Re: RA and Fibromyalgia Felicia

[Guest guest]

Hi Felicia:

That is great that you are coming here for help for

your father and mother-in-law. They are so lucky to

have a person like you in their lives.

Don't ever think that your father regretted in any

way, physically challenged as he is, walking you down

the aisle. He had been waiting his entire life for

that blessing to be able to give you away to a man who

you love, who loves you, so that you can create a new

life with your husband. I don't think that your

father felt in any way horrible about it, so you don't

have to feel horrible either for that special time in

your lives.

I am sorry to hear that he is so crippled by RA. My

grandmother had RA and was the same way,

unfortunately. I have been dx with RA since age 45, 7

years ago, and the meds that we have now are so much

better than any that were avilable to her, so I know

have a better chance of not ending up like she did. I

have been on many medications, but currently my RA is

under good control with Methotrexate, Enbrel, and

Ultram ER. What medications does your father take?

Has he tried the new biologics? There are even newer

meds than them available now such as Orencia and

Rituximab, which fight RA in a whole new way.

I also have fibromyalgia, and have been dx now for 2

years, but know that I have had it for much longer

than that. I am taking several medications and my

fibro is under fairly good control - actually it

causes more pain in my life now than the RA. I am

taking Skelaxin and Zanaflex (muscle relaxants),

Lyrica and Cymbalta (nerve pain med/anti-depressant

with nerve pain relief as an added benefit), Ambien CR

for sleep, and I take Ultram ER for my fibro pain as

well as the RA pain.

I also take meds for high blood pressure and asthma.

For more relief of pain, I use rice socks, massage

pads, heating pads, hot showers and rest as much as

possible. I have a husband of 24 years, and two kids,

22 and 19, and live on a small farm in southern

california with horses, chickens, ducks, geese,

pigeons, one grumpy turkey, and dogs inside and

outside. It keeps me busy, but I love it, and it

actually does get me up in the mornings because I have

to go out and feed and water them all. I even get to

ride my horse at least once a week, weather and body

permitting.

The fatigue and fibro fog is something that I really

have little control over. More days than not

nowadays, I cannot seem to say the things I want to

without stuttering or using the wrong words, although

I used to be a pretty smart lady, I now feel pretty

stupid when my comprehension and language are badly

affected by the fibro. I am constantly loosing

things, misplacing things, forgetting things, but the

up side is that I can watch a movie or read a book

more than one time, and enjoy it all over again!

Anyway, hope some of this helps. You have come to the

right place to learn about things that your loved ones

might be able to benefit from. Do they both go to

rheumatologists? What meds has your mother-in-law

been on? We are here not only for the people with the

diseases, but also for their families, because it

definately affects the family dynamics when one member

gets ill, and we are here to support those as well.

Take care and keep coming back!

Kathe in CA

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