Re: hang in there kerri

[Guest guest]

Dear Kerri Sue,

You're not nuts, although I know that the uncertainty can be maddening. When

the tests show conflicting results you feel invalidated. The pain is real. The

mobility limitations are real. You know that people's joints don't just swell

up for no reason. Just know that there are many who know what you're going

through. My MRI's and my labs have always been normal, yet if I'm still for

more than a short while I feel like the tin woodman after he rusts and OUCH! I

haven't had to deal with any swelling, just heat in my joints. That must be

very frustrating. Does ice help with the swelling?

I have taken methotrexate for three weeks. Someone on this site gave me the

excellent advice of taking it right before bedtime on a night when you don't

have important things to do the next day. I always need a long nap the day

after I take my weekly dose. Listerine or another germ-killing mouthwash may

help with possible sores in your mouth. I've heard some people say they're

queasy and I do have an icky taste in my mouth but so far I've been lucky. I am

just starting to feel that the methotrexate may be helping me. Actually today I

was cleaning my kitchen and I stopped and thought, " Hey! Nothing hurts right

now! "

Be nice to yourself. I hope you feel much better very soon. laura

kerri paquette <ksp2242@...> wrote:

I hope all of you are having good days and there are better ones yet to come.

Today I had my third rheumy visit, although the visit itself was short(he had an

emergency) I guess it was pretty productive. I was able to explain that the

Arava was working for general achiness and morning stiffness was improved about

20% but because of that, I was able to find where most of the localized pain is-

deep in heel, knees, and 3rd joint in fingers... after discussing that he

decided to start me on methotrexate and folic acid, any of you who have taken

these- I'd appreciate to hear what your side effects were and what I should

expect. He also went over a list that I brought in of health issues I deal with

so I would know if they were related to RA or if I should go to my GP with them.

I had more lab work today and go back in 6 weeks for more. Also, on xrays and

mri's (3 years old) there is no visible arthritis or erosion... rheumy said

doesn't matter what those said because its possible to have

RA (or other inflammatory disease) and not show that progressive physical

damage...has anyone ever heard of this? It seems impossible that I am in so much

pain and nothing is seen. My lab work indicates RA and maybe SLE and chronic

inflammatory and pain problems as does swelling in my hands and feet, but

nothing shows on exrays. I don't know, to me its like giving birth only to find

there was no baby... why all the pain? If any of you have any thoughts, please

feel free to share... sometimes I feel as if I'm just going completely nuts.

happy days to all of you.

kerri sue

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dear Kerri Sue,

You're not nuts, although I know that the uncertainty can be maddening. When

the tests show conflicting results you feel invalidated. The pain is real. The

mobility limitations are real. You know that people's joints don't just swell

up for no reason. Just know that there are many who know what you're going

through. My MRI's and my labs have always been normal, yet if I'm still for

more than a short while I feel like the tin woodman after he rusts and OUCH! I

haven't had to deal with any swelling, just heat in my joints. That must be

very frustrating. Does ice help with the swelling?

I have taken methotrexate for three weeks. Someone on this site gave me the

excellent advice of taking it right before bedtime on a night when you don't

have important things to do the next day. I always need a long nap the day

after I take my weekly dose. Listerine or another germ-killing mouthwash may

help with possible sores in your mouth. I've heard some people say they're

queasy and I do have an icky taste in my mouth but so far I've been lucky. I am

just starting to feel that the methotrexate may be helping me. Actually today I

was cleaning my kitchen and I stopped and thought, " Hey! Nothing hurts right

now! "

Be nice to yourself. I hope you feel much better very soon. laura

kerri paquette <ksp2242@...> wrote:

I hope all of you are having good days and there are better ones yet to come.

Today I had my third rheumy visit, although the visit itself was short(he had an

emergency) I guess it was pretty productive. I was able to explain that the

Arava was working for general achiness and morning stiffness was improved about

20% but because of that, I was able to find where most of the localized pain is-

deep in heel, knees, and 3rd joint in fingers... after discussing that he

decided to start me on methotrexate and folic acid, any of you who have taken

these- I'd appreciate to hear what your side effects were and what I should

expect. He also went over a list that I brought in of health issues I deal with

so I would know if they were related to RA or if I should go to my GP with them.

I had more lab work today and go back in 6 weeks for more. Also, on xrays and

mri's (3 years old) there is no visible arthritis or erosion... rheumy said

doesn't matter what those said because its possible to have

RA (or other inflammatory disease) and not show that progressive physical

damage...has anyone ever heard of this? It seems impossible that I am in so much

pain and nothing is seen. My lab work indicates RA and maybe SLE and chronic

inflammatory and pain problems as does swelling in my hands and feet, but

nothing shows on exrays. I don't know, to me its like giving birth only to find

there was no baby... why all the pain? If any of you have any thoughts, please

feel free to share... sometimes I feel as if I'm just going completely nuts.

happy days to all of you.

kerri sue

__________________________________________________