Re: New to group - Lori

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori:

You have found a group that has given me much support

and information over the last four years, and I am

sure you will find the people here to be as wonderful

and caring as I have. We all truly know what you are

going through, and with our combined experience with

many different drugs, combo of drugs, or other

treatments, we have lots of personal experience to

share.

I am 51 years old, married, and have two children,

actually young adults, 21 and 18, and live on a small

farm - I'm in southern California too. I was dx with

RA 6 years ago, and have since been dx with

Fibromyalgia as well, and Raynaud's, and I suspect

that I also have Sojrens. I have been on many

medications over that time, and my doctor started me

out aggressively from my first visit to her. I have

since had to change doctors as she moved away, but

each one has continued aggressive treatment, and I

feel that this has helped to slow down the progression

of the RA. Your doctor has exactly the right attitude

about treatment, and the Prednisone should begin to

help fairly soon. I can usally feel a difference on

Prednisone within the first week, but don't like to

take it too long as it makes me cranky and hungry lol.

It is a magic drug though in small doses.

Currently, I am taking Methotrexate, Enbrel, and Mobic

for RA; Trazadone, Zanaflex, and Skelaxin for Fibro;

Ultracet for pain; and meds for blood pressure,

asthma, and an anti-depressant, as well as supplements

like Folic Acid and Milk Thistle. Whew - sure is a

lot when I write it all down, but they keep me going.

It takes a while sometimes to find the right med,

sometimes a combo of meds is better, but, if it is

indeed RA that you have, there is a lot of very good

medication, with more in the research stages, that can

help. Yes, I will continue taking medications for the

rest of my life, not exactly what I had planned, but

it's better than the alternative of joint destruction,

further disability, etc. I am just happy that there

are such meds available, as they were not for my

grandmother, and she was very crippled by her RA.

So, it is very understandable to be scared and unsure

of what will happen, but I just wanted to let you know

that there is life after RA, and with the proper

medication(s) there is a great chance that you will be

able to continue to do much of what you do now, maybe

with a bit of compromise, but there is hope. Take

care, and let us know how you are doing - we are here

24/7, whine and cheese are served everyday lol, and we

" get it " .

Kathe in CA

--- loriginsberg@... wrote:

> Hello:

>

> My name is Lori and I live in southern California.

> I have been

> experiencing many symptoms of RA over the past

> several months so my

> doctor referred me to a rheumatologist who I saw

> yesterday. So far, my

> blood tests are coming back negative and I don't

> have any obivious signs

> of swelling. My hands and feet hurt alot and I have

> morning stiffness. I

> have had tendonitis in my left wrist 3 times in the

> last 4 months. I have

> also noticed that lately, my eyes have been very

> dry. My rheumatologist

> feels that I may be in the beginning stages of RA

> and has put me on 10mg

> of prednisone once a day for two weeks. I have an

> appointment to see him

> again at that time. He says if my symptoms

> dissappear or improve over

> the next two weeks as a result of the prednisone

> that would be an

> indicator to him that I may very well have RA. From

> our conversation

> yesterday he seems to be of the opinion that an

> aggressive course of

> action would be his choice in treating this. I'm not

> sure exactly what

> that entails, but he did mention putting me on a

> drug that I would take

> for the rest of my life (I'm 52). I am writing

> today to get other's

> opinions as I am new to all this and frankly very

> confused and scared.

> Any suggestions, questions I should ask, etc. would

> be greatly

> appreciated.

>

> Thank you,

> Lori

>

>

>

>

Kathe in CA

__________________________________

- PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

http://mail.

[Guest guest]

Dear Kathe:

Thank you so much for your letter. Everyone here has been exactly as you

have describe - so supportive. I have taken the prednisone for the past

two days and as of now have not noticed any changes. We will see.

Where in southern California do you live? I live about 40 miles north of

Los Angeles in a small rural town called Agua Dulce. We have 5 acres and

used to have loads of animals, but my 4 children are all grown now, so we

traded raising animals for quilting for me and rebuilding hot rods for my

husband. We are waiting for grandchildren and then maybe we will get

some animals again.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving. I guess the best thing we can all do in

not to OVER DO!

Lori in So. California

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:32:29 -0800 (PST) Kathe Sabetzadeh

<lv2ryd@...> writes:

Hi Lori:

You have found a group that has given me much support

and information over the last four years, and I am

sure you will find the people here to be as wonderful

and caring as I have. We all truly know what you are

going through, and with our combined experience with

many different drugs, combo of drugs, or other

treatments, we have lots of personal experience to

share.

I am 51 years old, married, and have two children,

actually young adults, 21 and 18, and live on a small

farm - I'm in southern California too. I was dx with

RA 6 years ago, and have since been dx with

Fibromyalgia as well, and Raynaud's, and I suspect

that I also have Sojrens. I have been on many

medications over that time, and my doctor started me

out aggressively from my first visit to her. I have

since had to change doctors as she moved away, but

each one has continued aggressive treatment, and I

feel that this has helped to slow down the progression

of the RA. Your doctor has exactly the right attitude

about treatment, and the Prednisone should begin to

help fairly soon. I can usally feel a difference on

Prednisone within the first week, but don't like to

take it too long as it makes me cranky and hungry lol.

It is a magic drug though in small doses.

Currently, I am taking Methotrexate, Enbrel, and Mobic

for RA; Trazadone, Zanaflex, and Skelaxin for Fibro;

Ultracet for pain; and meds for blood pressure,

asthma, and an anti-depressant, as well as supplements

like Folic Acid and Milk Thistle. Whew - sure is a

lot when I write it all down, but they keep me going.

It takes a while sometimes to find the right med,

sometimes a combo of meds is better, but, if it is

indeed RA that you have, there is a lot of very good

medication, with more in the research stages, that can

help. Yes, I will continue taking medications for the

rest of my life, not exactly what I had planned, but

it's better than the alternative of joint destruction,

further disability, etc. I am just happy that there

are such meds available, as they were not for my

grandmother, and she was very crippled by her RA.

So, it is very understandable to be scared and unsure

of what will happen, but I just wanted to let you know

that there is life after RA, and with the proper

medication(s) there is a great chance that you will be

able to continue to do much of what you do now, maybe

with a bit of compromise, but there is hope. Take

care, and let us know how you are doing - we are here

24/7, whine and cheese are served everyday lol, and we

" get it " .

Kathe in CA

--- loriginsberg@... wrote:

> Hello:

>

> My name is Lori and I live in southern California.

> I have been

> experiencing many symptoms of RA over the past

> several months so my

> doctor referred me to a rheumatologist who I saw

> yesterday. So far, my

> blood tests are coming back negative and I don't

> have any obivious signs

> of swelling. My hands and feet hurt alot and I have

> morning stiffness. I

> have had tendonitis in my left wrist 3 times in the

> last 4 months. I have

> also noticed that lately, my eyes have been very

> dry. My rheumatologist

> feels that I may be in the beginning stages of RA

> and has put me on 10mg

> of prednisone once a day for two weeks. I have an

> appointment to see him

> again at that time. He says if my symptoms

> dissappear or improve over

> the next two weeks as a result of the prednisone

> that would be an

> indicator to him that I may very well have RA. From

> our conversation

> yesterday he seems to be of the opinion that an

> aggressive course of

> action would be his choice in treating this. I'm not

> sure exactly what

> that entails, but he did mention putting me on a

> drug that I would take

> for the rest of my life (I'm 52). I am writing

> today to get other's

> opinions as I am new to all this and frankly very

> confused and scared.

> Any suggestions, questions I should ask, etc. would

> be greatly

> appreciated.

>

> Thank you,

> Lori

>

>

>

>

Kathe in CA

__________________________________

- PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

http://mail.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori:

I live down south of you, near the Lake

Elsinore/Murrieta area.

We have 2 acres, various fowl, five dogs, and five

horses. I love it, but it is a lot of work. I still

am able to get up and ride, with much assistance,

about once a week if my RA allows it, and just love

the way it makes me feel - so relaxing and such good

therapy - better than any RA drug lol. My mom was a

wonderful quilter, very talented, and made us some

beautiful bedspreads, etc. She took it up later in

life, and had only been quilting for maybe ten years

or so when she died from colon cancer. It gave her

great joy to create beautiful items for her family. I

had been designing and making handmade jewelry for a

friend's business when I was first diagnosed, and had

to give that up because my wrists and fingers became

too painful to do the little detail work involved. I

miss it. Now I just read - a lot - I'm a familar face

around the library! I hope that you had a great

Thanksgiving too.

Kathe in CA

--- loriginsberg@... wrote:

> Dear Kathe:

>

> Thank you so much for your letter. Everyone here

> has been exactly as you

> have describe - so supportive. I have taken the

> prednisone for the past

> two days and as of now have not noticed any changes.

> We will see.

>

> Where in southern California do you live? I live

> about 40 miles north of

> Los Angeles in a small rural town called Agua Dulce.

> We have 5 acres and

> used to have loads of animals, but my 4 children are

> all grown now, so we

> traded raising animals for quilting for me and

> rebuilding hot rods for my

> husband. We are waiting for grandchildren and then

> maybe we will get

> some animals again.

>

> Have a very happy Thanksgiving. I guess the best

> thing we can all do in

> not to OVER DO!

>

> Lori in So. California

>

> On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:32:29 -0800 (PST) Kathe

> Sabetzadeh

> <lv2ryd@...> writes:

> Hi Lori:

>

> You have found a group that has given me much

> support

> and information over the last four years, and I am

> sure you will find the people here to be as

> wonderful

> and caring as I have. We all truly know what you

> are

> going through, and with our combined experience with

> many different drugs, combo of drugs, or other

> treatments, we have lots of personal experience to

> share.

>

> I am 51 years old, married, and have two children,

> actually young adults, 21 and 18, and live on a

> small

> farm - I'm in southern California too. I was dx with

> RA 6 years ago, and have since been dx with

> Fibromyalgia as well, and Raynaud's, and I suspect

> that I also have Sojrens. I have been on many

> medications over that time, and my doctor started me

> out aggressively from my first visit to her. I have

> since had to change doctors as she moved away, but

> each one has continued aggressive treatment, and I

> feel that this has helped to slow down the

> progression

> of the RA. Your doctor has exactly the right

> attitude

> about treatment, and the Prednisone should begin to

> help fairly soon. I can usally feel a difference on

> Prednisone within the first week, but don't like to

> take it too long as it makes me cranky and hungry

> lol.

> It is a magic drug though in small doses.

>

> Currently, I am taking Methotrexate, Enbrel, and

> Mobic

> for RA; Trazadone, Zanaflex, and Skelaxin for Fibro;

> Ultracet for pain; and meds for blood pressure,

> asthma, and an anti-depressant, as well as

> supplements

> like Folic Acid and Milk Thistle. Whew - sure is a

> lot when I write it all down, but they keep me

> going.

> It takes a while sometimes to find the right med,

> sometimes a combo of meds is better, but, if it is

> indeed RA that you have, there is a lot of very good

> medication, with more in the research stages, that

> can

> help. Yes, I will continue taking medications for

> the

> rest of my life, not exactly what I had planned, but

> it's better than the alternative of joint

> destruction,

> further disability, etc. I am just happy that there

> are such meds available, as they were not for my

> grandmother, and she was very crippled by her RA.

>

> So, it is very understandable to be scared and

> unsure

> of what will happen, but I just wanted to let you

> know

> that there is life after RA, and with the proper

> medication(s) there is a great chance that you will

> be

> able to continue to do much of what you do now,

> maybe

> with a bit of compromise, but there is hope. Take

> care, and let us know how you are doing - we are

> here

> 24/7, whine and cheese are served everyday lol, and

> we

> " get it " .

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>

>

> --- loriginsberg@... wrote:

>

> > Hello:

> >

> > My name is Lori and I live in southern California.

>

> > I have been

> > experiencing many symptoms of RA over the past

> > several months so my

> > doctor referred me to a rheumatologist who I saw

> > yesterday. So far, my

> > blood tests are coming back negative and I don't

> > have any obivious signs

> > of swelling. My hands and feet hurt alot and I

> have

> > morning stiffness. I

> > have had tendonitis in my left wrist 3 times in

> the

> > last 4 months. I have

> > also noticed that lately, my eyes have been very

> > dry. My rheumatologist

> > feels that I may be in the beginning stages of RA

> > and has put me on 10mg

> > of prednisone once a day for two weeks. I have an

> > appointment to see him

> > again at that time. He says if my symptoms

> > dissappear or improve over

> > the next two weeks as a result of the prednisone

> > that would be an

> > indicator to him that I may very well have RA.

> From

> > our conversation

> > yesterday he seems to be of the opinion that an

> > aggressive course of

> > action would be his choice in treating this. I'm

> not

> > sure exactly what

> > that entails, but he did mention putting me on a

> > drug that I would take

> > for the rest of my life (I'm 52). I am writing

> > today to get other's

> > opinions as I am new to all this and frankly very

> > confused and scared.

> > Any suggestions, questions I should ask, etc.

> would

> > be greatly

> > appreciated.

> >

> > Thank you,

> > Lori

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> Kathe in CA

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________

> - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

> http://mail.

>

>

>