent rhyme or reason.

>

> So, I started doing some research on the Internet, and of course the

> first thing I come across when putting " ache, bone, joint, fingers "

> etc in Google is RA. It's pretty scary though and I don't want to

> jump to any quick conclusions.

>

> I also have acne, and possibly very mild psoriasis and have been

> taking minomycin for the last few years to control it. So I also

> noticed a condition called " psoriatic arthritis " .

>

> So anyway, I am kind of worried and I am working abroad these days;

> my access to English-speaking doctors is pretty limited; I guess I'm

> looking for some learned opinion.

>

> P.S. Does anyone here know much about " psoriatic arthritis " or any

> complications from minomycin that could cause these symptoms.

>

> -thanks!

>

> Henry