Re: Liver enzymes high again

November 25, 2005

Tawny,

I have been overwhelmingly busy. The girls are both involved in so many

activities. Band has been keeping me super busy...I am glad that marching

season is over. The weekly travel, football games, marching contests as well

as

the ton of band booster responsibilities were a killer. Things have slowly

slightly which is kind of nice. I am secretary, public chairperson, and

hospitality chairperson(which means catch all for everything that does not get

done) I like being busy...it makes time pass...but some times it gets too

much.

I started my own business last spring as Home Interiors Decorating

Consultant and that has been going well. I did a big fundraiser for my girls

band and

it was awesome.

I have also been substitute teaching when I can handle it. I seem to not be

able to handle more than three days in one week. Then I have to take a few

days off and rest. Plus I have had to be selective as to which schools and

teachers I sub for because of the behavior in the classroom. The extra money

has been helpful with the holidays coming. I would love to be able to work

more as I had to turn down a long term assignment for a teacher that is having

surgery. It would have been very good money because of the length of the

assignment...2-3 months. But since the weather has changed, I got a serious

reality check with my RA. I just can't handle that much stress on my body

anymore.

Along with all of this, my oldest daughter is a senior and her sister is not

too far behind. We have been doing our college visits. She spent the

weekend at a college and Her sister and I checked out all the seminars and

tours

for parents. They both seem to be sold on this college. So now comes the fun

part for parents. Get all the financial end taken care of. The girls still

have auditions for scholarships and another round of ACT and SAT testing.

I have mixed fillings about the plaquinil. So far I have had NO side

effects. Which for me is a very good thing. But as far as how I feel...I have

had

NO improvement of symptoms. I am having a hard time telling if my symptoms

are because of my level of activity, stress or just the change in weather. I

have had to injections into my hip joint. My toes still hurt something

horrible. I have lovely lumps on my hips. The rheummy says those are bursa

sacs

that are VERY inflamed and irritated. I have them on both hips...so

sleeping in interesting. Plus I hate to sleep on my back! LOL

I was sent a Humira new patient kit which was really nice. It had a

toiletries travel bag, adaptor kit for zippers, pens and jars plus a really nice

day

planner with special part for tracking pain, stiffness, fatigue. I have

been using it and trying to correlate my symptoms with my activities. So far

NONE of it makes sense.

We have no insurance right now as my hubby changed jobs. The COBRA coverage

was well over $1k a month and to pay that for one month was just not worth

it. So our new insurance will start December 1st. I have a rheummy appnt

coming soon. I will see what he has in his bag of tricks.

Please keep in touch.

Toni

How are you and the girls doing? How is that grandbaby that is on the way

doing?

In a message dated 11/25/2005 4:56:33 P.M. Central Standard Time,

writes:

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:55:02 -0000

From: " tdianaok " <tdianaok@...>

Subject: Re: Liver enzymes high again

Hi Toni,

Thanks for asking, I pulled the Thanksgiving dinner off, I'm just

glad it's over. I have been in so much pain with my back, and then

fighting off a cold. I have been so fatiqued lately, I should listen

to my body. It feels like I am in a big rut, and can't get out.

So, the Plaquenil isn't really working for you? Have you thought

about another med? It's hard isn't it?

How are you doing? I have missed hearing from you. I hope you, and

the family are doing good.

My prayers are with you, Tawny

November 25, 2005

Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble, Tawny. I had too many

side effects with the MTX until I went on the injectable. Then I

finally got some relief and fewer side effects. See how you do while

you are off the MTX. See if you flare up more frequently or with more

intensity. If not, then it may be worth talking to your

rheumatologist about. Good luck to you and I hope you are doing

ok..Marina

>

> I had to go off the methotrexate once again, my liver enzymes are

> high. I am taking Plaquenil also. Just wondering if the Plaquenil

> will stop the progression of the RA alone? I am considering going

off

> the methotrexate, too much side effects.

> Hugs, Tawny

>

November 25, 2005

Hey Tawny,

Sorry to hear about the MTX. You know I had a horrible time while on

it. For some people plquinil alone does it. I know they also use

plaquinil to treat lupus as well. I am on plaquinil as the only DMARD

drug for my RA. I can't say its working. Things really seem the same

for me.

I have not heard from you in quite sometime...how are things going? I

hope you had a good Thanksgiving.

Toni in Texas

>

> I had to go off the methotrexate once again, my liver enzymes are

> high. I am taking Plaquenil also. Just wondering if the Plaquenil

> will stop the progression of the RA alone? I am considering going off

> the methotrexate, too much side effects.

> Hugs, Tawny

>

November 25, 2005

Hi Marina,

That is good the mtx injections help you. I am not as fatiqued since

being off the mtx, and it feels so good. I am going to talk to my

rheumy, I would like to go off the mtx, if at all possible.

You take care, Tawny

> >

> > I had to go off the methotrexate once again, my liver enzymes are

> > high. I am taking Plaquenil also. Just wondering if the

Plaquenil

> > will stop the progression of the RA alone? I am considering going

> off

> > the methotrexate, too much side effects.

> > Hugs, Tawny

> >

>

November 25, 2005

Hi Toni,

Thanks for asking, I pulled the Thanksgiving dinner off, I'm just

glad it's over. I have been in so much pain with my back, and then

fighting off a cold. I have been so fatiqued lately, I should listen

to my body. It feels like I am in a big rut, and can't get out.

So, the Plaquenil isn't really working for you? Have you thought

about another med? It's hard isn't it?

How are you doing? I have missed hearing from you. I hope you, and

the family are doing good.

My prayers are with you, Tawny

> >

> > I had to go off the methotrexate once again, my liver enzymes are

> > high. I am taking Plaquenil also. Just wondering if the

Plaquenil

> > will stop the progression of the RA alone? I am considering going

off

> > the methotrexate, too much side effects.

> > Hugs, Tawny

> >

>

November 25, 2005

Wow Toni, you have been busy! I am glad to hear your home business

is doing well. The weather does have a big part of all of are aches.

I have had the bursa sacs too, no fun:( Wow, they are on your hips, I

can imagine how uncomfortable, you poor girl. Can they be drained?

Sorry about your insurance, but glad you can get started back to the

doctor soon. I hope hubby likes his new job, that is important.

Were all doing fine. The baby is due in March, it's a girl:) So,

Grandma is really excited! You take care, and know your in my

thoughts and prayers, Tawny

>

> Tawny,

> I have been overwhelmingly busy. The girls are both involved in

so many

> activities. Band has been keeping me super busy...I am glad that

marching

> season is over. The weekly travel, football games, marching

contests as well as

> the ton of band booster responsibilities were a killer. Things

have slowly

> slightly which is kind of nice. I am secretary, public

chairperson, and

> hospitality chairperson(which means catch all for everything that

does not get

> done) I like being busy...it makes time pass...but some times it

gets too much.

>

> I started my own business last spring as Home Interiors Decorating

> Consultant and that has been going well. I did a big fundraiser

for my girls band and

> it was awesome.

>

> I have also been substitute teaching when I can handle it. I seem

to not be

> able to handle more than three days in one week. Then I have to

take a few

> days off and rest. Plus I have had to be selective as to which

schools and

> teachers I sub for because of the behavior in the classroom. The

extra money

> has been helpful with the holidays coming. I would love to be

able to work

> more as I had to turn down a long term assignment for a teacher

that is having

> surgery. It would have been very good money because of the length

of the

> assignment...2-3 months. But since the weather has changed, I got

a serious

> reality check with my RA. I just can't handle that much stress on

my body

> anymore.

>

> Along with all of this, my oldest daughter is a senior and her

sister is not

> too far behind. We have been doing our college visits. She spent

the

> weekend at a college and Her sister and I checked out all the

seminars and tours

> for parents. They both seem to be sold on this college. So now

comes the fun

> part for parents. Get all the financial end taken care of. The

girls still

> have auditions for scholarships and another round of ACT and SAT

testing.

>

> I have mixed fillings about the plaquinil. So far I have had NO

side

> effects. Which for me is a very good thing. But as far as how I

feel...I have had

> NO improvement of symptoms. I am having a hard time telling if my

symptoms

> are because of my level of activity, stress or just the change in

weather. I

> have had to injections into my hip joint. My toes still hurt

something

> horrible. I have lovely lumps on my hips. The rheummy says those

are bursa sacs

> that are VERY inflamed and irritated. I have them on both

hips...so

> sleeping in interesting. Plus I hate to sleep on my back! LOL

>

> I was sent a Humira new patient kit which was really nice. It had

a

> toiletries travel bag, adaptor kit for zippers, pens and jars plus

a really nice day

> planner with special part for tracking pain, stiffness, fatigue.

I have

> been using it and trying to correlate my symptoms with my

activities. So far

> NONE of it makes sense.

>

> We have no insurance right now as my hubby changed jobs. The

COBRA coverage

> was well over $1k a month and to pay that for one month was just

not worth

> it. So our new insurance will start December 1st. I have a

rheummy appnt

> coming soon. I will see what he has in his bag of tricks.

>

> Please keep in touch.

>

> Toni

>

> How are you and the girls doing? How is that grandbaby that is on

the way

> doing?

>

> In a message dated 11/25/2005 4:56:33 P.M. Central Standard Time,

> writes:

>

> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:55:02 -0000

> From: " tdianaok " <tdianaok@y...>

> Subject: Re: Liver enzymes high again

>

> Hi Toni,

> Thanks for asking, I pulled the Thanksgiving dinner off, I'm just

> glad it's over. I have been in so much pain with my back, and

then

> fighting off a cold. I have been so fatiqued lately, I should

listen

> to my body. It feels like I am in a big rut, and can't get out.

> So, the Plaquenil isn't really working for you? Have you thought

> about another med? It's hard isn't it?

> How are you doing? I have missed hearing from you. I hope you,

and

> the family are doing good.

> My prayers are with you, Tawny

>

November 25, 2005

Toni, I admire anybody who can handle substitute teaching. Some

teachers do it when they retire, but not me. I always thought that

substituting would be harder than teaching. So more power to you. Sue

On Friday, November 25, 2005, at 06:52 PM, aclavern33@... wrote:

>

> I have also been substitute teaching when I can handle it. I seem to

> not be

> able to handle more than three days in one week. Then I have to take

> a few

> days off and rest. Plus I have had to be selective as to which

> schools and

> teachers I sub for because of the behavior in the classroom.

>

November 25, 2005

Tawny,

I bet you are excited!!! Whoo Hooo!!!! A baby girl!! I am so happy. I

hope Twila is doing well and the dark days have passed. I know how hard it is

to watch when there is nothing you can do.

The doc will not drain the sacs. He has put steriods and lidocaine into

them twice now. It helps a lot and they shrink down but never go away. The

right hip is far worst than the left. I now have lumps on the bottom of my

feet

in the arch and on top of my foot close to my toes. No clue what they

mean...but I know the bottom of my feet have had terrible foot cramps that

nothing

seems to make go away.

Hubby loves his new job and it was the job he has been trying to get for

almost two years. It was a long time coming. The insurance is a real pain. I

have to make sure I get my primary to do all my lab and xray during an office

visit or it will cost me a fortune. I will have to pay a deductible and

then the insurance will only pay 80%...stupid PPO. Its Cigna at that which is

one of the worst!! We have to deal with it for the next year and hopefully

when open enrollment comes around again they insurance provider will change to

Humana.

Toni

In a message dated 11/26/2005 12:27:43 A.M. Central Standard Time,

writes:

Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 00:50:22 -0000