Re: Amy and newly diagnoised

[Guest guest]

Wow! Where do you live? I have been battling this for years with no

help. Unfortuneately, because of that I really can't help you much.

I do however want you to know that you have come to the right place

for information and support. Please bare in mind that several of us

still tend to have bad days at times and therefore either we miss

posts and/or it takes some time to get back to ya. So, be patient

with us - please!!! We will try to a.s.a.p. Anyhow, WELCOME!!! I

think that you should get some answers here shortly that will help you

with the information that you are seeking. I'm sorry about the sudden

diagnosis and hope that you are handling as well as can be accepted!

Please hang in there and I'm glad that you are here! Kim

[Guest guest]

Wow! Where do you live? I have been battling this for years with no

help. Unfortuneately, because of that I really can't help you much.

I do however want you to know that you have come to the right place

for information and support. Please bare in mind that several of us

still tend to have bad days at times and therefore either we miss

posts and/or it takes some time to get back to ya. So, be patient

with us - please!!! We will try to a.s.a.p. Anyhow, WELCOME!!! I

think that you should get some answers here shortly that will help you

with the information that you are seeking. I'm sorry about the sudden

diagnosis and hope that you are handling as well as can be accepted!

Please hang in there and I'm glad that you are here! Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I'm in south Florida and this doctor is supposed to be one of the

leading rheumatologists. I'm not questioning his knowledge, but I

think he's taking an unnecessarily aggresive approach at this point.

Of course, this is all new to me which is why I wanted to hear from

other folks. Thanks for responding.

Amy

> Wow! Where do you live? I have been battling this for years with no

> help. Unfortuneately, because of that I really can't help you much.

> I do however want you to know that you have come to the right place

> for information and support. Please bare in mind that several of us

> still tend to have bad days at times and therefore either we miss

> posts and/or it takes some time to get back to ya. So, be patient

> with us - please!!! We will try to a.s.a.p. Anyhow, WELCOME!!! I

> think that you should get some answers here shortly that will help

you

> with the information that you are seeking. I'm sorry about the

sudden

> diagnosis and hope that you are handling as well as can be accepted!

> Please hang in there and I'm glad that you are here! Kim

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

I'm in south Florida and this doctor is supposed to be one of the

leading rheumatologists. I'm not questioning his knowledge, but I

think he's taking an unnecessarily aggresive approach at this point.

Of course, this is all new to me which is why I wanted to hear from

other folks. Thanks for responding.

Amy

> Wow! Where do you live? I have been battling this for years with no

> help. Unfortuneately, because of that I really can't help you much.

> I do however want you to know that you have come to the right place

> for information and support. Please bare in mind that several of us

> still tend to have bad days at times and therefore either we miss

> posts and/or it takes some time to get back to ya. So, be patient

> with us - please!!! We will try to a.s.a.p. Anyhow, WELCOME!!! I

> think that you should get some answers here shortly that will help

you

> with the information that you are seeking. I'm sorry about the

sudden

> diagnosis and hope that you are handling as well as can be accepted!

> Please hang in there and I'm glad that you are here! Kim

[Guest guest]

Amy,

I hope you have read the articles that has posted. Early

aggressive treatment can alter the course of the disease and prevent

bone erosion, which will lead to joint deformities and joint

replacements. I know the side effects sound scary, but most of them

are rare.

The side effects of ALL medicine is scary. But the damage from RA is

also scary. I've had RA since the 70's. I'm currently on Enbrel,

which is the first medicine in all these years that I can say really

helps. I'm hoping it stops more damage. I've already had both knees

replaced, and my ankles are in need. My elbow and wrist are being

eroded.

I am also in S. Florida, in Naples. Welcome neighbor. Sorry to meet

this way, but it's great that you're learning about the disease.

Knowledge is your best defense. As far as diet, research shows that

there are many foods that can help with inflammation, but no diet has

proven to cure this disease.

a

On Jul 5, 2005, at 2:26 PM, lopezsphr wrote:

> Hi Kim,

> I'm in south Florida and this doctor is supposed to be one of the

> leading rheumatologists.  I'm not questioning his knowledge, but I

> think he's taking an unnecessarily aggresive approach at this point. 

> Of course, this is all new to me which is why I wanted to hear from

> other folks.  Thanks for responding.

> Amy

[Guest guest]

Amy,

I hope you have read the articles that has posted. Early

aggressive treatment can alter the course of the disease and prevent

bone erosion, which will lead to joint deformities and joint

replacements. I know the side effects sound scary, but most of them

are rare.

The side effects of ALL medicine is scary. But the damage from RA is

also scary. I've had RA since the 70's. I'm currently on Enbrel,

which is the first medicine in all these years that I can say really

helps. I'm hoping it stops more damage. I've already had both knees

replaced, and my ankles are in need. My elbow and wrist are being

eroded.

I am also in S. Florida, in Naples. Welcome neighbor. Sorry to meet

this way, but it's great that you're learning about the disease.

Knowledge is your best defense. As far as diet, research shows that

there are many foods that can help with inflammation, but no diet has

proven to cure this disease.

a

On Jul 5, 2005, at 2:26 PM, lopezsphr wrote:

> Hi Kim,

> I'm in south Florida and this doctor is supposed to be one of the

> leading rheumatologists.  I'm not questioning his knowledge, but I

> think he's taking an unnecessarily aggresive approach at this point. 

> Of course, this is all new to me which is why I wanted to hear from

> other folks.  Thanks for responding.

> Amy

[Guest guest]

Amy,

I started out on methotrexate for a year. Then he

compared my x-rays from a year ago and it had got

worse. So now I have just started the Enbrel. I was

diagnosed it will be 2 yrs. ago in Aug. But did not

get treatment until a year ago April. During the time

that I did not get treatment I lost partial movement

in my thumb. I can't do the thumbs up sign anymore. My

daughter and I have our own thumbs up sign. It is our

own little joke.

Beth(AR)

--- lopezsphr <lopezsphr@...> wrote:

> Hi Kim,

> I'm in south Florida and this doctor is supposed to

> be one of the

> leading rheumatologists. I'm not questioning his

> knowledge, but I

> think he's taking an unnecessarily aggresive

> approach at this point.

> Of course, this is all new to me which is why I

> wanted to hear from

> other folks. Thanks for responding.

> Amy

>

>

> > Wow! Where do you live? I have been battling

> this for years with no

> > help. Unfortuneately, because of that I really

> can't help you much.

> > I do however want you to know that you have come

> to the right place

> > for information and support. Please bare in mind

> that several of us

> > still tend to have bad days at times and therefore

> either we miss

> > posts and/or it takes some time to get back to ya.

> So, be patient

> > with us - please!!! We will try to a.s.a.p.

> Anyhow, WELCOME!!! I

> > think that you should get some answers here

> shortly that will help

> you

> > with the information that you are seeking. I'm

> sorry about the

> sudden

> > diagnosis and hope that you are handling as well

> as can be accepted!

> > Please hang in there and I'm glad that you are

> here! Kim

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Amy,

I started out on methotrexate for a year. Then he

compared my x-rays from a year ago and it had got

worse. So now I have just started the Enbrel. I was

diagnosed it will be 2 yrs. ago in Aug. But did not

get treatment until a year ago April. During the time

that I did not get treatment I lost partial movement

in my thumb. I can't do the thumbs up sign anymore. My

daughter and I have our own thumbs up sign. It is our

own little joke.

Beth(AR)

--- lopezsphr <lopezsphr@...> wrote:

> Hi Kim,

> I'm in south Florida and this doctor is supposed to

> be one of the

> leading rheumatologists. I'm not questioning his

> knowledge, but I

> think he's taking an unnecessarily aggresive

> approach at this point.

> Of course, this is all new to me which is why I

> wanted to hear from

> other folks. Thanks for responding.

> Amy

>

>

> > Wow! Where do you live? I have been battling

> this for years with no

> > help. Unfortuneately, because of that I really

> can't help you much.

> > I do however want you to know that you have come

> to the right place

> > for information and support. Please bare in mind

> that several of us

> > still tend to have bad days at times and therefore

> either we miss

> > posts and/or it takes some time to get back to ya.

> So, be patient

> > with us - please!!! We will try to a.s.a.p.

> Anyhow, WELCOME!!! I

> > think that you should get some answers here

> shortly that will help

> you

> > with the information that you are seeking. I'm

> sorry about the

> sudden

> > diagnosis and hope that you are handling as well

> as can be accepted!

> > Please hang in there and I'm glad that you are

> here! Kim

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> Amy,

>

> I hope you have read the articles that has posted. Early

> aggressive treatment can alter the course of the disease and

prevent

> bone erosion, which will lead to joint deformities and joint

> replacements. I know the side effects sound scary, but most of

them

> are rare.>

>

I was diagnoised in May 2003, didn't go on the biologicals until Feb.

2004 Humira one injection everyother week, went on weekly injections

in March of 2005. Over the 4th of July, I bought some additional

borders for my garden. I remember last year hammering the posts to

secure the " rock " like borders. It hurt to hammer them and I actually

hurt for two days afterwards. It really made me angry, I couldn't

even work in my garden, doing normal things, without paying for it

for a couple of days. This time it didn't hurt to hammer them in, no

pain afterwards! I am so much better because of the Humira weekely

and the 15mg of methotrexate weekly. I've had MRI's, exrays when

diagmoised and just two months ago, no damage. I am so thankful for

that!! I actually know women that were diagnoised and within a year

or two were crippled not more than 5 years ago. My RA has moved to

another finger on my hand and I asked my Remey about that. His answer

was we are treating as agreesively as we can. I honestly feel if it

wasn't for the " new " drugs, I would already be crippled. As it is, I

still work full time, major problem is fatique!! I do sleep alot! I

thank God that I work within walking distance and I work some split

shifts so I can take a nap a few times a week.Please don't dismiss

agressive treatment because you have no damage as yet. It can happen

very fast and it is unreversable.m Please stay with this group, you

will learn alot. God bless and my prayers are with you!

Colleen, in andria, VA

[Guest guest]

> Amy,

>

> I hope you have read the articles that has posted. Early

> aggressive treatment can alter the course of the disease and

prevent

> bone erosion, which will lead to joint deformities and joint

> replacements. I know the side effects sound scary, but most of

them

> are rare.>

>

I was diagnoised in May 2003, didn't go on the biologicals until Feb.

2004 Humira one injection everyother week, went on weekly injections

in March of 2005. Over the 4th of July, I bought some additional

borders for my garden. I remember last year hammering the posts to

secure the " rock " like borders. It hurt to hammer them and I actually

hurt for two days afterwards. It really made me angry, I couldn't

even work in my garden, doing normal things, without paying for it

for a couple of days. This time it didn't hurt to hammer them in, no

pain afterwards! I am so much better because of the Humira weekely

and the 15mg of methotrexate weekly. I've had MRI's, exrays when

diagmoised and just two months ago, no damage. I am so thankful for

that!! I actually know women that were diagnoised and within a year

or two were crippled not more than 5 years ago. My RA has moved to

another finger on my hand and I asked my Remey about that. His answer

was we are treating as agreesively as we can. I honestly feel if it

wasn't for the " new " drugs, I would already be crippled. As it is, I

still work full time, major problem is fatique!! I do sleep alot! I

thank God that I work within walking distance and I work some split

shifts so I can take a nap a few times a week.Please don't dismiss

agressive treatment because you have no damage as yet. It can happen

very fast and it is unreversable.m Please stay with this group, you

will learn alot. God bless and my prayers are with you!

Colleen, in andria, VA