Happy New Year

[Guest guest]

Hello, everyone!! First Iw ould like to welcome all the new

members. You are in good, no, great hands in here.

Well, I'm still off the Enbrel. It's been about 6 weeks now. To

recap: my rheumy had me stop the Enbrel to see if it was the cause

of the vasculitis. TNF-inhibitors can cause it. Well, a few days

after I stopped it, I ended up hospitalized for 5 days with

pylonephritis. Running a temp of 103, nausea, dry heaves, the

abvsolute worse flare I had ever had. Anyway, after 5 days of IV

antibiotics every 6 hours, I was finally discharged with a 10 day

supply of antibiotic pills. Well, when I finished them I had a

follow up appointment with my rheumy and he ran some tests. Well,

the infection was still there. My choice of antibiotics was either

take one of the listed pills that I am allergic to or go for IV

antibiotics. I chose to take my chances with the pills I was

allergic to. I increased my prednisone and took a lot of benadryl.

Well, I just had another test done Tuesday and guess what!! I still

have the kidney infection. The thing is, all 3 antibiotics I took

should have taken care of it. They were listed on the report of

what the antibiotic would sensitive to.

So, now I have to go see my urologist. I go in 2 weeks. Now, in

the middle of all that I had my knee scoped. The RA is really

damaging the connective tissues in my right knee. The articular

surface looked amazingly good!! I thanked God for that!! There

were a few tears that were easily fixed. The underside of my patella

was a disaster!!. He shaved and heat treated it. It does feel

better, but it is going to take a long time to get it well. Funny

thing is, when I saw my surgeon one week after the surgery, he told

me what exercises to do. Just simple ones to strengthen the

quadriceps. He also " pre-yelled " at me for over doing it. He knows

me too well!! LOL

Well, I'm getting frustrated. I was going to restart the Enbrel if

my tests came back negative. So much for that!! Thing is, I

haven't worked since I've been off the Enbrel because of all the

crap I've been going through. I didn't realize how little fatigue I

was having ON the Enbrel until I stopped it. I thought the pain and

fatigue was barely tolerable on Enbrel. Well, I have had a reminder

of how bad it can be and how bad it was!! Funny how easily we

forget how bad we felt pre-medication.

Well, I'm supposed to go back to work on Tuesday. I am a little

concerned. My rheumy was going to have me start back on the Enbrel

and see what happens with the vasculitis leasions. See, they

started to get better when I came off the Enbrel, but the problem

is, I had to go on pretty high doses of steroids over the last 6

weeks because of the flare and the surgery. So, we don't really

know if the leasions got better because of the steroids (which is

the treatment for vasculitis) or if it was the Enbrel. Thing is, I

think it was due to the steroids. Even off the Enbrel I developed

new leasions and they think I have them on my kidneys as well!!

I have been drinking lots of water and cranberry juice. Hasn't

really helped. Well, maybe it has been helping. My temperatures

have stayed at about 101 or less. So, that's a good thing.

Another thing that happened is phlebitis. I have two veins in my

right arm that have hardened. I hope they recover. I they are as a

result of two different IV's going bad and causing phlebitis. The

one starts at my wrist and does up to the middle of my upper arm.

The other one is in the middle of my right forearm. It starts there

and goes up to the inner elbow. That one hurts so much. There is

also a leasion where the IV was inserted. So, that's just one more

skin leasion to add to the list and that I have to dress everyday!!

I really hope those recover. They were my two best veins. I'm a

very difficult stick. I dred getting blood work because it never

happens with just one stick!! So, with all this, and the recent

phone call with the lab results, I've just dropped into a state of

self pity. I'm just so sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Well, I think I should end this novel here. I hope that this makes

some sense. I took two Percocet about an hour ago and it has fogged

the brain a little more than it usually is and my eyes are pretty

blurry!! Thanks for reading and listening to my whoa's. I believe

that 2006 is the year of the dog in the Chinese New Year. I was

born under the year of the dog so maybe next year will be my year!!

I can always hope and pray!

Well, I hope everyone has a great New Year. And that it is as

painfree as possible.

a, , thank you for your support and for all the wonderful

information you post. I can't believe how big this group has

gotten. And I haven't been here that long!! The people here are

the best and everyone is so thoughtful, helpful, and spiritually

uplifting and supportive.

God Bless!! Gentle hugs and love from your RA sister, Marina