Robyn

[Guest guest]

Laughter came up tonight and I heard that it burns more calories than sex...

Hmm....hehehe

Sharon

Re: Robyn

Melinda,

I'm glad it brought you a laugh. I actually wrote that note in the late, late hours of last night when my husband and I were in the study trying to work on our house plans (for about the one thousandth hour!). After I had sent it I was concerned that it might offend some people. Sorry if it did. But I'm glad you got a laugh from it.

I agree about laughter being a good medicine. My husband often says to me that "humour and politeness costs you nothing". He's a great conversationalist and often breaks down barriers with humour.

(((Hugs)))

RobynMelinda Hohenberger wrote:

Robyn,When I go through air security my vibrator (which I used to carry before I was married) embarrassed security even more!!!RobynI am still laughing although it has been three hours since I read it!! Thanks for the day brightener and good laugh. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine!!Hugs,MelindaPlease visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

Robyn,

Don't be beating yourself up on the prednisone taper. I got to

15 mg yesterday and whoa, horsey, I had to get back up to 17.5 to

even get moderate relief in my knee. I will call the rheumatologist

in the morning and see what he thinks...but I am almost sure he will

tell me to stay at 17.5 for another week and then try again. I am

scheduled to get Remicade on the 22nd and I hope that nothing comes

up to interfere with it. Today I have really felt lousy. Have done

nothing but sleep and eat--my throat is sore and I have mouth

blisters and blisters of some kind on my tongue that I seem to get

when my body has had it.

One thing that has helped me with the sjogrens symptoms is to

eat sugar free popsicles. They help keep my mouth from drying out

so quickly. I have also been drinking tons of water and have really

cut back on diet sodas which for me is a real victory because there

is nothing better than that first slug out of them!! We have been

using lubricants for most of our sex life which lately has been few

and far between--it is ok but Bob and I really need a weekend away

sometime soon. It is not real practical in a very small house and

with two teenagers unless you want to have fun at 3 am and I am not

that crazy about getting awakened for you know what....lol

Do try to take it easy with the house. Go at your own pace. I

am very sorry to hear about your mil and I completely understand the

stress that it puts on you.

Take care. I hope you have a good week.

Hugs,

Melinda

[Guest guest]

Thanks Melinda,

I just wish I could get a better perspective on life. I'm just down at present. I'm scared that I can't balance the pressures of life better so that I don't let my body get effected. I'm sure if I could just get my head around stuff and not get so worked up about "challenges" that my medical stuff wouldn't get out of whack. It also depresses me how much weight I'm putting on with this prednisone. Most of my clothes are not fitting me, and those that do are tight and look horrible. We can't afford new clothes, so I'm just having to make do. It's horrible.

I know the prednisone works but I just wish they could come up with another solution.I getr those mouth ulcers on my tongue and inside my cheeks (especially the left side for some reason). I find that brushing my cheek and tongue with my toothbrush and paste seems to help. I don't know whether it does with you. I usually find that when I get the ulcers it is a real warning sign to me that my body is run down and I'd better slow down immediately.

I'm sorry that you are having a bad time as well. At least I don't have the pain you would have with your knee. That has gone on for such a long time. You are really valiant in how you are coping with it all. And then I imagine what it would be like to be coping with all that while trying to be mother to two teenagers! The mind boggles. At least when I'm at my worst I can crawl back into my rocking chair and just escape from the world. You can't do that with teenagers. I'm amazed at you.

Thanks once again for being such a great support to me. I hope you have a good day today.

(((Hugs)))

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[Guest guest]

Thanks goodness for prednisone, it really helps us girls cope with our Crohns! I just wish we didn't have to take it.

(((Hugs)))

Robyn wrote:

I finally managed to cut back to 11 mgs again yesterday; hope I can do it this time. Last time I got to 11 mgs, I got sick about 2 days later ("acute crud", not Crohn's related, probably); then had respiratory infection, followed by a stressful, tiring weekend with my mother, then Remicade; so now I have been relatively well for a few days & I'm trying again. Our goal is 7.5 mgs pred.

Melinda, take care of yourself. You need the Remicade & you have to stay uninfected so you can get it.

Hugs,

-- Robyn

Robyn, Don't be beating yourself up on the prednisone taper. I got to 15 mg yesterday and whoa, horsey, I had to get back up to 17.5 to even get moderate relief in my knee. I will call the rheumatologist in the morning and see what he thinks...but I am almost sure he will tell me to stay at 17.5 for another week and then try again. I am scheduled to get Remicade on the 22nd and I hope that nothing comes up to interfere with it. Today I have really felt lousy. Have done nothing but sleep and eat--my throat is sore and I have mouth blisters and blisters of some kind on my tongue that I seem to get when my body has had it. One thing that has helped me with the sjogrens symptoms is to eat sugar free popsicles. They help keep my mouth from drying out so quickly. I have also been drinking tons of water and have really cut back on diet

sodas which for me is a real victory because there is nothing better than that first slug out of them!! We have been using lubricants for most of our sex life which lately has been few and far between--it is ok but Bob and I really need a weekend away sometime soon. It is not real practical in a very small house and with two teenagers unless you want to have fun at 3 am and I am not that crazy about getting awakened for you know what....lol Do try to take it easy with the house. Go at your own pace. I am very sorry to hear about your mil and I completely understand the stress that it puts on you. Take care. I hope you have a good week.Hugs,Melinda

____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Please visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

, this is a really tought time to be trying to cut back on pred. Can you hold off on tapering any more until after the holidays? I usually go up a bit this time of year.

Re: Robyn

Thanks goodness for prednisone, it really helps us girls cope with our Crohns! I just wish we didn't have to take it.

(((Hugs)))

Robyn

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[Guest guest]

This morning I can't decide whether or not to apologize to Amy (daughter). I really told her a few things last night that I've kept inside. So, I wasn't very nice about it, but it's out in the open & what I said was true. I woke up feeling bad - swollen eyes, sore throat, sinus drainage, HEADACHE; don't know how much is from crying, pred taper, getting another sinus infection? I'm sleepy from the Xanax I took last night so I could calm down enough to sleep. Amy asked me if I'd called my doc; told her this isn't something I have to call about - we expect it & I'm doing what the docs told me to do. Now, to go to work & try to function normally.

Hope everyone has a good day. Remember I'm here to listen, but I may not be much help right now.

-- Re: Robyn

We are going to have to have a kicking board attached to this AI site so that we can take out our frustrations when we are coming down off the prednisone on it rather than our families.

I hate to think what I'll be like seeing I've been on the pred now for over a year! Help.

I'm here as a sounding board if you need to vent feelings etc. I know I'll need you when it's happening to me.

(((Hugs)))

Robyn

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[Guest guest]

Christy,

I'm already weeks behind on tapering the way the doc prescribed, because of the URI & stress with 's heart cath & visiting Mother. I think I would have been OK yesterday if Amy hadn't called to let us know about Christmas dinner. Amy's MIL has decided to cook Christmas dinner & bring it to Amy's house; since we won't be able to eat what she cooks, we can bring our own food. If that's not OK with us, then won't cook & everyone will just have sandwiches. After talking with Amy, I think it's going to be pot luck like it usually is. At first, I told her we'd come over to open gifts, then come home & eat here; she really didn't like that. They can't have Christmas Eve dinner with us either (an alternative I suggested) because they have plans with Amy's in-laws. So, where do we fit in? Amy says they're "trying" to fit us in on Christmas if I'll just calm down so we can talk. If this gets any worse, I'll go back up on the pred; I hate what it's doing to me to take it AND to taper the dose.

Thanks,

-- Re: Robyn

, this is a really tought time to be trying to cut back on pred. Can you hold off on tapering any more until after the holidays? I usually go up a bit this time of year.

____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here

[Guest guest]

Hope you have a better day today.

(((hugs)))

Kathy

Re: Robyn

We are going to have to have a kicking board attached to this AI site so that we can take out our frustrations when we are coming down off the prednisone on it rather than our families.

I hate to think what I'll be like seeing I've been on the pred now for over a year! Help.

I'm here as a sounding board if you need to vent feelings etc. I know I'll need you when it's happening to me.

(((Hugs)))

Robyn

____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Please visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

--What does she make? I would think that at least some of it would be stuff you can eat?

We have such a variety of food here on Christmas that, no matter what diet they're one, no one would starve.

Kathy

Re: Robyn

, this is a really tought time to be trying to cut back on pred. Can you hold off on tapering any more until after the holidays? I usually go up a bit this time of year.

____________________________________________________ IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here Please visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com

[Guest guest]

Robyn,

Where are you sending this email, I don't know why it keeps bouncing... my active emails are both receiving mail regularly. Anyway try one of these two email addresses ravendiva@... (List address) jinx@... (personal address).

And as far as feeling bad about Lee I don't anymore, I figure it this way... his excuse was beyond lame, and as far as I can see it was a total cop-out, it's his lost..

Re: Tyra

Melinda and Tyra,

I hope both of you enjoy your break over Christmas.

Tyra, I've been trying to e-mail you personally a Christmas card greeting over the past couple of days but it keeps on bouncing because your mailbox is too full. Could you please empty it?

I Hope you both have a great day today. We are back up to our land to talk to builders and hopefully get the okay on our latest building plans and ideas. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Before that I'm having to see my immunologist. I'm in "flare up" mode. I'm having so much joint and gut pain. I'm on first name basis with the pathologist as I've had about 5 blood tests in the last 3 weeks due to raised blood counts etc. Ugg. I think it is all due to the long hours I've been putting in. Rest would help. I'm trying to do that. I just hope it isn't too late for my body! I promise to be good, now.

You two be good too. Tryra don't beat up on yourself too much over doing silly stuff. I'm still doing it at 53! Rest and relax over the holidays.

(((Hugs)))

RobynMelinda Hohenberger wrote:

Tyra, (((((((((((((((((((((((((TYRA))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))).Sorry about the trip, hon--don't beat yourself up, though. We have all done things that looking back weren't so smart. I am still doing it at 46, lol. Congrats on persevering thru school this term. I hope you enjoy your holiday immensely. Take care of yourself. I know I can't wait for my kids to be home, cause I plan to sleep in every morning. After Saturday (Mark's last wrestling match for 2003)--I am on vacation even if it is at home.Hugs,MelindaPlease visit our website at:http://ACES_Autoimmune.tripod.com