Re: Lab results...FINALLY

March 29, 2008

judy, ra in my opinoin is based on lab results(blood),x-rays,redness, moderate

to severe pain & inflammation of the joints.... i have been on prednisone since i

was 18 yrs old. & if i had to do it all over again, I WOULD NOT TAKE IT!!! yes,

the side effects are BAD!! i also have osteo.my bones are very FRAGILE & BREAK

easily!!! yes it helps SOMETIMES but its not worth all those AWEFUL SIDE

EFFECTS! good luck in whatever you decide to do... god bless,melyndagamez

3/29/08 4:48p.m.central time

Re: [ ] Re: Lab results...FINALLY

I was advised of this too. If my SED Rate, Westgren,

anti ccp were elevated and if I responded to the

treatment then they knew inflammatory arthritis was

present.

--- J Acciarito <jacyone@...> wrote:

> Is that generally true? That if your symptoms are

> relieved with prednisone, then RA is indicated?

>

> Judy

>

> Diane wrote:

>

> Hi Sharon,

> In my opinion, I think the Doctor put you on the

> prednisone to see if

> it works...if it does, than she knows it is

> definitely RA...sometimes

> there can be other reason for a raised count or a

> false positive but

> if the prednisone works and the pain is gone, then

> she knows it is RA

> for sure...does that makes sense to you? You are

> right, prednisone

> is not the only treatment for the inflammation.

> Hope you are feeling better...be careful with the

> prednisone...it is

> a powerful and tricky medication with lots of side

> effects...

>

> I would suggest getting yourself to a good

> Rheumatologist as quickly

> as possible...I think you said she was your family

> doctor...

> .___

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Like movies? Here's a limited-time offer: Blockbuster Total Access for one month

at no cost.

http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text4.com

------------------------------------

March 29, 2008

hi sharon, hope your doing well. i take pred. & i take lortabs for the pain but

it does not work, so i pretty much pop whatever i have tylenol,aleve or just

anything to relive this HORRIBLE PAIN I HAVE EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE...... god

bless, melyndagamez 3/29/08 4:54p.m.central time

[ ] Re: Lab results...FINALLY

> Hi ,

>

> That's what I was thinking too...I don't see how 5 months of Pred

> will help to control anything. I told the doctor how long I've had

> this...it's nothing new for me. It's been years!!! Every few days I

> run into another situation where I find something else I can no

> longer do. I constantly drop things...it's starting to hurt to hold

> the steering wheel on the car...my hips are getting involved and

> becoming painful now too....my hands are getting so bad that typing

> is become hard. I'm not new to this at all!! I might see if I can

> see a Rhuematologist at the clinic and see what happens with that.

> Also, I just thought about this...if you're on Pred...what can you

> take for pain? She has no pain medication for me. I heard you can

> only take a Tylenol. I have morphine pain and I can only take

> Tylenol?

> Take care,

> Sharon

------------------------------------

March 29, 2008

Dennis i have severe ra and ankylosing spondolysis. my dr puts me on prednisone

for flare ups. i take it about 4 times a years for about a week 3 pills or less

a day 10 mg. when i have to go on it it is the last resort. i cannot function.

on this site everyone talks so bad about the prednisone, but it has been a life

saver for me. i know the long term effects but i want to live today. i have

already been put on the fentayl pain patches and sometimes prednisone is all

that will help. good to hear someone else takes it too. how is your mobility,

do you work, can you sleep, general overall wellbeing. good to hear from

someone that sees prednisone as a must for some people. rita in georgia

[ ] Re: Lab results...FINALLY

> Hi ,

>

> That's what I was thinking too...I don't see how 5 months of Pred

> will help to control anything. I told the doctor how long I've had

> this...it's nothing new for me. It's been years!!! Every few days I

> run into another situation where I find something else I can no

> longer do. I constantly drop things...it' s starting to hurt to hold

> the steering wheel on the car...my hips are getting involved and

> becoming painful now too....my hands are getting so bad that typing

> is become hard. I'm not new to this at all!! I might see if I can

> see a Rhuematologist at the clinic and see what happens with that.

> Also, I just thought about this...if you're on Pred...what can you

> take for pain? She has no pain medication for me. I heard you can

> only take a Tylenol. I have morphine pain and I can only take

> Tylenol?

> Take care,

> Sharon

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access, No Cost.

http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com

March 30, 2008

Hi Rita in Georgia! My 15 yr old son and 8 yr old daughter both have Ankylosing

Spondylitis. Son was diagnosed 12 yrs ago and daughter 3 years ago. Any

insight into

what we can be doing as I look to their future? Neither one is doing very well

right now

with many complex problems with no answers other than they have arthritis. None

of the

drugs seem to work for very long with either one of them and they both have such

stomach pain right now that they are both off of pain meds to try to ease their

stomaches.

Prednisone hasn't been very successful for them when they have tried it.

Myndi

>

> Dennis i have severe ra and ankylosing spondolysis. my dr puts me on

prednisone for

flare ups. i take it about 4 times a years for about a week 3 pills or less a

day 10 mg.

when i have to go on it it is the last resort. i cannot function. on this site

everyone talks

so bad about the prednisone, but it has been a life saver for me. i know the

long term

effects but i want to live today. i have already been put on the fentayl pain

patches and

sometimes prednisone is all that will help. good to hear someone else takes it

too. how

is your mobility, do you work, can you sleep, general overall wellbeing. good

to hear from

someone that sees prednisone as a must for some people. rita in georgia

>

> [ ] Re: Lab results...FINALLY

>

> > Hi ,

> >

> > That's what I was thinking too...I don't see how 5 months of Pred

> > will help to control anything. I told the doctor how long I've had

> > this...it's nothing new for me. It's been years!!! Every few days I

> > run into another situation where I find something else I can no

> > longer do. I constantly drop things...it' s starting to hurt to hold

> > the steering wheel on the car...my hips are getting involved and

> > becoming painful now too....my hands are getting so bad that typing

> > is become hard. I'm not new to this at all!! I might see if I can

> > see a Rhuematologist at the clinic and see what happens with that.

> > Also, I just thought about this...if you're on Pred...what can you

> > take for pain? She has no pain medication for me. I heard you can

> > only take a Tylenol. I have morphine pain and I can only take

> > Tylenol?

> > Take care,

> > Sharon

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access,

No Cost.

> http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com

>

March 30, 2008

> if you're on Pred...what can you

> take for pain?

>

Vicodan, codeine, or Percocet!

Pris

**************

Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL

Home.

(http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15 & amp;

ncid=aolhom00030000000001)

March 30, 2008

Hi ,

I started my Pred yesterday and it looks like I'll be on it for a

while to come. I'm 56 years old..what is it going to do to me?

Well, I have a plan. I'm on charity care offered by out local

hospital who also runs a clinic in town. Since I had a doctor I

didn't see the need to really go to the clinic but I want to see if I

can get an appointment with a Rhuematologist at the clinic sometime

soon. I want to get a copy of my lab work from the doctor tomorrow

and then go to the hospital to talk to someone in charity care about

going to the clinic. Hopefully that will work out and I can see

someone who knows a bit more about this condition than my Internist.

I guess IF I was new to RA which I'm not maybe all this Pred would be

a good thing and she wants to see me when the treatment is over. I

don't know. I know I've had it for years but without insurance or

care I've just lived with it and suffered with it until I couldn't

stand it anymore!! I'll know more if I can see the Rhuematologist.

If not I guess I'm SOL!!

By the way, for pain relief the Pharmacist told me the only over the

counter thing I can take is Tylenol...?? It's kind of funny when you

have morphine sized pain!!

Take care,

Sharon

> > >

> > > Hi Sharon, sorry, do you see a rheumatologist?

> > You're right that

> > you need something else to control the RA. The

> > course of pred will

> > help with inflammation, but not over all disease

> > management. As for

> > the rheumatoid factor (RF) test, I think the cut off

> > for many labs is

> > <20 is normal. When I was first symptomatic my RF

> > was 20. Then

> > several years later it was much higher, I think in

> > the 50s. My rheum

> > did do baseline xrays, I think that's pretty

> > standard practice. It

> > did take me 3 visits to 3 different rheums before I

> > found one I

> > liked, it might be good to try a 2nd opinion.

> > >

> > > [ ] Lab results...FINALLY

> > >

> > > Hi everyone,

> > >

> > > I got a phone call a little while ago from my

> > doctor's office to

> > > inform me that they had my labs back and she

> > wanted to talk to me

> > > about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it

> > would be. She

> > > suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse

> > a day....if only

> > I

> > > could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme

> > and Lupus. I

> > asked

> > > about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I

> > asked if that

> > > meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was

> > like a pregnency

> > > test...either negative or positive. I didn't know

> > there were

> > numbers

> > > associated with it. Do any of you know about a

> > number associated

> > > with this?

> > >

> > > Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5

> > month

> > thing...this

> > > month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and

> > after 5 months of

> > > taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm

> > not a rocket

> > > scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way.

> > It's just

> > helping

> > > with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or

> > a bone

> > scan....??

> > > Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of

> > days I'm less to do

> > > what I was able to do a short time ago...how are

> > they going to

> > > regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does

> > this sound about

> > > right to any of you???

> > >

> > > Take good care,

> > > Sharon

> > >

> > > <!--

> > >

> > > #ygrp-mkp{

> > > border:1px solid

> > #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:14px

> > 0px;padding:0px 14px;}

> > > #ygrp-mkp hr{

> > > border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}

> > > #ygrp-mkp #hd{

> > > color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;line-

> > height:122%;margin:10px 0px;}

> > > #ygrp-mkp #ads{

> > > margin-bottom:10px;}

> > > #ygrp-mkp .ad{

> > > padding:0 0;}

> > > #ygrp-mkp .ad a{

> > > color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}

> > > -->

> > >

> > > <!--

> > >

> > > #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc{

> > > font-family:Arial;}

> > > #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd{

> > > margin:10px

> >

> 0px;font-weight:bold;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;}

> > > #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad{

> > > margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;}

> > > -->

> > >

> > > <!--

> > >

> > > #ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px;font-family:arial,

> > helvetica,

> > clean, sans-serif;}

> > > #ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit;font:100%;}

> > > #ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99%

> > arial, helvetica,

> > clean, sans-serif;}

> > > #ygrp-mlmsg pre, code {font:115% monospace;}

> > > #ygrp-mlmsg * {line-height:1.22em;}

> > > #ygrp-text{

> > > font-family:Georgia;

> > > }

> > > #ygrp-text p{

> > > margin:0 0 1em 0;}

> > > #ygrp-tpmsgs{

> > > font-family:Arial;

> > > clear:both;}

> > > #ygrp-vitnav{

> > >

> >

> padding-top:10px;font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;margin:0;}

> > > #ygrp-vitnav a{

> > > padding:0 1px;}

> > > #ygrp-actbar{

> > > clear:both;margin:25px

> > 0;white-space:nowrap;color:#666;text-

> > align:right;}

> > > #ygrp-actbar .left{

> > > float:left;white-space:nowrap;}

> > > .bld{font-weight:bold;}

> > > #ygrp-grft{

> > > font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;padding:15px 0;}

> > > #ygrp-ft{

> > > font-family:verdana;font-size:77%;border-top:1px

> > solid #666;

> > > padding:5px 0;

> > > }

> > > #ygrp-mlmsg #logo{

> > > padding-bottom:10px;}

> > >

> > > #ygrp-reco {

> > > margin-bottom:20px;padding:0px;}

> > > #ygrp-reco #reco-head {

> > > font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;}

> > >

> > > #reco-grpname{

> > > font-weight:bold;margin-top:10px;}

> > > #reco-category{

> > > font-size:77%;}

> > > #reco-desc{

> > > font-size:77%;}

> > >

> > > #ygrp-vital{

> > >

> >

> background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:2px

> > 0 8px 8px;}

> > > #ygrp-vital #vithd{

> > >

> >

> font-size:77%;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold;color:#333;text-

> >

> === message truncated ===

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of

Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

> http://tc.deals./tc/blockbuster/text5.com

>

March 30, 2008

Hi ,

I am going to find out tomorrow if I can see a Rhuematologist at the

charity care clinic. If not I guess I won't have that option. We'll

see what happens tomorrow. I'm going to go to my doctor's office and

get a copy of my labs and take it to the hospital in hopes they will

tell me who to call or maybe even make the appointment for me. I'll

know more tomorrow.

Thank you and take care,

Sharon

--- In , " " <Matsumura_Clan@...>

wrote:

>

> Sharon,

>

> The rheumatoid factor (RF) test is not like a pregnancy test.

>

> Despite its name, rheumatoid factor production is not specific to

RA. There

> are many possible reasons for a positive RF, even simply aging.

>

> In addition, there is no one standard test for RF, so the way the

results

> are determined, reported, and interpreted will vary from lab to lab.

>

> I suspect that your physician is not sure of the diagnosis and

wants to see

> how you do on prednisone; however, watching and waiting for five

months is

> not a good idea.

>

> It would be wise to find a rheumatologist for a second opinion.

>

> Not an MD

>

> > [ ] Lab results...FINALLY

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I got a phone call a little while ago from my doctor's office to

> > inform me that they had my labs back and she wanted to talk to me

> > about it. My cholesterol was high...knew that it would be. She

> > suggested I get more exercise and walk 20 minutse a day....if

only I

> > could. SED rate is 59. Tested negative for Lyme and Lupus. I

asked

> > about the RA Factor and she said it was " high " ...I asked if that

> > meant positive and she said yes. I thought it was like a

pregnency

> > test...either negative or positive. I didn't know there were

numbers

> > associated with it. Do any of you know about a number associated

> > with this?

> >

> > Also, they are going to put me on Pred. It's a 5 month

thing...this

> > month 20 mil, 15 next month, 10 and then 5 and after 5 months of

> > taking that daily I am supposed to call them. I'm not a rocket

> > scientist but this isn't slowing my RA in any way. It's just

helping

> > with inflamation. They aren't ordering x-rays or a bone

scan....??

> > Don't I need a base line here? Every couple of days I'm less to

do

> > what I was able to do a short time ago...how are they going to

> > regular this and measure it?? Is it me or does this sound about

> > right to any of you???

> >

> > Take good care,

> > Sharon

>

March 30, 2008

Hi Melynda,

The Pharmacist told me yesterday the only OTC pain relief I could

take with Pred was Tylenol and that everything else would tear up my

stomach. I already have GERD...I don't want an ulcer too. This is

day two for Pred...how long does it take to make you feel better??

I'm starting at 20 mil daily for the next month.

Do you have flares or are you the same all the time? I used to flare

years ago but now...it's constant.

Have a good day!!

Sharon

--- In , Melynda Gamez <melyndagamez@...>

wrote:

>

> hi sharon, hope your doing well. i take pred. & i take lortabs for

the pain but it does not work, so i pretty much pop whatever i have

tylenol,aleve or just anything to relive this HORRIBLE PAIN I HAVE

EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE...... god bless, melyndagamez 3/29/08

4:54p.m.central time

>

> [ ] Re: Lab results...FINALLY

>

> > Hi ,

> >

> > That's what I was thinking too...I don't see how 5 months of Pred

> > will help to control anything. I told the doctor how long I've

had

> > this...it's nothing new for me. It's been years!!! Every few

days I

> > run into another situation where I find something else I can no

> > longer do. I constantly drop things...it's starting to hurt to

hold

> > the steering wheel on the car...my hips are getting involved and

> > becoming painful now too....my hands are getting so bad that

typing

> > is become hard. I'm not new to this at all!! I might see if I

can

> > see a Rhuematologist at the clinic and see what happens with that.

> > Also, I just thought about this...if you're on Pred...what can you

> > take for pain? She has no pain medication for me. I heard you

can

> > only take a Tylenol. I have morphine pain and I can only take

> > Tylenol?

> > Take care,

> > Sharon

>

> ------------------------------------

>

March 30, 2008

i am on humira injections. and fentayl pain patches. what are their symptoms?

i have stomach problems also because i have taken so many pain meds. i am 53.

i have an excellent rheumatologist. i have had spinal fusions by surgery. i am

so stiff. i have many bone spurs. does this sound familiar? can your children do

sports or attend school? rita